Conversation No. 719-12

Date: May 4, 1972
Time: 12:03 pm - 12:22 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Mr. and Mrs. L[ouis] Patrick Gray III.

     J. Edgar Hoover
          -Eulogy by the President
               -Gray’s view
                                               20

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                         Conv. No. 719-12 (cont.)

     Mrs. Gray
          -Greetings

     Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
          -Gray's nomination
               -John D. Ehrlichman's efforts
               -Announcement
                     -Press coverage
               -President's support
               -Permanent nomination

The White House photographer entered at an unknown time after 12:03 pm.

          -Statement for press
                -Mrs. Gray's statements

The photographer left at an unknown time before 12:22 pm.

          -Gray's meeting with FBI officials
                -Location
                -Gray's remarks
                      -Intentions
                      -Hoover legacy
                -W. Mark Felt's report
          -Gray's nomination
                -Timing
                      -Forthcoming presidential election
                -Press questions
                      -Political connections with the President
                            -Response
                            -Friendship between the President and Gray
                            -Response
                            -President's relationship with Hoover
                -Gray's admiration of President
                -Gray's work with the President
                      -National Security Council [NSC]
                            -Adm. Arthur W. Radford
                      -Relationship with the President
                            -Contrast with Hoover
          -President's relationship with Hoover
                -Closeness
                -Comparison with Gray
                                  21

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. Jan-02)
                                                          Conv. No. 719-12 (cont.)

            -Professional relationship
                   -NSC
                   -Justice Department
                   -Contrast with Hoover friendship
                         -William P. Rogers
      -Compared with the President’s relationship with Dwight D. Eisenhower
      -First-name basis
      -Statements for press
-Press
      -Attitude toward Hoover
      -Hoover's attitude
            -Richard E. Berlin
      -President’s advice for Gray
            -Proper attitude
            -Allen S. Drury
            -James Keogh
            -Edith Efron
      -Hoover's relations
            -Dealings with detractors
                   -Judgment
      -Gray's relationship
-Directorship
      -Proper management style
            -The President’s view
-Confirmation hearings issues
      -Civil rights
      -Law and order
      -Repression
            -Hoover
      -Communism
-Directorship
      -Clyde A. Tolson
            -Resignation
      -First steps
            -Press tour
            -Meetings with special agents
                   -President's appearance
                         -Time
                         -Stephen B. Bull, Dwight L. Chapin
            -Tour of FBI offices
                   -Purpose
                   -Time
                                          22

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                  Conv. No. 719-12 (cont.)

                  -Meeting with police officer

Press
        -The President’s view
        -President's relationship with
              -Conflicts
        -Attitude
              -Allusion in President's eulogy
        -Gray
              -Ronald L. Ziegler
              -Dan Rather
                    -Questions regarding Gray's speech
                    -The President’s view
        -Hoover's attitude toward Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
              -John W. Chancellor
                    -The President’s view
              -Dan Rather
                    -The President’s view
                    -Dealings with CBS
              -American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
                    -Howard K. Smith
              -CBS, Rather
                    -Gray's dealings
        -Gray's public appearances
              -Television appearances
                    -The President’s advice
                    -Ziegler's advice
              -Speeches
              -Dealings with press
                    -Press conferences
                          -Advice from Ziegler, Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
        -Hoover attitude toward CBS
        -Time-Life, Newsweek
              -Gray's dealings
                    -The President’s advice
                    -Hugh S. Sidey
                    -Dislike of FBI
        -New York Times
              -Pentagon Papers
              -President’s advice
        -Mrs. Gray
              -Interview with Bonnie Angelo
                                              23

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                    Conv. No. 719-12 (cont.)

                      -Sidey
                -Political work
                      -Separation of FBI from politics
                            -The President’s view
                            -Hoover

     Gray's appreciation

Mr. and Mrs. Gray left at 12:22 pm.