Conversation: 709-015
Prev:  709-014 Next: 709-016Start Date: 17-Apr-1972 11:35 AM
End Date: 17-Apr-1972 12:02 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); White House operator; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:58:04
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:24:18
NARA Description:
On April 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:35 am to 12:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 709-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 709-15 Date: April 17, 1972 Time: 11:35 am - 12:02 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. Richard G. Kleindienst confirmation -John N. Mitchell's report -Negotiations with Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. and Paul J. Fannin -Robert Mardian -Clark MacGregor Vietnam -William P. Rogers's testimony, Senate Foreign Relations Committee -Rogers’s hearing -Press coverage -Clifford P. Case's questions -Support for the President and Vietnamization -Criticism of air war -Press coverage -Rogers's bearing 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 709-14 (cont.) -Frank F. Church's questions The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:35 and 11:50 am [Conversation No. 709-15A] [See Conversation No. 23-1] [End of telephone conversation] Vietnam -Rogers's testimony The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:35 and 11:50 am. [Conversation No. 709-15B] [See Conversation No. 23-2] [End of telephone conversation] Vietnam -Rogers's testimony Kleindienst confirmation -MacGregor -Mitchell -Advice on Kleindienst -Speech -Scheduling -Ervin's tactics -Delay of testimony -Michael Gravel case -Supreme Court -Privilege of Congress -Criticism of Ervin's position Vietnam -Rogers's testimony 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 709-15 (cont.) -Substance -Haldeman’s opinion -Television appearance -Bearing -Criticism of invasion -Prisoners of war [POWs] -Plane loss -Figures and casualties -US bombing -Military reasons -Diplomatic reasons -Importance -Talents -Legal abilities -Public relations sense -Clarity -Compared with Henry A. Kissinger -North Vietnamese intentions -Negotiations -Possible offer from North Vietnam -US bombing -Cessation -Conditions -Violations -Cessation -Demilitarized zone [DMZ] -US bombing -Conditions for cessation -Changes of policy under the President -Compared to 1968 -Troops -Retaliation for attacks -Protection of troops -Rogers compared to Kissinger -North Vietnamese invasion -Mechanized forces -Source of supply -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Petroleum dependence -US attacks on dumps -Purpose of bombings 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 709-15 (cont.) -News coverage -Edmund S. Muskie's resolution -Comments -Dangers to Democrats -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson's criticism -George C. Wallace Wallace -Tax reform -Letter to the President -Congress -Donald H. Rumsfeld’s reaction John B. Connally -Return from Texas -Timing -Haldeman's call -Appointment with Haldeman -Vacation in Texas -Benefits -Lyndon B. Johnson -Need to get back to Texas Vietnam -US bombing -Haiphong -Supporters -William F. (“Billy”) Graham -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Charles W. Colson briefing -Albert E. Sindlinger poll -Hawkishness of public opinion -Voluntary reaction -Sindlinger's press conference -The President’s previous conversation with Kissinger -Desire for negotiations -Possible partial deal -Negotiations with the USSR -Blockade -Imposition -Timing 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 709-15 (cont.) -North Vietnamese troop withdrawal from South Vietnam -Blockade -Johnson's compared with the President's policies White House staff -Donald B. Rice -Job with Rand Corporation -Meeting with the President -Value -Departures -Meetings with the President -Kissinger’s people -Rice -Meeting with the President -George P. Shultz -Reasons -Departures -Meetings with the President -Scheduling -Alexander P. Butterfield -Individuals to meet with the President -Stephen Hess -Capitalization on White House job -Meetings with the President -President’s view -Unknown accountant [?] Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's schedule -Mix-up with pandas -Two People's Republic of China [PRC] related events on same day -Rescheduling -Constance M. (Cornell) (“Connie”) Stuart -Upcoming conversation with Haldeman -Work with Ronald L. Ziegler -Soviet trip -Ziegler's staff -Plane -Reason for trip -Favor to Mrs. Nixon -Haldeman's conversation with William R. Codus -Stuart’s staff people 37 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 709-15 (cont.) -Problems -Mrs. Nixon's trip to Africa -Codus -Stuart -Job description -Assignments -Work with Mrs. Nixon -Lucy A. Winchester -Soviet trip -Restrictions -Hairdresser on Soviet trip -The President’s insistence -Work on previous trips -Helpfulness -Value to Mrs. Nixon Soviet trip -Warsaw stopover -Announcement Vietnam -Rogers's testimony -Haldeman's call -Complements -The President's call -Blockade -The President’s previous conversation with Rogers -Rogers's statement -Options -Exclusions -Ground forces -Nuclear weapons -Rogers's testimony -Blockade question Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:52 am. The President's schedule -Luncheon with William M. Colmer -Meeting with Rice -Length 38 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 709-15 (cont.) -Next job -Rand Corporation -Family -Gift -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger -MacGregor -Ervin Bull left at an unknown time before 12:02 pm. Kleindienst confirmation -Ervin -Meeting with MacGregor -Jack Gleason Haldeman left at 12:02 pm.