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Conversation: 720-007

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Start Date: 5-May-1972 11:47 AM

End Date: 5-May-1972 12:09 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Bull, Stephen B.[Unknown person(s)]

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:33:59

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:56:29

720a.mp3

720b.mp3

NARA Description:

On May 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:47 am to 12:09 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 720-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 720-7

Date: May 5, 1972
Time: 11:47 am - 12:09 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     President's schedule
          -John B. Connally
                 -Meeting with the President
                      -Day
          -Camp David
                 -Speechwriters
                      -William L. Safire
                 -Speech content
                      -Henry A. Kissinger
                      -Patrick J. Buchanan
                      -John K. Andrews, Jr.
                      -Safire
                            -The President’s view
                      -Draft
                            -President's efforts
                            -Andrews
                            -Kissinger's draft
                            -Previous speech
                                  -Kissinger collaboration

     Vietnam
          -President's forthcoming speech on the blockade
                -Winston Lord
                -Kissinger's follow-up briefing
                -Contents
                      -Public acceptance
                      -Conclusion of war
                            -Blockade
                -Haldeman's view
                      -Andrews's assistance
                      -Safire
                -Andrews's instructions
                                              16

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                          Conv. No. 72-7 (cont.)
An unknown man entered and left at an unknown time before 12:09 pm.

     President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [PFIAB] meeting
          -Dr. Edward Teller
          -Dr. William O. Baker
                 -Advice on speech
          -Dissent
                 -Ivy League college presidents
                 -Media
                       -Networks
                       -Los Angeles Times
                 -University presidents
                 -Religious leaders
                       -William F. (“Billy”) Graham
                       -John Cardinal Krol
                 -Press opposition
                 -Supporters of President's policies
                       -International Brotherhood of Teamsters
                             -Frank E. Fitzsimmons, Joseph (“Joe T.”) Trerotola
                       -George Meany
                       -Franklin D. Murphy
          -Leaders of American society
                 -Failures
                       -Nelson A. Rockefeller's comments
                       -Murphy's comments
                 -Support for People's Republic of China [PRC] trip
          -President of Massachussetts Institute of Technology [MIT]
                 -Criticism of South Vietnam policy
                       -Lack of criticism of North Vietnamese offensive


**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 42s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************
                                                 17

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                 Conv. No. 72-7 (cont.)
     Vietnam
          -President's forthcoming speech on the blockade
                -Andrews
                      -Trip to Camp David
                            -Time

     Haldeman's schedule
          -Trip
                -Return to Washington, Dc
                     -Time

     Vietnam
          -President's forthcoming speech on the blockade
                -Kissinger
                -William P. Rogers's return
                -Kissinger briefing
                -President's briefing of congressional leaders
                      -J. William Fulbright
                      -Michael J. Mansfield
                -Rogers's briefing
                      -Foreign Relations Committee
                -Melvin R. Laird's briefing
                      -Armed Services Committee
                -Mansfield's schedule
                -Hugh Scott
                -President's briefing
                      -Size of group
                      -Relationship to speech delivery

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:47 am.

     President's meeting with Delbert L. Latta

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:09 pm.

     Vietnam
          -Clifford P. Case-Frank F. Church Amendment
                -John Sherman Cooper-Church Amendment
                -Provisions
                -Defeat
                      -Likelihood
                -Possible vote
                      -Mansfield Amendment
                                               18

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                     Conv. No. 72-7 (cont.)
                       -Delay by "doves"
                       -Negotiations breakdown
                       -Soviet Summit
                            -Possible cancellation
                       -"Hawks" position
                 -Democrats and "Doves"
                       -Blame for North Vietnam intransigence
                            -Publicity
                            -The President’s instructions
                            -Speeches
                       -Encouragement of enemy
             -American leader class
                 -Murphy
                 -Failures
                       -Businessmen
                            -Economic concerns

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:47 am.

     Instructions

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 12:09 pm.

     Vietnam
          -Scientists
               -Soviet weapons for North Vietnam
                      -Quality compared with South Vietnam weapons
               -American scientists refusal to work on weapons
               -Contrast with Soviet scientists
          -MIT
               -Resolution on weapons research
                      -Defeat
               -Grants

     Haldeman's schedule
          -Trip
                -Time of departure

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:47 am.

     Latta
             -President's meeting
                   -Ronald L. Ziegler’s comments
                                                19

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Jan-02)
                                                                           Conv. No. 72-7 (cont.)

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:09 pm.

     Vietnam
          -President's forthcoming speech on the blockade
                -Trip to Camp David
                      -Andrews
                      -Kissinger
                      -Alexander P. Butterfield
                      -Rose Mary Woods
                      -Kissinger

Haldeman left at 12:09 pm.