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Conversation: 666-007

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Start Date: 7-Feb-1972 1:31 PM

End Date: 7-Feb-1972 2:03 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Ziegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:31:55

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:03:55

666a.mp3

666b.mp3

666c.mp3

NARA Description:

On February 7, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:31 pm to 2:03 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 666-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 666-7

Date: February 7, 1972
Time: 1:31 pm - 2:03 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Greetings

     Press briefing
           -Criticism
           -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s interview on the Today show, February 7, 1972
           -Xuan Thuy
                                        18

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)



     -White House

Haldeman interview briefing
     -The President’s meeting with Haldeman
     -Critics
           -Liberals
                 -Reaction to Haldeman’s rhetoric
     -The President’s peace proposals
           -Prospects
                 -Need for unity
     -Haldeman’s view
           -Talk with Ziegler
     -The President’s view
     -Unity
     -Edmund S. Muskie statement
           -Honesty
           -William P. Rogers’s statement
                 -Muskie’s statement questioned
                       -Facts
     -Motives compared to effect
     -Barbara Walters
     -Effectiveness of press interviews
           -Haldeman
           -John D. Ehrlichman
           -Henry A. Kissinger
                 -Rogers
     -Haldeman’s interview
           -Timing
                 -Compared to Muskie’s statement
     -Muskie statements
           -Possible response form the Administration
                 -William E. Brock, III [?]
           -Rogers
           -Ziegler’s remarks
           -Unity
           -Cease-fire
                 -1970
           -Withdrawal of forces
     -Patrick J. Buchanan
           -Talk with Ziegler
                 -Possible response
                                          19

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)



Press stories
      -Coverage
            -Campaign
            -Signing bills
                  -Foreign aid
            -The President’s schedule
            -President’s speech
                  -Television coverage
            -Press list
            -Haldeman’s interview
                  -Democrats’ reaction
                        -Michael J. Mansfield
                             -Criticism
                                    -Freedom of speech
                                         -Haldeman
                  -Hugh Scott statement
                  -Alan Cranston
                  -Public support for President
                        -Ziegler’s example
                  -Press questions
                        -Kissinger
                        -Xuan Thuy
                             -Military compared to political issues
            -Haldeman’s reaction to criticism
                  -Haldeman’s talk with Ziegler
            -Mansfield
                  -Critics
                        -Senators
                             -Right to express themselves
                                    -Haldeman
            -Administration handling

President’s schedule
     -Press conference
           -Timing
           -Upcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                 -Announcement
                 -Schedule
                      -Hawaii
                           -Briefing
                                         20

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                   Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)


                -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon attendance on PRC trip
                      -History of Mrs. Nixon’s travels
                      -Buchanan
                      -Kissinger
           -Preparations
                -Questions
           -Numbers
                -Frequency
           -Vietnam
                -Criticism
                      -Possible response by the Administration
                           -Motives
                -Muskie
                -Unity
                -Critics
                -President’s responsibility
           -Press conference
                -Television
                      -Options

Press stories
      -Press list for PRC trip
            -Exclusions
                   -Nicholas P. Thimmesch
                   -Cliff Evans, RKO
                   -Alan Leo
                   -Upcoming trip the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
                   -Representation
            -Journalists
                   -Trip coverage
                         -William F. Buckley, Jr.
                               -Location
                               -Attitude
                         -Hawaii briefing
      -Today Show
            -Haldeman’s briefing
            -Journalistic contacts
            -Jack N. Anderson papers
                   -Kissinger
                   -[Yeoman Charles E. Radford]
                   -Alexander M. Haig’s, Ziegler’s reactions
                                             21

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)


                          -PRC
                                -Air Force One
                    -Wire reports
                    -Henry A. Kissinger’s possible involvement
              -Haldeman’s comments
                    -Kissinger’s concern
                    -Ziegler’s view
                    -Democrats
                    -Vietnam War critics
                          -The President’s posture
                          -Haldeman’s intent
                    -Effect
                    -Press conference
                          -Call for honest criticism
                                -Possible pressure from the press
         -Lyndon B. Johnson
              -Previous press attacks
         -Edward M. Kennedy
              -Comment
         -Alejandro A. Lanusse
              -Telephone call
                    -Length
         -Meeting with attorneys
              -Drug prosecution program
         -Haldeman interview
              -Democrats
                    -Muskie
                    -Kennedy
              -Ziegler’s press conference comments
                    -Muskie statements
                    -Rogers statement
                          -Timing
                                -Taping time
         -World report
         -Busing
              -Extensive statement


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
                                             22

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)


[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 53s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Ziegler left at 2:03 pm.