Conversation: 717-010
Prev: 717-009 Next: 717-011Start Date: 2-May-1972 11:19 AM
End Date: 2-May-1972 11:40 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Butterfield, Alexander P.; [Unknown person(s)]; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:23:46
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:45:06
NARA Description:
On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, unknown person(s), and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:19 am to 11:40 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 717-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 717-10
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 11:19-11:40 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.
J. Edgar Hoover
-President's call to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Death
-Announcement
-Timing
-Notification of President
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 11:24 am.
-President's statement
-Wire stories
-Criticism
-President's statement
-Written statement
-Oral statement
-Publicity
-Family
-Burial
-Instructions
-Family
-Arlington National Cemetery
-President's orders
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Kennedys
-Robert F. Kennedy
-Parents
-Possible relocation
-Memorial service
-Clyde A. Tolson
-Ceremonies
-The President’s view
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Capitol Hill
-White House
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 717-10 (cont.)
-John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-National Cathedral
-Dean Francis B. Sayre
-Catholic Cardinal
-Sayre
-The President’s view
-Arlington National Cemetery
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time before 11:25 am.
Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Telephone call
Butterfield and Ziegler left at 11:25 am.
An unknown person talked with the President at 11:26 am.
[Conversation No. 717-10A]
President's Schedule
-Haig
[End of telephone conversation]
Hoover
-Memorial service
-Public response
-Place
-Congress
-Arlington National Cemetery
-Amphitheater
-Tolson
-Call from Haldeman
-Charles W. Colson
-Meeting with President
-Cancellation
-President's meeting with delegation from the Rebild National Park
Society of Denmark
-Memorial service
-Place
-Arlington National Cemetery
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 717-10 (cont.)
Haig entered at 11:27 am.
Haldeman left at 11:27 am.
Vietnam
-Meeting with North Vietnamese
-Message from Henry A. Kissinger
-Value
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Negotiations
-North Vietnamese positions
-Troop withdrawal date
-Nguyen Van Thieu overthrow
-South Vietnamese notification
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Thieu
-William J. Porter
-Forthcoming walkout at plenary session
-Private meeting announcement
-Public expectations
-Kissinger's statement
-Kissinger
-Return to US
-Soviets
-Position
-The President’s view
-Haig’s view
-Negotiations
-North Vietnamese posture
-Soviet Summit
-Soviet reaction to strikes
-US military action
-Blockade
-Soviet Summit
-Possible cancellation
-Air strikes
-Haig’s view
-Bombing
-Haiphong
-Closing of port
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 717-10 (cont.)
-Soviet ships
-Haiphong
-Mining
-South Vietnamese
-Soviets
-Possible assistance to US
-Incentive
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] announcement
-Reaction to bombing
-Kissinger's assessment
-Risks to Summit
-B-52 strikes
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-Plans
-Time
-Extent
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Air strikes
-Carriers
-Extent
-Impact on North Vietnam
-Stories
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 13s ]
INTELLIGENCE
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**************************************************************************
-Military situation
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 717-10 (cont.)
-President's public relations advisors
-Colson, John A. Scali, Ziegler
-Negotiations
-John D. Erhlichman’s view
-Negotiations
-News reports
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Kissinger on coalition government
-Kissinger's position
-Press reports
-Sources
-Peace groups
-Press
-State Department
-Divisions within Administration
-Lyndon B. Johnson's Administration
-Clark M. Clifford
-President's position
-Note to Thieu
-Delivery
-US support
Ziegler entered at 11:38 am.
Meeting with President
Vietnam
-President's note to Thieu
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Course of battle
-Spirit of South Vietnamese
-Thieu's leadership
-US support
-Delivery
-Coalition government
-State Department statement
-Press reports
-Denials
-Gerald L. Warren
Haig and Ziegler left at 11:40 am.
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 717-10 (cont.)