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Conversation: 726-005

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Start Date: 19-May-1972 12:19 PM

End Date: 19-May-1972 12:49 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Shultz, George P.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:50:12

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:13:12

726a.mp3

726b.mp3

NARA Description:

On May 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:19 pm to 12:49 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 726-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 726-5

Date: May 19, 1972
Time: 12:19 pm - 12:49 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with George P. Shultz.

[Discontinuities at the end of the conversation appear in the original recording.]

     Shultz
          -Confirmation
                                       33

                 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Jan-02)                    Conv. No. 726-5 (cont.)

          -Clark MacGregor
     -Timing with Richard G. Kleindienst's confirmation
          -Tactical considerations
          -Congressional tactics
     -Acting Secretary of Treasury
     -Confirmation
          -Hearings
               -Support
               -Relationship to Kleindienst hearings
               -Filibuster
               -President's strategy
               -Timing
          -Ease
     -Acting Secretary of Treasury
          -Legality
          -Timing
               -The President’s trip to the Soviet Union
               -John B. Connally trip
                      -Date
                      -Australia, New Zealand, and South America
                           -Purpose
          -Shultz's assumption of position
               -Legal impediments
               -Date
                      -Connally trip
          -Transition
          -Speed

Shultz's schedule
     -Briefings
     -Meetings with Congressmen
     -Office of Management and Budget [OMB] work

Connally
    -Trip
            -Status

Shultz
     -Acting Secretary status
                                       34

                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Jan-02)             Conv. No. 726-5 (cont.)

Treasury Department
     -Personnel
          -Shultz's choices
     -Tax reform
     -Personnel
          -Edwin S. Cohen
     -Personnel
          -Shake-up at top
                -Current problems
          -"Chicago group"
                -Arnold R. Weber
                      -Knowledge
                      -Work on freeze
          -Management needs
                -Internal Revenue Service [IRS], Customs
                      -Shake-up at IRS
                -Connally's changes
                -President's expectations of Shultz
          -Changes
                -Scope
                -Timing
                      -Forthcoming election
                -Preparation
          -Qualities
                -Youth
          -Possible current changes
                -Effect
                      -Top managers
                            -Support of President
                            -Charls E. Walker
                            -Paul A. Volcker
                            -Future positions
          -Shultz's team
                -Connally's team
                      -Qualities desired

Department of Labor
    -Shultz’s previous tenure

George Meany
    -Call
          -Meeting
              -Cost of Living Council [COLC] , tax reform
                                                35

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Jan-02)                  Conv. No. 726-5 (cont.)

                      -Benefits


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 23s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


            -Work with Shultz
                -Lee Elder
                      -Identified
                      -Appointment as golf professional at Washington, DC golf course
                            -Rogers C.B. Morton

    George B. Hartzog, Jr.
        -The President’s view
        -Future
        -Action on Elder appointment

    Elder
            -Appointment as gold professional
                 -President's orders
            -Shultz's call to Meany
                 -President's role
                                            36

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Jan-02)                  Conv. No. 726-5 (cont.)

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 24s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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


    Economic policy
        -Shultz
             -Knowledge
        -Conflicts with Arthur F. Burns
             -Money supply
             -Convertibility
        -Tax system
             -The President’s view
             -Reform
             -Use
                   -Social goals
                         -Legislation and appropriations
                         -Charitable deductions
             -Simplification
                   -Tax lawyers
                   -Value-added tax [VAT]
                   -Manufacturers' excise
             -Loopholes
        -Milton Friedman
             -Recruitment
             -The President’s view
             -Consultation
                   -Possibility
             -Support for President
             -View of wage and price controls
             -Recruitment
                   -President's urging
                         -The President’s trip tot he Soviet Union
                   -Teaching load
                   -Conditions
        -Personnel
                                         37

                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. Jan-02)                Conv. No. 726-5 (cont.)

           -Recruitment
           -Qualities desired
           -Friedman
                 -Radicalism
                 -The President’s view
                       -Value
                 -The President’s message
           -Shultz's future plans
     -Tax reform
     -Treasury Department
           -Shake-up
           -Dwight D. Eisenhower era personnel
                 -The President’s view
           -Harry S. Truman era personnel
                 -The President’s view
     -Congressional partnership
           -Wilbur D. Mills
           -Russell B. Long
                 -Meetings with Shultz
                 -Advice
                 -Work with President
                 -Senate role
     -Mills
           -Importance
           -Meeting with President
           -Tax bill
                 -Mills's position on reductions
                       -Problems
           -Loopholes
                 -Democratic criticisms
           -Effect of Democratic National Convention
     -Republicans
           -Importance
           -Meetings with Shultz
           -Shultz's relationship with President, Republicans
           -Handling

Treasury Department
     -Shultz's nomination
          -President's advice on role
          -Connally
          -Relationship with Caspar W. Weinberger on budget
                 -Importance
                                               38

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Jan-02)          Conv. No. 726-5 (cont.)

                 -Trade and monetary policy
                      -US National interests
                      -Trade terms
                      -Protectionism
                             -Forthcoming election
                             -President's position
                             -Support for Connally's position
                      -Shultz's position
                             -Press reports
           -Peter M. Flanigan
                 -Work on international trade policy
                      -Connally
                      -Knowledge
                 -Shultz's role
                      -Quadriad
                      -COLC
           -Controls
                 -1972 election
                 -Termination
                      -Timing
           -Budget
           -Projections

Shultz left at 12:49 pm.