Conversation: 668-012
Prev: 668-011 Next: 668-013Start Date: Wednesday, February 9, 1972 1:45 PM
End Date: Wednesday, February 9, 1972 3:40 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Woods, Rose Mary; Sanchez, Manolo; White House operator; Bull, Stephen B.; Butterfield, Alexander P.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:48:58
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:35:06
NARA Description:
On February 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Ronald L. Ziegler, Rose Mary Woods, Manolo Sanchez, White House operator, Stephen B. Bull, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:45 am and 10:40 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 668-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 668-12
Date: February 9, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:45 am and 10:40 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Foreign policy meeting
-Analysis
-Vietnam
-News summary
-Importance
-Reaction
-Hugh Scott
-Dock strike
-Editorials and columns
-Reaction
-William P. Rogers and John B. Connally
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Rogers and Connally
-Talk with Haldeman
-Countries
-Proposal for Rogers
-Country visits
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Europe
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Wilderberg [sp?] conference
-Canada
-Kissinger’s attendance
-Number of years
-Southern New England
-Vienna
-Munich
Invitations
-Japan
-Kissinger
-Timing after upcoming trip to PRC
-University
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Possible plans
-Rogers
-Latin American countries
-Japan
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Proposed announcement
-Haldeman’s instructions to Rogers
PRC Trip
-Briefings
-Types
Rogers’s schedule
-Kissinger
-South America
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] meeting
-Central Treaty Organization [CENTO] meeting
-Southeast Asia Treaty Organization [SEATO] meeting
-Romanians
-Yugoslavs
-Latin America
-Rogers’s duties
Japan
-Kissinger
-Invitation
-Rogers
-Possible significance of Kissinger trip
Rogers
-Reaction to handling of Haldeman’s Today show interview
Nicholas and Alexandra premiere
-Location
-Haldeman’s attendance
-Rasputin
-The President’s attendance
-Florida
-Audience support for Haldeman
-Betty Beale
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 8:45 am.
Stephen B. Bull’s return
-President’s questions
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 9:19 am.
Nicholas and Alexandra preview
-Support for Haldeman
-Beale
-Helena M. (“Obie”) Shultz
Democrats
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 49s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
Vietnam negotiations
-Ngo Dinh Diem
-Death criticized by the President
-The President’s posture as candidate
News stories
-Connally
-Rogers
-Talk with Haldeman
-Washington Post editorial
-State of the Union Message
-Administration response
-Rogers
-Ziegler
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Haldeman
-Agnew
-Crosby S. Noyes
-Ziegler
-Kissinger
-Vietnam
February 7, 1972 speech [Remarks to White House Conference on Industrial World Ahead]
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-William L. Safire
-PRC
-President’s “ad lib” near end of speech
-Maurice H. Stans
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-PRC
-Foreign policy
Speech
-Connally
-Stans
-Timing
Draft of Foreign Policy Report radio speech, February 9, 1972
-The President’s efforts to end the war
-Honorable peace
-Withdrawal of troops
-Number
-Casualties
-Air power
-Budget costs
-Draft
-Peace offer
-Criticism
-1968
-Negotiations
-The President’s comments as candidates
-Criticism
-Candidates’ responsibility
-Avoiding prolonging war
-Peace
-Trust in US
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-John A. Scali
-Press
-Selling out
-A question of sincerity
-The President’s policy
-Critics
-Presidential candidates
-Criticism
-Prolonging the war
-Responsibility
-Comparisons
-Kissinger
-“Postpone the Peace”
-Line from the President
-Optimism
-Candidates’ statements
-Wording
-Cautiousness
-Surrender compared with victory
-Nicholas and Alexandra
-Comparisons to the present time
-Alexander Kerensky and Tsar Nicholas II
-Criticism
-Presidential candidates
-Honorable peace
-Communists
-Cold War
-South Vietnam
-Haldeman’s opinion
-Scali’s statements
-Prisoners of war [POWs] compared to Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu
-Ziegler
-American support
-Surrender option
-“Peace with honor”
Press conference
-Possible appearance on television by the President
Vietnam
-Rogers
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Candidates’ criticism
-Possible enemy incentive
-Prolong the war
-Election
-Presidential statements
-Haldeman statements
-Agnew statements
-Editorials
-A question of patriotism
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Haldeman’s comments
-Claim
-Ziegler
An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 9:19 am.
Request for Ziegler
The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Scali
-Concern
-State of the World report
-Press conference
-PRC
-Plan by the Administration
Ziegler entered at 9:19 am.
Ziegler’s schedule
-Call from the President, February 8, 1972
-Parent-Teacher Association [PTA] meeting
-Compared to Kissinger’s trips to Paris
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 36s ]
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
**************************************************************************
Vietnam statements
-Involvement
-Scali
-Kissinger
-President’s responsibility
-Democrats
-Criticism and accusations
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Haldeman
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Sevareid
-Washington Post
-Editorial
-Timing
-Agnew
-Rogers
-The President
-Haldeman
-Statement about PRC
-Democrats
-Noyes
-Negotiations
-Criticism
-Assessing blame
-Scali
-Possible press briefing by Ziegler
The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Reading of draft
-Ziegler’s opinion
-Copies of to press
-Distribution
-Herbert E. Kaplow
-11:00 pm news
-Candidates
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Criticism
-Haldeman statements
-New York Times
-Ziegler
-Washington Post
-Ziegler’s complaint
-Candidates
-Prolong the war
-Leaders meeting
-Timing
-Negotiations
-Ziegler’s view
-Responsibilities
-Statements
-Wording of speech
-Ziegler’s opinion
-Assistance to the President
-George S. McGovern
-Surrender
-Context
-Muskie
-McGovern
-Kissinger
-Briefing
-Statements
-Safire
-Kissinger
-PRC
-Name
-Taiwan, Republic of China
-Corrections of text
-Vietnam War
-Radio
-Wording
-Candidates’ criticism
-Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Prolonging the war
Rose Mary Woods entered at 9:38 am.
-Typing
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Instructions
-Ziegler’s opinion
Woods left at 9:43 am.
-Draft
-POWs
-Wording
-Possible consequences
-President’s view
-Teleprompter
-Camera
-President’s instructions
-Distribution
-Newsmen
-Number
-Location
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Broadcast
-Amount of time
-Preparation by the President
-Schedule
-Press
-Ziegler
-Haldeman
-News
-Editorials
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 45s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
******************************************************************************
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Haldeman
-Call to Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-George C. Wallace
-Cousin
-Rebozo contact
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-1968
-Muskie
-Florida primary
-Agnew
Haldeman’s Today show interview
-Press conference
-Peter Lisagor
-Dan Rather
-Briefing
-PRC
-Story
-Ziegler
-Press
-Barbara Walters’s point
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
-Transcript availability
-Newspapers
-Television news services
-Timing
-Press
-Patriotic forces in US
-Underestimation
-Washington, DC
-Reaction
-Nicholas and Alexandra
-Beale
-Anna C. Chennault
-PRC ambassador
Vietnam
-Noyes
-Story
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Surrender
-1970 campaign
-Issue
-Peace initiative
-Public opinion
-US involvement
-Possible movement to undermine the President’s efforts
-Critics
-Haldeman’s statements
-Possible administration response
-Reston
-Kissinger
-John W. Gardner
-Visit to Reston’s home
-Tone of columns
-Kissinger
-Popularity with the media
-Haldeman’s comments
-Durability as story
-PRC trip
-Democrats
-Future comments
The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Kissinger
-Vietnam section
-Note from Ziegler
-Woods
-Typing
-Teleprompter
[The President talked with Woods at an unknown time between 9:43 and 10:09 am.]
[Conversation No. 668-12A]
-Typing
[End of telephone conversation]
Jaycees
-US Jaycees Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Convention
-Atlanta
-Timing
The President’s schedule
-Haldeman’s upcoming conversation with Connally
-Abilene, Texas
-Unknown Houston publisher
-San Antonio
-Texas newspapers
-Abilene Christian Conference
-Rotary
-Timing
-Jaycees
-Timing
-Campus Crusade
-Timing
-Houston
-Governors’ conference
-Timing
-President’s attitude
Kissinger’s location
-Ziegler’s office
-Briefing
-Foreign policy report
The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Broadcast
-Instructions for Ziegler, Haldeman
-Coverage
1972 Environmental Program
-News coverage
-Tape
-Camera
-Number
-Mark I. Goode
-Teleprompter
-Executive Order
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
Woods entered at 10:09 am.
The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Copy
-Typing
[No conversation]
-Corrections
-Subtleties
-Gerald L. Warren
-Pick-up
-Press
-Typing
-Corrections
Woods and Ziegler left at an unknown time before 10:15 am.
The President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Timing
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 26s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
******************************************************************************
Woods entered at an unknown time after 10:09 am.
Buzzer
-Manolo Sanchez
Camp David
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 15s ]
Woods left at an unknown time before 10:15 am.
An unknown Navy steward and Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:09 am.
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
******************************************************************************
The steward and Sanchez left at 10:15 am.
[The President talked with the White House operator at 10:15 am.]
[Conversation No. 668-12C]
[See Conversation No. 20-81]
[End of telephone conversation]
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 4s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
******************************************************************************
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
The President’s schedule
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Teamsters Union
-Letters
-Purpose
-Notes and phone calls
-Effect and advantages
-Frequency of telephone calls
-Notes
-Publication
-New York police
[The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 10:15 am and
10:33 am.]
[Conversation No. 668-12D]
[See Conversation No. 20-82]
[End of telephone conversation]
-Notes
-Widows, parents
-Brevity
-Writers
-One-liners
-Type
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 2s ]
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:15 am.
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:33 am.
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
******************************************************************************
Forthcoming press conference
-Briefing books
-PRC
-Timing
-Phraseology
-Substance
Llewellyn E. (“Tommy”) Thompson, Jr.
-Funeral
-Timing
-Attendance
-Wreath
Kissinger
-Safire
-Marilyn B. (“Missy”) Chandler
-Support
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
Otis Chandler
-Robert H. Finch
-Economy in California
-Unemployment
-Los Angeles Times
-Administration efforts
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 4m ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
******************************************************************************
Busing
-Dallas
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:15 am.
Thompson funeral
-Signature for letters for Jane (Monroe Goelet) Thompson
-Rogers
-Attendance
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:33 am.
[No conversation]
The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Teleprompter
-Rogers
-Microphone
-Desk
-Cameras
-Goode
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
-Ziegler
-Press office
-Teleprompter
-Messages
-Dock strike
Woods entered at 10:33 am.
The President’s schedule
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 45s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
******************************************************************************
-Helicopter
-Timing
-Speech
-Typing
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 45s ]
Woods left at 10:35 am.
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
******************************************************************************
Attitude of White House staff
-National attitude
Speech
-Teleprompter
Haldeman left at 10:40 am.