Conversation: 784-021
Prev: 784-020 Next: 784-022Start Date: 21-Sep-1972 12:25 PM
End Date: 21-Sep-1972 2:01 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Woods, Rose Mary;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On September 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:25 pm to 2:01 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 784-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 784-21
Date: September 21, 1972
Time: 12:25 pm - 2:01 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 13m 45s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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US-Soviet Union wheat deal
-Federal Bureau Investigation [FBI] report
-Release
-Timing
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Appearance of impropriety
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m 35s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Vietnam War
-[George S. McGovern]
-John B. Connally
-Polls
-Support for the President's policies
-Bombing, mining, prisoners of war [POWs]
-Casualties
-Press coverage
-Radio
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Airplane
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] News
-Historical perspective
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 8m 4s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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The President's visit to the People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Public image
-Thomas E. Dewey
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-The President’s meetings with Chou En-lai
-Ceremonial aspects
-Chou En-lai
-Coat
-George E. Christian’s view
-America the Beautiful
-Film
-Shanghai Communiqué
-Background
-Chou En-lai
-Coat
-Haldeman's home movies
-Haldeman’s California friends
-Soviet Union trip
-Appearance compared to substance
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 20s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
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1972 campaign
-Issues
-Vietnam
-POWs
-Polls
-McGovern’s speech, September 20, 1972
-Administration announcement of zero casualties
-Emotion
-Fragment bombs
-Racial connotations
-Administration reports
-Racial aspect of war
-Double standard
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Burundi
Foreign policy
-Double standard
-State Department
-Henry A. Kissinger
-The President’s recent conversation with Kissinger
-Ethnic concerns
-Jews
-Israel
-Catholics
-Burundi
-State Department
-Recall of US ambassador [Robert L.Yost]
-State Department
-African governments
-Biafra
-Catholics
-State Department
-Nigeria
-Ibo tribe
-African governments
-Genocide
-Burundi
-Killed
-Proportion of total population
-Heads of families
-Perspective
-US
-Soviet Union
-Hungarians
-Ukrainians
-Communists
-PRC
-Visit by Theodore H. (“Teddy”) White
-Shanghai
-Stores, shops
-English speakers
-Language training
-Communist training
-Japan
-Unknown city
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Shanghai
-English speakers
-Interpreter
-White’s Chinese language skills
Vietnam War
-McGovern's possible visit to Hanoi
-Release of three POWs
-Edward M. Kennedy’s possible trip to Stockholm
-Kissinger
-Response
-Otto E. Passman
-Kennedy announcement
-Politicization charges
-Request of [Carl B. Albert] and [Michael J. Mansfield]
-Bipartisan delegation
-News summary
-Political interest
-Selection
-Brainwashing
-Press conference
-US
-Compared to Korean War POWs
-North Vietnamese
-Possible fate in US
-Officer status
-Brainwashing
-Kissinger’s view
-Escaped POW
Personnel management
-Brig. Gen. Daniel (“Chappie") James, Jr.
-The President’s recent conversation with Melvin R. Laird
-James’s position
-Promotion to Major General
-Air Force list
-Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Blacks
-Pentagon and Air Force reorganization
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-James
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Possible role as spokesman
-Blacks
-Richard M. Nixon Doctrine
1972 election
-James
-Use of speech by Presidential surrogates
-Haldeman
-Ehrlichman
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-POWs
-Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
-Hijacking
-Possibility as speaker
-Singing ability
-Vietnam
-Audience composition
-Blacks
-Whites
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Privacy]
[Duration: 12s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
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-Racism
-Southerners
-McGovern's campaign
-Campaign dinners
-The President's campaign
-New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles
-Tone
-Patrick J. Buchanan
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-McGovern's campaign
-Mock theater groups
-Staged bombings
-Anti-war demonstrators
-Actions in Washington, DC
-Flag burnings, bombings, vandalism
-Actions in Miami during Republican National Convention
-John W. Bricker
-Buses
-South Carolina
-Ohio
-Television coverage
-Radicals
-The President’s need to note
-Tear gas
-Audience
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 19s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
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-R. Sargent Shriver's Texas visit on September 22, 1972
-Use of television
-Visit to Texas
-The President's visit to Laredo border station and [Rio Grande] High
School
-Chicanos
-Al Capp
-The President’s reception on college campuses
-Charles W. Colson
-Hecklers
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Viet Cong flags
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Politics
-Hecklers
-McGovern
-1968 campaign
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Kennedy
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 54s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
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The President's schedule
-Forthcoming speech draft
-Rio Grande High School
-Timing
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-John B. Connally
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 12:25 pm and 2:13 pm.
[Conversation No. 784-21A]
The President's speech draft
-Schedule
-Rio Grande High School
-Laredo
[End of telephone conversation]
The President's schedule
-Visit to Laredo, Texas customs border patrol station
-Statement
-The President’s appreciation
34
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Talking paper
-Richard A. Moore
-Procedures
-Rio Grande High School
-Michigan
-Courtesy talk
-Student assembly
-Reciprocal visit
-Mexican-American heritage
-The President’s background as Southern Californian
-Opportunity
-Students as example for others
-Judge Mario E. Ramirez
-Daughter
-Projected welcome
-Band
-Laredo
-Connally
-Lloyd M. Bentsen
-Democrat Congressmen [Elgerio (“Kika”) de la Garza and Abraham
Kazan] and Bentsen
-McGovern
-Democrats for Nixon
-Rio Grande High School
-Democrats for Nixon
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 33s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
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Support for the President's policies
-Vietnam War issue
-Volatility
35
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Events
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision on bombing and mining
-White
-Need for analysis
-The President's trip to Moscow
Media coverage of Vietnam War
-Haldeman’s conversation with White about forthcoming book
-1972 election
-Cambodia
-PRC
-June 30, 1970
-Laos, 1971
-May 8, 1972 decision
-Issue of passivity
-Mining, bombing
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Soviet Union summit
-The President's trip to Soviet Union
-Negotiation of peace treaty
-Kissinger meetings with Le Duc Tho
-Paris
Post-1972 election plans
-Administrative organization
-Timing
-First thirty days
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:25 pm.
Instruction
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm.
Post-1972 election plans
-Generosity
-Press
-Bureaucracy
-Advisability
-Administrative reorganization
-The President's conversation with Kissinger
-Loyalty
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-U. Alexis Johnson
-Ambassadorial appointment
-Kissinger
-State Department, Defense Department
-Loyalty compared to intelligence
-Schools
-News story
-Compared to Cambodia, Laos, May 8, 1972 decision
-Weinberger
-Ehrlichman
-Appointment of agency heads
-Compared to ambassadorships
-Budget
-Arms Control and Disarmament Agency [ACDA]
-Arms Control Advisory Committee
-Meetings
-Congress
-Agnew
-Appeals
-The President's involvement
-Possible presidential memorandum
-Agnew
-Relationship with the President
-Responsibilities
-[National Aeronautics and Space Council]
-Congressional relations
-Colson
-Photograph sessions with Democratic Congressmen
-John E. Nidecker
-Bryce N. Harlow
-1969
-Compared to William E. Timmons
-“New Establishment”
-Charles H. Percy
-Kissinger's breakfast
-Clark MacGregor's dinner
-Plans for Illinois
-Ehrlichman
-[Charles E. Goodell]
-New York
-Percy
-Arthur F. Burns
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-White House gifts
-Watches
-The President's relations with his staff, cabinet
-Camp David
-Use
-Example
-[William P. Rogers]
Presidential yacht
-Requisition of new boat
-Seqouia
-Navy
-Secretary of the Navy
-Secretary of Defense
-Requisition of new boat
-Gift
-Tax deduction
-Possible docking places
-Potomac River
-Key Biscayne, Florida
-Annapolis, Maryland
-Helicopter
-Possible cruise
-Bahamas
-Caribbean Sea
The President's post-1972 election plans for remodeling the White House
-The President’s forthcoming conversation with Thelma C (“Pat”) Nixon
-Kitchen and pantry in family quarters
-Appearance
-Age
-Function
-Service capacity
-Main kitchen
-Dumbwaiter
-Bedrooms
-Refrigerators
-Timing
-Sink
-Wet bar
-Kitchen
-Yellow Oval Room
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Coffee
-Wet bar
-Bathroom
-Sink
-Plumbing
Reorganization
-Jobs
-The President's conversation with Ehrlichman
-Ethnic, religious, political concerns
-Catholics, Italians, Poles, Democrats
-Labor
-Colson
-Ambassadorships
-Secretary of Labor
-Businessmen
-Donald F. Rodgers
-Democrats
-Connally's recommendations
-Christian
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Possible commission chairmanship
-Confirmation
-Subtlety
-Herbert G. Klein
-Robert H. Finch
-Supreme Court nominees
-Ehrlichman's concerns
-Qualifications
-Catholicism
-Conservatism
-Ethnic groups
-William H. Mulligan
-Fordham University
-John A. (“Jack”) Mulcahy
-Catholics
-Italians
-Joseph L. Tauro
-Support for the President
-Qualifications
-Women
-Jews
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Herbert Stein, Kissinger
-Cabinet
-Weinberger
-Catholics
-Italians, Irish
-Quota
-William French Smith of California
-Cabinet appointments
-Frank C. Carlucci
-Italian background
-Catholicism, labor, ethnic groups
-Negroes
-Jews
-Democrats
-Secretary of Labor
-Rodgers
-Background
-Catholicism
-Undersecretary
-“New Establishment”
-Walter J. Hickel, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe
-Volpe
-Campaigning
-Work habits
-Possible ambassadorship to Italy
-Kissinger
-Foreign policy
-The President's role
-The Establishment
-Ehrlichman
-Advance trip
-The Establishment
-Military services
-Congress
-Republican appointments
-US attorneys, judges, customs officials
-Democratic appointments
-Humphrey
-Voting
-Political philosophy
-Peter G. Peterson
-[Sally (Hornbogen) Petersen]
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Helmut (“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt
-[Marjorie (Hecht) Sonnenfeldt]
-Loyalty
-Haldeman’s view
-Writing for Kissinger
Jews
-Leonard Garment
-Kissinger
-William L. Safire
-Stein
-Burns
-Garment
-Loyalty
Rose Mary Woods entered at 2:00 pm.
Delivery
Weather
The President’s schedule
-Dinner
Woods left at 2:01 pm.
The President's and family’s medical records
-Story about break-in at Dr. John C. Lungren's office,
September 20, 1972
-Los Angeles police report
-Vault in safe
-Gen. Walter R. Tkach
-Possible copy of files
-Publication of files
-Finger printing
-Woods's concern
-Dr. Arnold A. Hutschnecker
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 31s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
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-Effect on 1972 election
-Media coverage
-Lungren’s possible statement
-Age of records
-Lungren’s last examination of the President
-Timing
-Between 1968 election and inauguration
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 36s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
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-Possible motivation
-Selling
-Possible inside job
-The President’s family
-Handling
-Lungren’s inquiry
-Nature of records
-Effect on Watergate story
-Perpetrators
-Instructions for Haldeman to call Lungren
-Nature of records
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 12s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
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-Haldeman’s forthcoming telephone call to Lungren
-Quality of story
-Publication of files
-Possible further break-ins
-White House
-Camp David
-Key Biscayne
-San Clemente
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 28s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
-The President’s family
-McGovern
McGovern
-Ft. Wayne
-Use
-Kenneth W. Clawson
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Harold E. Hughes
-Iowa
-Alcoholism
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
[Privacy]
[Duration: 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
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-Use
-Threat
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 54s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
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Break-in to Lungren’s office
-Possible publication of records
The President and Haldeman left at 2:13 pm.