Conversation: 707-010
Prev: 707-009 Next: 707-011Start Date: 12-Apr-1972 11:33 AM
End Date: 12-Apr-1972 1:40 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Connally, John B.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Kaye, Beverly J.; Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:35:45
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:40:29
NARA Description:
On April 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John B. Connally, John D. Ehrlichman, Alexander P. Butterfield, Beverly J. Kaye, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:33 am to 1:40 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 707-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 707-10
Date: April 12, 1972
Time: 11:33 am - 1:40 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Fishing rights
-Three mile limit
-Department of Justice suit against Texas
-Responsibility
-Price Daniels
-Meeting with the President
-Call to John B. Connally
-Connally's views
The President talked with Connally between 11:33 and 11:36 am.
[Conversation No. 707-10A]
[See Conversation No. 22-117]
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
[End of telephone conversation]
John D. Ehrlichman entered at 11:36 am.
Fishing rights
-Three mile limit
-Suit against Texas
-The President's previous support
-California
-1960 and 1968 promises
-Department of Justice
-Lawyers
-Jews
-Previous tidal lands suit
-Suit against Texas
-Suppression
-The President’s order
-John C. Whitaker
-Ehrlichman's involvement
-Knowledge of White House staff
-Whitaker
Republican leaders meeting
-Ehrlichman's briefing
-The President’s view
-Henry A. Kissinger's briefing on Vietnam
-Length
-Basic points
-Deficiencies
-The President's presence
-Need to sell congressional leaders
-Briefings
-Elliot L. Richardson on busing
-Connally
-George P. Shultz on food prices
-Earl L. Butz
-Points to make
-Drugs
-Problems
-Details
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-White House staff
-Domestic issues
-Shultz, Herbert Stein and Cabinet
-Questions
-Leaders' concerns
-Richard H. Poff
-Peter H. Dominick
-Republican leaders
-Lack of depth and expertise
-The President’s view
-Staff
-Briefings
-Kissinger
-Length
-Curtailment
-Papers
-Preparation
-Charles W. Colson and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Effectiveness
-Compared with William P. Rogers
-Compared with Melvin R. Laird
-Problems
-Salesmanship
-Kissinger's staff briefings
-Points made
-Quality
-Kissinger
-Positive results
-US Vietnam policy
-Negotiations
-US record
-Preparation
-Length
-Limitations
-The President’s view
-Troop withdrawals
-Hugh Scott's remarks
-The President’s view
-Intellectual range
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Kissinger
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Press briefings
-Simplicity
-Sophistication of newsmen
The President's speeches
-A memorandum
-Speechwriters
-Strengths and weaknesses
-Dullness
-Illustrations, anecdotes and colorful language
-William L. Safire
-Public attention
-Winston S. Churchill
-Model as speaker
-Burke Cochran
-Observations on speechwriting
-Simplification
-Criticism
-Substance and style
-Improvement of quality of writing
-Cochran's advice to Churchill
-Use of illustrations
-Use of colorful phrases
-"Iron Curtain" phrase
-Impact
-Canadian Parliament speech
-Quotations
-The President’s view
-Shortcomings
-Audience response
-Illustrations
-Lack
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.
-Canadian Parliament speech
-Delivery to the President
-Kissinger
-Typing
-Copies
-Kissinger
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Secretary
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.
-Effectiveness
-Elements
-Preachers
-Use of stories
-Illustrations
-Quality of drafts by speechwriters
-Problems
-William Pitt's speech
-Brevity
-Speech in Canada
-Raymond K. Price's version
-The President’s view
-Conclusion
-Pitt's speech
-The President's rewording
-Pitt and Horatio Nelson
-Churchill
-Cochran
-Background
-Speechwriters
-Quality of writing
-Drugs speech
-Memorable phrases and colorful terms
-Safire
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.
-Canadian Parliament speech
-Kissinger's draft
-Sixth draft
-Delivery to the President
-Secretary
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.
Beverly J. Kaye entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Typing of draft
-Sixth draft
-The President's mark-ups and notes
Kaye left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.
-Drafts
-Statements on US-Canadian relations
-Wording
-The President’s view
-Versions
-Speech staff
-Inadequacies
-The President’s view
-Speechwriting
-Need for examples
-Canadian Parliament speech
-US-Canadian relations
-Kissinger
-Versions and rewrites
-Simplicity and memorable phrases
-The President as speechwriter
-Speechwriting staff
-Price
-James Keogh
-Quality
-Problems
-Compared with writing
Busing
-Richard H. Poff's proposition
-Constitutional amendment
-The President’s view
-Passage
-Chances
-Moratorium
-Democrats
-Responsibility
-Publicity
-Poff
-Memorandum from Edwin L. Harper
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Political liabilities of issue for administration
-Value of memorandum
-Hubert H. Humphrey's position
-Changes
-Support
-Reasons
-Voting issue
-Superficiality
-Robert P. Griffin
-Public apathy on issue
-Administration's position
-Change
-Democrats
-Dilemma on issue
-Exploitation by administration
-Divisions over platform
Domestic issues
-Arthur F. Burns
-The President's meeting with John B. Connally
-Tax withholding issue
-Drug program
-Head
-Myles J. Ambrose
-Job performance
Taxation
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Extra agents
-Shultz
-Tax return assistance
-Visibility
-Training
-Customs agents
-Increase in numbers
-Benefits
-IRS
-Withholding assistance
-Benjamin C. Bradlee
-Agents
-Tax return assistance
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Visibility
-Withholding
-Forms
-Refund checks
-Timing of release
-Mailings
-Programs
-Credit for administration
-Checks to taxpayers
-Implementation
-Connally
-Mailing
Busing
-David J. Armor
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Public opposition
-Press
-Support
-Hypocrisy
-Criticism
-Congress
-Democrats
-Hypocrisy
Taxation
-Program before House Ways and Means Committee
-Barber B. Conable, Jr.
-House Resolution 1
-Presidential veto
Busing
-Kenneth R. Cole and Shultz
-Note from Griffin
-Detroit judge, Stephen J. Roth's order
-Appeal
-Cole
-Call from White House
-Speech
-Phrasing
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
Taxation
-Loopholes
-Connally's previous speech in Chicago
-Circulation to congressmen
-The President’s order
-Support
-Municipal bonds
-State and local taxes
-Copies
-Circulation
Republican leaders meeting
-Kissinger's briefing
-The President’s view
-Length
-Discussion
-Simplification
-Compared with Churchill's speeches
-Margaret Chase Smith
-Comments on Kissinger's fact sheets
-Fact sheets
-Congressmen
-The President’s view
-Use of aides
-Simplification
-Brevity
-Clark MacGregor
-Arrangements
-White House staff
-Tables
The President's schedule
-Press conference
National economy
-Food prices
-White House efforts
-Farmers
-Butz
-Cultivation of support
-Middlemen
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Criticism
-Retailers
-Conflicts
-Clarence Adams [?]
-Supplies
-Price increase
-Retail competition
-Administration position
-Image
Busing
-Administration's position
-Image of opposition
-Public’s image
-Benefits of controversy
-Attacks from blacks
-Attacks from liberals
-Attacks from Strom Thurmond
-Drawbacks
Drugs
-Hotline
-Publicity
-Story in newspapers
Forthcoming election campaign
-"Players" and speakers
-The President's previous memorandum
-Discussions
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman and MacGregor
-Shultz
-Political group
-John N. Mitchell
-Involvement
-Role in campaign
-"Players"
-Colson
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Samuel L. Devine
-First Family
-Public appearances
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
Harry D. Steward
-Legal action
-Nature
-Possible dismissal
Peter G. Peterson
-Interest in job
-Public appearances
-The President’s view
-Quality of life programs
-Change of positions
-Productivity Council
-Radio program
-Shultz
-Previous meetings
-Events
-Peterson speech
-Michael P, Balzano, Jr.
-Colson's protege
-Italian background
-Belief in work ethic
-Compared with the President’s background
-Peterson's ideas
-Minority business enterprise
-Value
-Political uses
-Blacks
-Maurice H. Stans
-Speeches
-Peterson’s possible contribution
-Stans
-Political efforts
-Inner cities program
-Drawbacks
-Erhlichman’s forthcoming meeting with George W. Romney
Vietnam
-Romney's speech
-The President’s view
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
Minorities
-Blacks
-White House staff
-Programs
-Press response
-Integration
-President’s position
-Credit to administration
-Criticism
Hugh Scott
-Age
Churchill
-Age
-Prime Minister
-Second term
-Activities
-Early career
-Travel
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 39s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Jennie by George F. Kennan
-Jennie (Jerome) Churchill
-The President’s view
-British politics
-Marriage
-Age factor
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
Burns
-Preference for Federal Reserve Board position
-Age
Republican leaders
-Norris Cotton
-Meeting
-Alertness
Richard G. Kleindienst
-Confirmation hearings
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.’s position
-Peter M. Flanigan's testimony
-Ehrlichman's testimony
-White House staff testimony
-James O. Eastland
-Proposal
-Conversation with Michael J. Mansfield
-John N. Mitchell
-Cancellation until after elections
-Kleindienst as Acting Attorney General
-Problems
-Indictment
-Political issue
-Mitchell's opinion
-Options
-Withdrawal of nomination
-Flanigan's testimony
-Substitute candidate
-Kleindienst as Deputy Attorney General
-Lewis F. Powell
-Ehrlichman
-MacGregor
-Problems
-Caspar W. Weinberger
-Robert H. Bork
-Charles A. Wright
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Political future
-Capabilities
-Loyalty
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Weinberger
-Confirmation chances
-Advantages
-Court appointment
-Desire for job
-Jewish background
-Conservatism
-Busing
-Standing on Capitol Hill and with American Bar Association
[ABA]
-Deputy Attorney General post
-Retention
-Confirmation
-Withdrawal
-Edward M. Kennedy and Ervin
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 12:41 pm.
US-Soviet relations
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Forthcoming meeting with Kissinger
-Butz
-Visit to Moscow
-Meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Remarks
-Vietnam bombing
-Brezhnev’s reaction
-The President's trip to Soviet Union
-Brezhnev
-Stay in Kremlin
-Airplane
Vietnam
-B-52 strikes
-Inaccurate target charts
-Targets
-Railways
-Binh
-Reaction of North Vietnam
-Airfields
-Weather
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Military Region One
-Air cavalry
-Photograph on Washington Post
-Violation of orders
-South Vietnam
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] reports on performance
-John F. Hollingsworth
-Americans in battle zones
-Pictures
-Restrictions
-Gen. John W. Vogt and Haig
-The President's orders
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Walt W. Rostow
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Stakes for US
-Negotiations
-B-52 strikes
-Targets
-The President's orders
-Concerns
-Civilian casualties
-US response
-Congressional support
-PRC
-Intensity of bombings
-Connally’s view
-Possible impact on negotiations
-Air strikes
-Weather
-Naval gunfire
-Destroyers
-Number
-Cruisers
-Intensity
-Impact
-Dong Hoi
-President’s previous experience in World War II
-Accuracy
-Air strikes
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Ehrlichman's experience in World War II
-Inaccuracies
Kissinger's schedule
-Meeting with Dobrynin
-Time
-Meeting with PRC representatives
-Departure
The President's Canadian speech
-Kissinger's review
-Soviets
-Dobrynin
-Summit
-PRC
Vietnam
-Negotiations
-French appeal
-State Department
-Talks with North Vietnam
-H. Ross Perot
-Detente
-The President's Canadian speech
-Soviets
-Timing
-Future statements
-Scott's remarks
-Soviets
-Troop withdrawals
-The President's forthcoming announcement
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Failure
-Kissinger’s view
-Air strikes
-Naval power
-Kissinger's call to the President
-President’s trip to Camp David
-Air strikes
-B-52s
-Airfields
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Safety of crews
-Abrams
-Navigation
-Targets
-Civilian casualties
-Blockade
-The President’s view
-Implementation
-Kissinger’s view
-Public opinion
Kissinger left at 12:55 pm.
International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] case
-Kleindienst
-Confirmation
-Problems
-Retention in office
-Mitchell's opinion
-Hearings
-Cancellation
-Eastland
-Mansfield's agreement
-Votes
-Robert C. Byrd
-San Diego convention site controversy
-Flanigan's testimony
-Kissinger's testimony
-Alger Hiss case precedent
-Flanigan's testimony
-Precedents in other cases
-Ehrlichman's recommendation
-Judiciary Committee
-Eastland
-Loss of control
-Withdrawal of nomination
-Justification
-ITT hearings
-Colson and MacGregor
-San Diego
-C. Arnholt Smith
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Investigations
-Kennedy's subcommittee
-Charges of harassment
-Investigations
-San Diego
-Henry E. Petersen
-C. Arnholt Smith
-Post as acting Attorney General
-Political problems
-Mental reservations
-Impact on performance
-Indictment against Kleindienst
-Substitute
-Weinberger
-Acting appointment
-Busing problem
-Benefits
-Confirmation chances
-Background
-MacGregor and Colson
An unknown person entered after 12:55 pm and left before 1:15 pm.
-Executive Committee
-MacGregor's report
-Number of votes
-Executive privilege
-Ervin's attacks
-Use of leverage
-Confirmation
-Mitchell's opinion
-MacGregor's recommendation
-Withdrawal
-Support for Weinberger
-Candidates
-Loyalty
-Weinberger
-Desire for court seat
-San Francisco
-Jane (Dalton) Weinberger
-Compared with Martha Mitchell
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-The President’s view
-James T. Lynn
-Age
-Record
-Weinberger
-Compared with Lynn
-Experience
-Federal Trade Commission [FTC] and California posts
-[Forename unknown] Hillums [sp?]
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Confirmation
-Failure
-Losses to administration
-Problems
-Indictment
-Colson and MacGregor
-Eastland
-Post as acting Attorney General
-Candidates
-Weinberger
-Eastland's objections
-Confirmation
-Democratic attacks
-ITT
-Clement F. Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell
-Withdrawal
-Losses to administration
-Vietnam
-Discussion with Mitchell
-Weinberger
-Willingness to take position
-Mitchell's opposition
-Loyalty to the Administration
-The President’s view
-Jewish vote
-Mitchell’s view
-Ronald W. Reagan's support
-Supreme Court
-Jews
-Northern California support
-Jewish background
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Compared with Barry M. Goldwater
-Jewish identification
-Cyril Magnin
-Appearance compared with Goldwater
-Competence
-Relations with Kleindienst
-Alternative appointment
-Chances of confirmation
-Withdrawal
-Statement
-Attacks on critics
-Separation of powers
-Importance of issues
-Busing
-Ervin
-Mitchell
-Eastland's investigation of Department of Justice [DOJ]
-Antitrust cases
-Kennedy's subcommittee
-Confirmation
-Ehrlichman
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Losses
-Claire Boothe Luce
-Lewis L. Strauss
-Consequences
-Timing
-Soviet summit
-Vietnam War
-Democratic convention
-Food prices
-Kleindienst
-Mitchell
-Meeting with the President
The President's schedule
-Trip to Camp David
-Jews and blacks
-Taft Schreiber
-Herbert G. Stein
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Meeting with the President
-Connally
-Time
-Youth group
-Departure for Camp David
-Return to Washington
-Meeting
-Time
ITT case
-Public understanding
-Press questions
-Charges
-White House dismissals for wrongdoing
-Number
-Integrity
-Charges of wrongdoing
-Ehrlichman's investigation
-Press queries
-Meet the Press
-Political wrongdoing
-Democrats
-New Jersey
-Cornelius E. Gallagher
-Convictions
-1968 election
Unemployment
-California figures
-Increase in employment
-Decrease in unemployment
-Quarters
-Current levels
-Labor market
-Fluctuations
-Employment figures
-Meat prices
-Permanently unemployed
-Lay-offs
-Register for jobs
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
Vietnam
-Talking points for leaders meeting
-Haig
-Location
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 12:55 and
1:15 pm.
[Conversation No. 707-10B]
Request for a call to Ronald L. Ziegler
[End of telephone conversation]
Connally
-Speech to National Association of Broadcasters
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham remarks
-News summary
-Phrase
-Bearing
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-The President’s view
-Knowledge
-Foreign and domestic policies
-Patriotism
-Knowledge of foreign policy
-The President’s view
-Agnew’s questions in a previous National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Agnew’s NSC liaison
-Air strikes
-North Vietnamese
-US control of air
-Control of sea
-Compared with Edmund S. Muskie
-Public demeanor
Kleindienst
-Handling
-Mitchell
-Confirmation
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Withdrawal
-Timing
-Ervin and Byrd
-Vote in committee
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 1:15 pm.
The President's Canadian speech
-Seventh draft
-Clearance
-Butterfield’s opinion
-Haig and Kissinger
-Circulation
-Haig
-Kissinger
-Review
-The President’s view
Butterfield left at 1:17 pm.
Kleindienst confirmation
-Withdrawal of name
-Timing
-The President's Canadian trip
Anne Mansfield
-The President's previous call
-The President’s view
-Marriage
Vietnam
-The President's conversation with Kissinger
-Haig's trip
-Negotiations
-The President's radio talk
-Timing
The President's forthcoming Soviet trip
Mitchell
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)
-Meeting with the President
Ehrlichman left at 1:34 pm.
Rose Mary Woods
-Camp David
-Schedule
Vietnam
-Negotiations
-William P. Rogers
-Kissinger
-Timing
The President's meeting with Republican leaders
-Briefings
-Ehrlichman
-Shultz, Stein and Richardson
-Kissinger
-Length
-Wordiness
Vietnam
-Rogers
-Actions
-The President’s view
The President's schedule
-Meeting with Mitchell
-Location
The President and Haldeman left at 1:40 pm.
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)