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Conversation: 735-004

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Start Date: 15-Jun-1972 12:16 PM

End Date: 15-Jun-1972 12:42 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Mattingly, Thomas K., IIIYoung, John W.Duke, Charles M.Fletcher, James C.Butterfield, Alexander P.Ziegler, Ronald L.White House photographerBull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:45:47

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:13:16

NARA Description:

On June 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Thomas K. Mattingly, III, John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, James C. Fletcher, Alexander P. Butterfield, Ronald L. Ziegler, White House photographer, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:16 pm to 12:42 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 735-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 735-4

Date: June 15, 1972
Time: 12:16-12:42 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Thomas K. Mattingly, III, John W. Young, Charles M. Duke, James C.
Fletcher, and Alexander P. Butterfield.

[Ronald L. Ziegler, members of the press and the White House photographer were present at the
beginning of the meeting.]

     Introductions

     Arrangements for photograph

     Presentation of gifts
          -Wrist watches
                                        11

                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. Feb-02)



Gift for Mexican President [Luis Echeverria Alvarez]
      -Picture of North America taken from the moon
            -Inscription

Wrench used on moon
    -Presentation to the President

Space program
    -Docking
          -William Proxmire
    -Cost of space exploration
          -Cooperation with Soviet Union
                -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
                     -Congress
                     -Weapons
                -Future
                     -Mars
                     -Jupiter
          -Skylab
                -Uses
          -Space Shuttle
                -Availability to other countries
                     -Japan
                            -Interest
                     -Europe
          -International cooperation
    -Allen S. Drury's book
          -The President’s view
          -The press
                -Spiro T. Agnew
    -Joint mission with Soviets
          -Mars
          -Docking
                -Date
          -Budget
                -National attitudes
                     -Domestic priorities
          -Soviet Union attitudes
          -US-Soviet Union competition
    -National greatness
          -The President’s view
          -Exploration of unknown
                                          12

                 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Feb-02)


           -Austria
           -Exploration of Western Hemisphere
           -Science
           -Medicine
           -National spirit
                 -Exploration of Moon
                 -Mars
           -Cooperation
           -Intellectuals
                 -Criticism
           -Exploration of unknown
                 -Science
                 -Education
                 -Technology
                 -Transportation

Astronauts' tour of US cities
     -Public support

The President’s meeting with cosmonauts
     -Physical appearance of cosmonauts and astronauts
          -The President’s view
          -Woman cosmonaut
          -Physical requirements
     -The President’s meeting in the Soviet Union

Soviet Union cosmonauts
     -Frank Borman
          -Visit to the Soviet Union
     -Thomas P. Stafford
          -Attendance at cosmonaut funeral

Space program
    -Joint program with Soviet Union
          -Astronauts’ visits
               -Arrangements
                   -Henry A. Kissinger’s staff
               -Purpose

The President’s meeting with Echeverria
     -Latin American problems
           -Radical solutions
                -Fidel Castro
                                                  13

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. Feb-02)



Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:16 pm.

      The President's meeting with Kissinger

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:42 pm.

      Space program
          -Exchange with Soviet Union
                -Publicity
                -Level of exchange

      Astronauts' visit to Camp David
           -Facilities
                 -Recreation
                 -Movies
           -Food

Ziegler entered at 12:39 pm.

      Space program
          -Forthcoming press briefing
                -Exchange with Soviet Union
                -Exchange with other nations
                    -Impact

      Forthcoming head of state dinner
           -White wine

Mattingly, Young, Duke, Fletcher, and Ziegler left at 12:42 pm.

      Forthcoming head of state dinner
           -Presentation of Astronauts' picture
                 -Young

Butterfield left at 12:42 pm.