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Conversation: 789-006

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Start Date: 30-Sep-1972 10:56 AM

End Date: 30-Sep-1972 12:00 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Butterfield, Alexander P.Kissinger, Henry A.White House operatorPrice, Raymond K., Jr.Bull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

789-006a.mp3

NARA Description:

On September 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, Raymond K. Price, Jr., and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:56 am to 12:00 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 789-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 789-6

Date: September 30, 1972
Time: 10:56 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Oval Office

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

            The President’s schedule
                -Recent Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] signing ceremony for Joint
                    Resolution
                    -[Treaty] Room

            1972 election
                -Los Angeles demonstration, September 27, 1972
                    -Photographs
                         -Size of demonstration
                         -Physical appearance
                         -Signs
                             -Anti-war group
                             -George S. McGovern, R. Sargent Shriver
                             -Vietnam casualties
                         -Alleged Communist affiliation
                         -Jews
                         -Vietcong [VC] flags
                         -Hard hat action
                             -Plans
                                  -International Brotherhood of Teamsters
                                  -Charles W. Colson
                         -Donald Kalish
                             -University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA]
                             -Alleged Communism
                         -Vietnam casualties
                             -Killed in Action [KIA]
                         -Possible publication
                         -U.S. News and World Report
                         -Film


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
                                            14
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)

[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 20s     ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


            Defense contracts
                -McDonnell-Douglas
                    -Press interviews of aerospace industry workers
                        -St. Louis
                    -Thomas Victor Jones
                    -Union
                    -1972 campaign strategy
                        -Leaflets
                              -Timing
                              -F-15
                              -B-1
                              -McGovern

            Campaign spending law
               -New York Times or Washington Post story
               -Constitutionality
                   -Lawyers for the Committee for the Reelection of the President [CRP]
                        argument
               -Common Cause suit
                   -Federal Corrupt Practices Act
                   -Attempted stay
                   -Supreme Court
                        -Appeals
                            -Timing
                                  -1972 election
                   -[Malcolm Richard Wilkey]
                        -Reappointment
                        -Compared to [Murray I. Gurfein] of New York
                            -Background
                                  -Jewish identity
                            -Thomas E. Dewey

            Appointments
                                 15
         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. Nov-03)

    -Rita E. Hauser
         -John N. Mitchell
         -United Nations [UN] Ambassadorship
             -Background
                  -Jewish identity
             -Woman
         -New York Times report
             -Unknown editorialist
         -Positions
             -Reelection of the President
             -The President compared to McGovern
             -Compared to the President
                  -Human rights
                  -Civil rights
                  -Vietnam
                  -Views on women
         -The President’s possible victory margin
         -Mitchell
         -Jews
             -Herbert Stein
             -Henry A. Kissinger
             -Leonard Garment
             -Character
                  -Garment

Return of three Prisoners of War [POWs]
    -News summary
    -Cora Weiss and David Dellinger
              -Barry M. Goldwater
              -McGovern
    -Maj. Edward K. Elias
         -Wife
              -Quote about reincarnation claim
    -Weiss
         -Manner
         -Compared to Bella S. Abzug
    -Lt. Norris A. Charles
    -Lt. Markham L. Gartley
         -Parents
    -Elias
    -Administration handling
         -Elias
                                             16
                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Nov-03)

                        -Military hospital
                             -Wife
               -Defense Department Handling
                    -Brig. Gen. Daniel ("Chappie") James, Jr.
                        -Skill as a spokesman
           -North Vietnam propaganda
               -Value
               -Elias
               -POW wives
                    -Point about tour
               -Treatment by captors
                    -Quality
                        -Compared to unreleased pre-1067 POWs
                        -Value


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 9m 8s      ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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


        Public relations
          -Polls
                -Timing
                -US-Soviet Union trade deal
                     -Wheat deal
                     -Announcement
                     -Kissinger
          -Press briefings
                -The President's recent talk with Kissinger
                     -Ronald L. Ziegler
                     -SALT II
                         -Kissinger’s schedule
                             -Vietnam
                     -Focus on one subject at a time
                                              17
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

                          -Previous Vietnam briefing
                              -Impact on Soviet Union briefing
                          -Ziegler
                              -Kissinger
                                   -Kissinger’s Soviet Union briefing
                                         -News impact
                                              -Compared to Vietnam briefing
                 -Use of Kissinger

          William P. Rogers's forthcoming attendance at Washington Post dedication
            -Washington Post’s treatment of the President
                 -The President
                 -Rogers
                 -Mitchell
                 -White House staff
                 -Watergate
                     -Attention by other newspapers
            -Orders to Cabinet
                 -Handling
                     -Possible phone calls from Alexander P. Butterfield

Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:56 am.


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 47s        ]


Butterfield left at an unknown time before 11:13 am.


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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


Kissinger entered at 11:13 am.

         The President’s meeting with Andrei A. Gromyko, October 2, 1972
                                    18
            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. Nov-03)

   -Talking points
   -Rogers
        -Vietnam peace plans
        -Nuclear missile treaty [SALT II]
   -Duration
   -Statements
        -Nuclear missile treaty [SALT II]
        -Vietnam War
            -Tone
   -Vietnam War
        -Concessions
        -1972 election
            -Military solution
                 -Restraints

Gromyko's schedule
   -Camp David
   -Rogers
   -Return to the White House
       -Kissinger's schedule
            -Breakfast
       -SALT signing ceremony
            -Weather
            -Rogers
       -Breakfast
            -The President's schedule
   -Kissinger's schedule
       -Camp David dinner
            -Rogers's schedule
                 -The President's schedule
       -Escort for Gromyko
            -Rogers
                 -The President’s schedule
                     -Helicopter
                 -Dinner group
                     -Helicopter
            -The President’s schedule
            -Rogers's schedule
                 -Administration group
            -Soviet Group
       -Breakfast
   -Breakfast
                                    19
            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. Nov-03)

       -Nuclear weapons, Vietnam
       -The President's schedule
           -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, Kissinger
       -Map room
       -Ceremony
       -Map Room
       -Embassy
   -Ceremony
       -Arrival
   -Camp David
       -Rogers
   -The President's schedule
       -Oval Office meeting
       -Camp David
           -Kissinger and Soviet group
           -Rogers and State Department group
           -Dinner
                -Helicopter
                -Aspen Lodge
       -Return to White House
           -Rogers
                -Gromyko
           -Dobrynin
                -Kissinger
           -Second helicopter

Maritime agreement
  -Signing
       -Timing
       -Colson
            -Conversation with Kissinger
            -White House setting
       -Commerce Department
   -SALT
   -Jobs
   -The President’s schedule
       -Camp David
       -Political leadership meeting
            -John B. Connally's broadcast
            -[Camp David]
   -SALT
                                    20
            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. Nov-03)

The President’s schedule
  -Wholesale Price Index [WPI]
  -[Camp David]
  -Meeting with Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
       -Executive prerogative
       -Purpose
  -The President's appearance at retirement ceremony [for Adm. John S. McCain, Jr.,
       September 1, 1972]
       -Foreign policy
       -Kissinger’s schedule
           -Paris
           -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
       -Camp David
       -Vietnam

Vietnam Negotiations
    -The press
    -Settlement
         -Prospects
    -Deadline
         -North Vietnamese
    -North Vietnamese Proposal
         -Nguyen Van Thieu’s acceptance
    -North Vietnamese expectations
         -Maurice Schumann
             -Bombing Halt

The President's forthcoming meeting with Gromyko
   -Rogers
   -Vietnam
        -US stance
            -Military solution
        -The President's previous talk with Shumann
        -Diplomatic solution

Vietnam War
    -Settlement
         -North Vietnamese
             -10-year involvement
             -Losses
         -Prospects
         -Progress
                              21
        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                      Tape Subject Log
                        (rev. Nov-03)

         -Current document
               -Thieu’s tenure
    -Thieu's tenure
         -Administration image
         -History’s verdict
         -Public
               -1972 election
         -History’s verdict
               -US allies
    -South Vietnam government’s status
         -North Vietnamese strategy
               -Thieu's tenure
    -Possibility of agreement
    -Military solution
-US civilian and military leadership
    -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
         -Arms Control and Disarmament Agency [ACDA] [Raymond L. Garthoff]
         [sic]
         -Gen Andrew J. Goodpaster's Deputy [Lt. Gen. Edward Rowny]
    -Hard liners
         -Defense Department
    -JCS
         -Paul H. Nitze
    -Vietnamization
         -Ground war
         -South Vietnam's Air Force
               -Compared to North Vietnam
               -Navy Operations
                    -Carriers
               -Air Cover
         -Korea
               -US Aircraft
         -Plans
-Negotiations
    -Prospects
    -North Vietnamese leadership
         -Leonid I. Brezhnev
         -Chou En-Lai
    -US Strategy
         -Record
         -Thieu’s tenure
               -Imposition of communist government
                                   22
            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                           Tape Subject Log
                             (rev. Nov-03)

            -Military action
                 -Attrition
                      -Duration
                      -February 1973
                           -Dry season
                      -Effectiveness
                           -Bombing
        -North Vietnamese position
            -Offer
        -Negotiation progress
            -Previous position of North Vietnamese
                 -North Vietnamese control of army, police
                 -Government of Vietnam [GVN] status
            -Present position of North Vietnamese
                 -North Vietnamese government advisory committee role
                 -GVN status
            -The President's January 1972 peace proposal
                 -Concessions
                      -Le Duc Tho
                 -US stance
                      -Kissinger’s speeches
        -Committee of National Reconciliation
            -Thieu's reaction
                 -Previous offer in Electoral Commission
        -Changes in North Vietnamese position
            -July 1972
        -Prospects

US foreign policy
   -Negotiations with the Soviet Union
        -Press reaction
            -Joseph C. Kraft
   -Recent Washington Post story
        -The People's Republic of China [PRC]-Japan accord
            -Impact on US
            -Soviet Union
            -McGovern
            -Edward M. Kennedy
   -Milton Viorst
        -Washington Star article
            -US policy towards Soviet Union, PRC
                 -Liberals
                                               23
                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Nov-03)

             -Press
                 -Contact with Kissinger
                 -New York Times

         1972 election
            -McGovern
                 -Press and media support
                 -The President’s victory margin

         The President's schedule
            -Kissinger’s schedule
                 -Gromyko
            -Rogers’s schedule
            -Camp David
                 -Swimming

Kissinger left at 11:36 am.

         Funding for the President's previous Texas trip
            -Publicity
            -Melvin R. Laird’s travels

         Vietnam War
            -Kissinger
            -History’s verdict
             -Foreign policy
                  -Allies
                       -Pre-1972 election
             -Settlement
                  -Timing
                       -1972 election
                           -Polls
                                            24
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 11m 16s    ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8

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


       The President's forthcoming radio speeches
           -Raymond K. Price's, Jr.
                -Schedule
           -John D. Ehrlichman
                -Domestic themes
           -Kissinger
           -Price
                -Foreign policy speech
           -Issues
                -Environment
                -Youth
                -Future
                -Foreign policy and national defense
                     -The President’s September 27, 1972 speech in San Francisco
                     -National security
                -Economy
                -Reform
           -Price's schedule
                -[Camp David]
           -Ehrlichman's schedule
                -Camp David
                -Family
                     -Jeanne (Fisher) Ehrlichman’s schedule
                          -Campaigning

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:46 am and
11:52 am.

[Conversation No. 789-6A]

[See Conversation No. 30-35]
                                               25
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Nov-03)


[End of telephone conversation]

         The President's speeches
            -Price's schedule
                 -Camp David
                      -Work
                           -Image with staff
                           -Companion

         The President’s schedule]
            -Camp David
                 -Edward C. Nixon
                      -Birch Lodge
                 -Julie Nixon Eisenhower's schedule
                      -Aspen Lodge

         Polls

         Administration activities
            -Media coverage
                -Tone
                     -Daily analysis

Haldeman talked with Price between 11:52 am and 11:54 am.

[Conversation No. 789-6B]

[See Conversation No. 30-36]

[End of telephone conversation]

         Price’s schedule
             -Staff
             -Helicopter
                  -Edward Nixon
                                                26
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

         1972 election
            -Radio speeches
                 -The President’s forthcoming conversation with Price
                 -Importance
                      -Supporters, record
                      -John Foster Dulles

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:54 am.

         Colson's schedule

         Weather
            -Timing of Camp David trip
                 -Helicopter

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:00 pm.

         Haldeman's schedule
            -Kenneth W. Clawson
                -Ft. Wayne report

The President left at an unknown time after 11:54 am.

The President entered at an unknown time before 12:00 pm.

         Ft. Wayne report
             -Kenneth W. Clawson
                 -Record


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Privacy]
[Duration: 52s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9

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


             -Use
                                                27
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)


Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:54 am.

         Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule

         Helicopter

         Colson's schedule

         Haldeman’s schedule

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:00 pm.


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 6s      ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10

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


         Request for follow-up

Haldeman left at 12:00 pm.