Conversation: 661-009
Prev: 661-008 Next: 661-010Start Date: 31-Jan-1972 4:04 PM
End Date: 31-Jan-1972 5:05 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); McKinney, Stewart B.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Ziegler, Ronald L.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:32:57
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:34:58
NARA Description:
On January 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stewart B. McKinney, John D. Ehrlichman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:04 pm to 5:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 661-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 661-9 Date: January 31, 1972 Time: 4:04 pm - 5:05 pm Location: Oval Office The President talked with Stewart B. McKinney. [Conversation No. 661-9A] [See Conversation No. 20-9] John D. Ehrlichman entered at 4:05 pm. Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 4:06 pm. [End of telephone conversation] Press relations -Representation on People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip -Joseph C. Kraft, William F. Buckley, Jr. 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Telephone calls from Henry A. Kissinger -Ziegler -Conservatives, liberals -Timing -Announcement of the President’s telephone call to Abraham A. Ribicoff -Elliot L. Richardson -Ehrlichman -Russell B. Long -The President’s support for welfare reform -The President talks with Long and Wallace F. Bennett -Need for common ground -Ehrlichman -Richardson Ziegler left at 4:10 pm. Welfare reform -The President’s previous telephone call to Ribicoff -Content -Reference to working paper -Ribicoff amendments -Elderly -Ehrlichman’s forthcoming telephone call to Ribicoff -Status of welfare reform bill -Ribicoff view -House Resolution [HR] 1 -Senate -Testing -Medicare, Medicaid -Drawbacks of bill -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan -Richardson -Size of welfare rolls -Medicare -Medicaid Mall renovation -Picture of model -Lincoln Memorial -Reflecting Pool -Proposed facilities 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Dining, shopping -Pool -Parking -Trains -Boats, canals, lakes -Ampitheatre -Children’s park -Lake -Cost -Finishing date -Bicentennial -Benefits -Museums -Needs of visitors -Restrooms -Food -Night activities -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon -Rogers C.B. Morton -Visit to see model -Possible ideas -Model -Confidentiality -Interior Department -Architect -Morton’s view -Congress -Capital Planning Commission -Highway plan -Spending -Needs -Tourism -Concessions -Types -Food services -Family orientation -J. Willard Marriott -Transportation -Lake size and depth -Other uses -Exhibits 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Japanese art -Nathaniel A. Owings -Plans Environment -The President’s conversation with Laurance S. Rockefeller -Julie Nixon Eisenhower as salesperson -New York -Houston -Florida -Proposed conference -Location -Camp David -San Clemente -Russell E. Train -William D. Ruckelshaus role -Rockefeller’s associates -Gala to focus attention -Options -Camp David constructions -Laurel -Open house -Problems -Press -San Clemente -Key Biscayne -San Clemente -Benefits -San Francisco park at Point Reyes -Possible visit by the President -Quality -Possible meeting -Daniel L. Schorr job -Attendance -Timing -Moscow trip -Location -San Clemente -Patio -Air Force One trip to Point Reyes -Television use 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Documentary -Compared to comments by President -Train role -Ruckelshaus role -Rockefeller role -Mrs. Nixon, Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower role -The President’s schedule -California -Camp David -Benefits -Camp Hoover -Press -Centennial of national park system -Morton’s view of the President’s schedule -Morton -Forthcoming talk with Ehrlichman -Rockefeller’s role -Environmentalists in attendance -Republicans -Edmund S. Muskie’s supporters -Environmental accomplishments -Parks for the people -Public relations -Unknown person -William L. Safire Mall renovation -Likeness to Tivoli Gardens -Environmentalists’ view -Grass removal -Underground parking -Effect on watertable -Peripheral parking -Trams -Mrs. Nixon -Viewing of mall model -Decision on original model -Viewing of mall model -The President -Owings -Need for necessities 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Restroom, facilities -Old world -Disneyland [and Disneyworld] -Facilities -Miami Beach -Jews -Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo view Modern entertainment -Children -Old entertainment -Amos n’ Andy -Fred Allen -State of television -The President’s viewing habits -News shows -Reading -Television specials -Camp David -Television compared to reading Ehrlichman’s reading -Zimmerman Telegram -[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson -Barbara Tuchman -Henry A. Kissinger -Wilson Wilson’s foreign policy -Mexico -Francisco (“Pancho”) Villa -Winston Churchill description in the Search for World Order -Versailles -Wilson’s political experience -Compared to British politicians -Irony -Record -World War I -British casualties, March 21, 1918 -Effort at mediation -Lack of realism 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Henry Cabot Lodge -Theodore Roosevelt -League of Nations -Congressional fights -Partisanship -Republicans -Wilson speeches -First inaugural address -Wilson writings -Fourteen points -Speeches The President’s speeches -Quality -Press -Inaugural address -The President’s Vietnam peace proposal speech, January 25, 1972 -Preparation -November 3, 1969 speech -State of the Union address, 1970, 1972 -Eloquence -Written compared to spoken word -Abraham Lincoln -Gettysburg address -Second inaugural address -Speechwriters -Douglas L. Hallett -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -Patrick J. Buchanan -Radio speeches -Price -Time to prepare -The President’s efforts at writing -Cambodia -Vietnam -Time consumed -Effect -Inaugural address -Value compared to time consumed in preparation -Effect -Toasts 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Extemporaneous talks -The President’s talk to Cabinet -Abraham Lincoln -Congress -Repetition of speeches -Lincoln’s A House Divided speech -Cross of Gold speech by William Jennings Bryan -Congressman or Senate -Compared to presidential candidate -Stump speech Narcotics appointment -Myles J. Ambrose -Prospects for success -Local police problems -Corruption -Resentment of federal officials -Overall benefit Law enforcement -Changing of Earl Warren court -Effect -Restoration of balance -Changes -Process -Average person’s desires -Federal role -Effect on urban areas Busing -Constitutional amendment -Ehrlichman trip to Camp David -Complications -Timing -Previous Supreme Court decisions -Hearings -Timing -John N. Mitchell -Elliot L. Richardson -Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. view -Urban League 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Communications with Ehrlichman -Welfare reform testimony -View of allies ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 5m 54s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ****************************************************************************** John B. Connally -Health -Telephone call to Ehrlichman -Classification meeting -Governors’ meeting -Property tax -Briefing Aid to private schools -Amendment -Tax credits -Neil H. McElroy Commission -Use by administration -Politics -Briefings -Administration line -Possible solutions -Effect on taxes -Burden shift -Value added tax [VAT] -Opponents -Public relations -Use by administration -Briefings, panels, national publicity 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.) -Congressional votes -Muskie’s advisory commission -Use Congressional relations -State of the Union address -Administration program -Defense -Need for identify -L. Richard Guylay -Congressional action record -Wilson’s accomplishments -Federal Reserve system -House Republican meeting -George P. Shultz -Upcoming Senate meeting -Contact between the White House and Congressional staff -Perception -House Administrative Assistants meeting -Briefings -Subcabinet and wives -Congressional wives -Lincoln Day recess -Handouts -Details -Goals of administration -Economy -John F. Kennedy handouts in 1960 -Issues -Effect -Six goals of administration -Topics -Environment, health -Details -Telephone call to Ribicoff -Telephone call to George H. Mahon Ehrlichman left at 5:05 pm. 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 661-9 (cont.)