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Conversation: 737-002

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Start Date: 16-Jun-1972 10:18 AM

End Date: 16-Jun-1972 11:18 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Butterfield, Alexander P.Ehrlichman, John D.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Hodgson, James D.Richardson, Elliot L.Weinberger, Caspar W. ("Cap")MacGregor, ClarkCole, Kenneth R., Jr.Korologos, Thomas C.Bull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:31:35

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:34:01

NARA Description:

On June 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, James D. Hodgson, Elliot L. Richardson, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Clark MacGregor, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Thomas C. Korologos, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:18 am and 11:18 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 737-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 737-2

Date: June 16, 1972
Time: 10:18 – unknown time after 11:18 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield, John D. Ehrlichman, and H. R. (“Bob”)
Haldeman.

      The President’s schedule
           -James D. Hodgson
           -Elliot L. Richardson
           -Public ceremony for family of John Paul Vann
                 -William P. Rogers
                 -Melvin R. Laird
                 -Schedule for meeting
                       -Presentation of Medal of Freedom
                       -Press
                           -Photograph
                           -Joseph W. Alsop

Butterfield left at 10:25 am.
                                              2

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Feb-02)
                                                                    Conv. No. 737-2 (cont.)

     The President's schedule
          -Florida
          -Grand Bahama Island
                -Marine One helicopter
          -Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
                -Walker's Cay, Florida
                      -Weather
                          -Forecast
                -Location
                      -Helicopter travel

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 10:26 am.

     Social Security
          -Richardson
          -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
          -House Resolution [HR] 1
          -Abraham A. Ribicoff
                -Compromise
          -Jacob K. Javits
          -Frank F. Church
          -Welfare reform
                -The President's signature
          -Richardson
                -Meeting with the President
          -Republicans
                -House Ways and Means Committee
          -Payroll tax

     The President's schedule
          -Haldeman

The President left at an unknown time before 10:26 am.

Hodgson, Richardson, and Caspar W. Weinberger entered at 10:26 am

[General conversation]

     Seating arrangements
                                                 3

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Feb-02)
                                                                     Conv. No. 737-2 (cont.)

     Busing
          -Justice Department opinion
                 -Ralph E. Erickson
                      -Office of Legal Counsel
          -William G. Milliken

     Higher Education Bill
         -Signing date
         -Busing
         -Detroit case
               -Robert P. Griffin
         -Educational groups
               -Meeting with President
                     -Purpose
               -HEW
               -Political goals


     Welfare reform
         -Wednesday group letter
         -HR 1

The President entered at an unknown time after 10:26 am.

Clark MacGregor, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and Thomas C. Korologos entered at 10:26 am.

     HR 1
         -Review
         -Congress
         -Costs
         -Merits
         -Practical problems
               -Hodgson
               -MacGregor
               -Richardson
         -Legal analysis
         -Goals of legislation
         -Welfare reform legislation
               -Congressional review
               -Work incentives
               -Wage scales
               -Passage through Congress
                           4

    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. Feb-02)
                                               Conv. No. 737-2 (cont.)

-Cost
-Senate Finance Committee bill
      -Comparison with HR 1
      -Conflicts
           -Russell B. Long provision
-HR 1 modifications
      -Public service jobs
      -Money to state and local governments
      -Long
-Ribicoff's amendment
-Compromise possibilities
      -Restoration of provisions
      -Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
      -Ribicoff amendment
      -Cost-of-living increases
           -Modernization
-Political acceptability
      -Ribicoff amendment
           -Finance Committee members
                  -Griffin
      -Republican Senators
      -Democratic support
      -Korologos
           -Advice on changes
      -Republican unity
      -Move to left
           -Benefits
           -Ribicoff amendment
           -Republicans
                  -Support
      -Strategy
           -Long provisions
           -Ribicoff amendment
           -Problems
      -William V. Roth, Jr.
           -Amendment
      -Senate action on welfare provisions
           -Supporters
      -George S. McGovern's nomination
      -Democratic convention
           -Timing
      -Present opportunities
                                   5

          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. Feb-02)
                                                           Conv. No. 737-2 (cont.)

-Presidential leadership
      -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
            -Republican votes
      -Ribicoff
            -Support
      -Need for compromise
      -Long provision
            -Work provision
                 -Flaws
      -Change in attitude
            -Advantages
            -Ribicoff amendment
-Costs
      -Long proposal
      -Ribicoff
            -Compromise
            -Costs
-Support organizations
      -National Association of Manufacturers [NAM]
      -American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations [AFL-
            CIO]
      -League of Women Voters
-Implementation
      -Fiscal year
            -Richard P. Nathan’s view
            -Future costs
      -Compromise
      -Administration's response
      -Likelihood
      -Ribicoff proposal
            -Supporters of legislation
      -Timing
            -Richardson’s view
      -Risks
            -Senate
                 -Possible changes
      -Political considerations of HR 1
            -Ribicoff
                 -Requirements
                 -McGovern
                       -Democratic convention
            -Democrats
                                        6

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Feb-02)
                                                                    Conv. No. 737-2 (cont.)

               -Long
                    -Senate bill
                           -Introduction
                    -Democratic platform
                           -Administration's response
                    -HR 1
                           -McGovern
                                 -Issue
                    -Democrats
                           -Democratic platform
                                 -Hearings
                           -Wilbur D. Mills
                           -Ribicoff
                                 -McGovern
                                 -Moynihan
                           -McGovern
                                 -Hubert H. Humphrey's criticism
                                 -Ribicoff
                                 -Moynihan
                                 -Distinction with Administration
                           -Convention
    -Provisions of current bill
          -Possible administration actions
               -Negotiations with Congress
    -Possible compromises
          -Food stamps
          -Cost of living increases
          -Social Security taxes
               -Work incentives
          -Scope
               -Minimum wage protection
               -Support for states
               -Workfare programs
                    -Long
                    -Wallace F. Bennett

The President's schedule
     -Luis Echeverria Alverez

Welfare
    -Basis of decision
    -HR 1
                                                7

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. Feb-02)
                                                                  Conv. No. 737-2 (cont.)

           -McGovern

Stephen B. Bull entered and Ehrlichman, et al. left at 11:18 am

      The President’s schedule
           -Forthcoming telephone call
           -Forthcoming meeting with Echeverria

Bull left at an unknown time after 11:18 am.