Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 809-002

Prev:  809-001 Next: 809-003

Start Date: 28-Oct-1972 9:10 AM

End Date: 28-Oct-1972 10:26 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Bull, Stephen B.Ziegler, Ronald L.[Unknown person(s)]Woods, Rose MaryKissinger, Henry A.Colson, Charles W.

Recording Device: Oval Office

809-002a.mp3

809-002b.mp3

NARA Description:

On October 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, unknown person(s), Rose Mary Woods, Henry A. Kissinger, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:10 am to 10:26 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 809-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 809-2
                                            2
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)


Date: October 28, 1972
Time: 9:10 am - 10:26 am
Location: Oval Office

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

        Watergate
           -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] news broadcast
                -Condensation of proposed special
                -Effect
                    -Damage
                -Lyndon K. ("Mort") Allin’s News Summary item
                    -Quality of program
                          -Content
                -Charles W. Colson’s conversation with Frank Stanton
                -Political impact
                -Colson’s conversation with Stanton
                    -Special
                    -News broadcast

        Radio speeches
            -Schedule
                -"One America"
                -National defense
                -Ronald L. Ziegler
                -News effect of defense speech
                    -Vietnam

        Vietnam
            -Settlement
                 -Proximity to 1972 election
                     -Political effect
                         -Samuel Lubell’s view
                         -American Broadcasting Company [ABC] interviews in Columbus,
                          Ohio
                         -Henry A. Kissinger, William P. Rogers
                               -Hanoi
            -As campaign issue
                 -Administration handling
            -George S. McGovern's position
                                                 3
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

                 -Attainment of terms in 1969
                 -R. Sargent Shriver
             -Counters to McGovern's position
                 -McGeorge Bundy
                 -George W. Ball
                 -W[illiam] Averell Harriman
                 -Howard K. Smith


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 38s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:10 am.

        President's schedule
            -Ziegler

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:24 am.

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 1s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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


Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:10 am.
                                               4
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

        The President’s schedule
            -Ziegler
                -Gerald L. Warren

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:24 am.

        Legislation
            -Social Security
                 -The President’s recent vetoes
                     -News coverage
                 -Signing, October 30, 1972
                     -Credit
                          -News coverage


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 3m 34s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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


        CBS news story
           -Stanton
           -Colson’s view concerning broadcast
           -Duration
           -Upcoming segment
               -Feature story
           -Variety

        Press relations
            -1967


*****************************************************************
                                                 5
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 7m 40s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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


Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:10 am.

        Ziegler's schedule
            -Voting
            -Telephone call

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:24 am.

        Radio speeches
            -Schedule
            -"One America"
            -National defense
                -Amnesty
                -Last minute changes
                     -Ziegler’s possible statement
                     -News worthiness
                         -Editing
                              -Vietnam
                     -Speculation
            -"One America"
                -Quality
            -Federal spending [October 7, 1972]
            William L. Safire [Philosophy of Government, October 21, 1972]
            -American Farmer [October 27, 1972]
            -Education [October 25, 1972]
            -Crime [October 15, 1972]
            -Urban affairs [November 1, 1972]
            -Foreign policy [November 4, 1972]
            -Goals [November 5, 1972]
            -Television spot
                                               6
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Nov-03)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5

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


Ziegler talked with Haldeman between 9:24 am and 9:27 am.

[Conversation No. 809-2A]

[See Conversation No. 32-78]

[End of telephone conversation]

        Announcement
           -Ziegler's forthcoming call to Warren

        The President’s schedule
            -Camp David
            -Surrogates meeting
                -Camp David
                -Residence
                -Auditorium
                -Women
                -Duration

        Kissinger’s schedule
            -Surrogates briefing on Vietnam
                -Political content
                     -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                -Necessity
                -Haig
                     -Paul C. Warnke
            -Ethnic press briefing
                                               7
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)


        The President’s schedule
            -Ethnic press, October 27, 1972
                -Value
                -Timing
                -Benefit
                     -Cultivation of contacts
                          -Poles, Italians, Puerto Ricans, Swedes, Danes
                          -Contact after the election


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 3m 24s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

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


        Watergate
           -CBS program
           -Administration's position
                -Editors
                    -1972 election
                    -Truth
           -Patrick J. Buchanan
           -Post-election strategy
                -Money
                -James Keogh’s book [President Nixon and the Press]
                -Edith Efron’s book [The News Twisters]
                -Propaganda war

The President left and Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:27 am.

        Speech

        The President’s schedule
                                              8
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

           -Bull’s telephone conversation with the President, October 27, 1972
               -Speech
               -Camp David
               -Speech
           -Speech
               -Timing
               -Western audiences
        -Andrews Air Force Base

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:36 am. The President entered at an unknown time before
9:36 am.

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 9:27 am and 9:36 am.

[Conversation No. 809-2B]

        Radio speeches
            -Schedule
                -"One America"
                -National defense
                -Follow-up apparatus

[End of telephone conversation]

        Radio speeches
            -Schedule
            -Follow-up apparatus


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 27s ]


Rose Mary Woods entered at 9:36 am.


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
                                               9
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

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


        Speeches
            -Changes
            -Timing
                -Changes

Kissinger entered at 9:37 am.


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 52s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8

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


Woods left at 9:39 am.

        Vietnam
            -Story of negotiations
                -Kissinger’s efforts
                -News summary
                -Political charges by opposition
                     -ABC interviews
                          -Columbus, Ohio
            -Kissinger’s possible surrogates briefing
                -Kissinger's presentation
                     -Haig
                     -Rogers
                -The President’s role
                -Political nature
                     -Warnke
                     -Newspaper leaks
                -Rogers
                            10
    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                    Tape Subject Log
                      (rev. Nov-03)

     -Political points
-Points to be made
     -Colson
-Political nature
     -Lubell
-Settlement
     -Timing
     -The President's letter to Kissinger
          -Use
               -Hanoi
                    -Trip
          -Publicity
               -Time
                    -Jerrold L. Schecter
     -Political charges by opposition
          -Columbus, Ohio
          -Reaction by administration
          -Kissinger’s role
     -Rogers's possible presentation to surrogates
     -Substance of proposal
          -Subtleties
          -George S. McGovern's position compared to the Administration’s
     -Substance of agreement
          -Prisoners of war [POWs]
          -Cease-fire
          -Communist government in South Vietnam
     -Contrast to McGovern's position
          -POW’s
          -Withdrawal
          -Disarmament of South Vietnam
          -Peace with surrender compared to peace with honor
     -1972 election
          -Priority of making right kind of settlement
          -Terms
               -POWs
               -Cease-fire
               -Non-Communist government in Vietnam
     -Publication of agreement
-McGovern's stance
     -Political distortion
-Public relations
                                     11
             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                             Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. Nov-03)

            -Presentation of administration's position
        -The President’s schedule

People's Republic of China [PRC]
    -Grain deal announcement
         -The President’s radio address on the American Farmer
              -Agriculture Department
              -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
              -Earl L. Butz
              -PRC note
         -Consequences
    -Price's staff
         -Instruction to Haldeman
         -Butz

Speeches
    -Route of speeches
    -[National Security Council] [NSC]
    -Agriculture Department
         -Information channels
    -Change of speeches by the President
    -Price’s responsibility
         -Check of speeches
         -Staff
         -Problems
    -National defense speech
         -Timing
         -Changes

Warnke briefing
   -Haig
   -Kissinger
        -Press briefing
   -Information in briefing
        -Amount of information
            -The President’s 1968 briefing
   -McGovern
        -Offer of briefing

Vietnam
    -North Vietnamese
                                             12
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Nov-03)

                -Meeting with Kissinger
                     -Press
                     -Timing of settlement signing
                          -November 1, 1972
                          -Consultation with the President and Saigon
            -Acceptance by South Vietnamese
            -Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Marilyn Berger of Washington Post
                -Liberals
                     -Nguyen Van Thieu
                     -Chiang Kai-Shek
                     -Berger
            -Public opinion
                -Berger
                -Nixon compared to McGovern
                -Non-Communist coalition
                -Surrender
                -Kissinger handling
            -Surrogates briefing
                -The President’s capability
                -Haig
                -Politicization

Woods entered at an unknown time after 9:39 am.

        Speech changes

Woods left at an unknown before 10:12 am.

        Foreign policy
            -Kissinger's call to Jay Lovestone, October 27, 1972
                -Forthcoming meeting
                -George Meany
                     -Foreign policy briefings
            -Meany
                -Purchase of national radio time
                     -Timing
                -Possible endorsement of McGovern
                -Briefing
                     -Haig
                     -Postponement
                -Lovestone
                                      13
             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Nov-03)


Vietnam
    -Media and press relations
        -Marvin L. Kalb
        -Washington Post
        -New York Times
            -The President's instruction to Kissinger
                 -Washington Post
                      -Opinion makers
                 -Max Frankel
        -Howard K. Smith's broadcast
            -Kissinger
            -Bundy
            -Timing of agreement
        -Kissinger's possible conversation with Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
            -John W. Chancellor
            -Watergate
        - [Arnold] Eric Sevareid
        -Kissinger's recent talk with Sevareid
        -1972 election
    -Timing of agreement
        -1972 election
        -Possible public perception
            -Politics
            -Bombing halt
            -1972 election
                 -Nelson A. Rockefeller
        -US choice of peace strategies
            -Hypothetical effect
            -Hanoi's public acceptance of May 8, 1972 plan
                 -Effect on 1972 election
            -May 8th, 1972 Plan

1972 campaign
    -Magnification of problems
    -Close elections
    -McGovern supporters’ fear
        -Reality of election
        -Smear campaign
             -Effect on election
    -Election prospects
                                    14
            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. Nov-03)

         -States
         -Popular vote
              -Dwight D. Eisenhower
                   -1952 election
    -Administration enemies
         -McGovern
         -Press
         -University professors
         -Clergy
         -Quality of criticism
    -Settlement of war
         -Timing
         -Political charges
    -Kissinger’s briefing
    -Election week rhetoric
    -CBS news broadcast on Watergate
         -Possible hour long special
    -Television commentators request for Kissinger interview
         -Cronkite
         -New York
         -Use of interview
              -Attribution
              -Commentary
    -Public appearances of the President in Kentucky and West Virginia
         -Network coverage
         -Benefits
              -William F. (“Billy”) Graham
         -Network coverage
              -Audiences

Vietnam
    -November 3, 1969 speech by the President
        -Anniversary
        -May 8, 1972 decision
        -Importance
            -Announcement
                 -Timing
                     -Demonstrations
        -Reasons
            -Mining, aircraft alert
        -Soviet Union
                                               15
                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Nov-03)

                      -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]

         Radio speeches
             -Number
             -Time involved
             -Education
                 -Los Angeles Times coverage

         Vietnam
             -Settlement
                  -South Vietnam
             -Nguyen Van Thieu’s possible meeting with the President
             -Post-1972 election strategy
                  -Thieu
             -North Vietnam publication of settlement
             -Settlement delay
             -Thieu
                  -Letter from the President to Thieu
                  -Treatment of the President, Kissinger, Rogers
                  -Letter from the President
                      -The President’s friendship and support
                            -Thieu’s public statements
                                -Effect on US public support
                  -Previous letter
                  -The President’s speeches
                  -Terms
                  -US military support
                      -Departure
                      -Degree

         Kissinger’s schedule

Kissinger left at 10:12 am.

         Surrogates briefing on Vietnam
             -Kissinger’s view
                 -Image
             -Rogers's delivery of briefing
                 -Compared to Kissinger
                      -Political points
                 -1972 election
                                           16
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)

            -The President’s role
                -Effect


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 1s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14

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


Colson entered at 10:15 am.

        Surrogates briefing on Vietnam
            -The President’s role
            -Rogers
            -Kissinger
            -Rogers
                -Colson’s forthcoming telephone call
                -Handling of politics
            -Points
                -No communist government in South Vietnam
                -Guaranteed return of POW's
                -Cease-fire
                -McGovern program
                     -Surrender
                     -POW's
            -Need for aggressive campaigning
            -Purpose

        Compilation of McGovern's quotes
           -Shriver's quotes
           -Use of quotes

        Press relations
            -Status
                                      17
             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Nov-03)

    -McGovern election prospects
    -Pennsylvania polls
        -Interpretation of poll movement
             -Poll points related to votes
    -Columbus, Ohio
        -Timing of poll
             -Kissinger's briefing
                 -Undecided voters
                 -Follow-up
                      -Kincaid [sp?] [First name unknown]
                           -ABC reporter
                      -Voter opinion
                           -Political aspect of Vietnam settlement
        -Undecided voters
             -John A. Scali
             -McGovern support
    -Louis P. Harris poll
        -Harris’s network availability
    -CBS news broadcast on Watergate
        -Stanton

Watergate
   -CBS
   -Buchanan
   -Distribution to editors
        -1972 election
        -Martin S. Hayden
   -Statements
        -International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT]
             -Richard G. Kleindienst
        -The President’s press conferences
             -Grain deal, ITT
             -Watergate
             -Truth
   -White House involvement in scandals
   -White paper
   -Distribution
        -Hayden
        -Paul Miller
             -Gannett
   -Barron’s
                                                18
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. Nov-03)

                 -Mailing
             -Media support for McGovern
                 -Establishment
             -Grain deal
                 -Cronkite
                      -News spot
             -Treatment of issue

        Press relations
            -McGovern's tactics
                 -Bombing
                 -Robert J. Dole's attack
                      -Forthcoming appearance on Face the Nation
                      -McGovern background
                 -Heckling
                 -1960 campaign tactics
                      -Insult to Claudia A. (Taylor) (“Lady Bird”) Johnson
                      -Tricia Nixon Cox
                      -The President in New York City
                      -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                 -Cooperation of media
                 -Tricia Nixon Cox
                 -Student demonstrations
                 -Accidental compared to intentional nature
                 -Statue of Liberty incident
                 -San Francisco incident
                 -1960 compared to 1972 campaign
                      -Public perception
                 -Poll

Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:15 am.

        The President’s schedule
            -President's radio speech
                -Timing

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


*****************************************************************
                                                19
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 11s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15

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


Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:15 am.

        The President’s schedule

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



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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 33s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16

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


        CBS
           -Colson’s forthcoming telephone call to Stanton

The President, Haldeman and Colson left at 10:26 am.