Conversation: 824-003
Prev:  824-002 Next: 824-004Start Date: 15-Dec-1972 12:45 PM
End Date: 15-Dec-1972 1:54 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On December 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:45 pm to 1:54 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 824-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 824-3 Date: December 15, 1972 Time: 12:45 pm - 1:54 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler and John D. Ehrlichman. Second term reorganization -Wallace H. Johnson -Assistant Attorney General, Land and Natural Resources Division -Ambassadorship to the United Nations [UN] -John A. Scali -Announcement -Leaks -Washington Star -Ziegler’s conversation with I. William Hill -George H. W. Bush -Trips to the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and the Soviet Union -UN, White House, State Department coverage -Trips to the PRC -Hill -Radio -Timing -[American Broadcasting Company] [ABC] -Scali’s conversation with Leonard H. Goldenson -Timing -Washington Star Vietnam negotiations -Henry A. Kissinger’s briefing -Timing -Ziegler’s meeting with Kissinger -The President’s memorandum -Tone -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Cease-fire -Imposition of Communist government in South Vietnam -49- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Long war, short peace -Ziegler’s meeting with Kissinger Ziegler left at 12:46 pm. Second term reorganization -Johnson -Assistant Attorney General, Land and Natural Resources Division -Condemnations -Bureau of Land Management [BLM] -Relationship with the administration -Sallyanne Payton -Plans -Banking -Supreme Court -Age, experience -General Counsel -Banking -Treasury Department -Federal Home Loan Bank Board -Banking -Length of term -Supreme Court -Banking -Money making -Marital status -Appreciation -Ehrlichman’s meeting with the President -District of Columbia -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr. appointment -Blacks -Problems -Pressures -Edwin L. Harper -Conversation with Ehrlichman -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s offer -Agnew -Bicentennial -Dr. Edward E. David, Jr. -50- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] -George P. Shultz -Condition -Ehrlichman’s conversation with Shultz -Atomic Energy Commission [AEC] -Departure -[Dixy Lee Ray] -AEC -Publicity -NASA -James C. Fletcher -[Lide A. Iacocca] -Italian-American background -Chrysler Corporation -Scali -Announcement -Ethnic considerations -Polish-American -Reception for 1972 election supporters -Ehrlichman’s meeting with Malek -Refusal of jobs -Under Secretaries -White House mess -New approach -Ehrlichman’s schedule -Haldeman’s schedule -Refusal of jobs -Malek -Claude S. Brinegar -George D. Webster -Internal Revenue Service [IRS] -Audit -Ehrlichman’s meeting with Krogh -Meetings with Krogh -Confirmation -Krogh’s view -Prospects -Krogh -51- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) The President’s picture -The President’s conversation with Peter J. Brennan at reception for 1972 election supporters -The President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Flag lapel pin -Jingoism -Labor Department offices -James D. Hodgson, Shultz -Brennan’s background -Irish Democrat -US embassies -Sweden -Ehrlichman’s schedule -Instruction -State Department -Inspector General -Foreign Service Officer [FSO] -Residences -Public buildings -General Services Administration [GSA] Second term reorganization -GSA -Hugh Scott’s recommendation [Arthur F. Sampson] -Relationship with the administration -[Robert L. Kunzig] -Alternative -Loyal businessman-politician -The President’s picture -Public buildings -List -Ethnics -Businessmen -Kunzig -1972 campaign -Rights Ehrlichman’s schedule -Budget meeting -52- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) Paraplegics -Budget -Cuts -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger -News summary -Ehrlichman’s reading -Weinberger -The President’s view Vietnam War -Charles H. Percy -US aid to South Vietnam -Chicago Tribune -White House access Veterans -Vietnam veteran Robert Muller’s appearance on Today show -Veterans’ Health Care Expansion Act of 1972 -The President’s veto -Reason -Congressional fiscal responsibility -Vietnam War -US bombing -Veterans Administration [VA] hospitals -Changes since World War II, 1950s -Timing -1972 election -[October 27, 1972] -Paraplegics -Response -Equal time -Donald E. Johnson -Disabled Veterans of America -Paraplegics -Muller -Veteran benefits legislation -Signature -Veterans organizations -53- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Response -Johnson -The President’s actions -Bills -Veterans’ Affairs Committee -Olin E. (“Tiger”) Teague -Change of committees -Space and Technology Committee Second term reorganization -Ethnics -Polish-Americans -Black -Woman -Ray -Ivy Baker Priest -Symbolism -AEC -Compared to Jean Westwood -David -NASA -Condition -Policy implications -1972 election -The President’s conversation with Ehrlichman -The President’s conversation with Haldeman -Problem -Responsibility -Self-imposed discipline Press relations -Washington Post -White House coverage -Meeting with White House staff -Kissinger -New Republic Second term reorganization -Control -54- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Two party system -Republicans Congressional relations -The President’s conversation with Michael J. Mansfield -Republican leadership and bipartisanship meetings -Scott -The President’s conversations with William E. Timmons and Tom C. Korologos -Mansfield -Wilbur D. Mills -Russell B. Long -Second term reorganization -Chet Holifield -Need for cooperation -Voting for man -Compared to voting for party -[Republican] control of White House -Compared to [Democratic] control of Congress -Mansfield’s views -Need for secrecy -Leaks -Partisans -Possible problems -Meetings -Republicans -Percy -Samuel L. Devine -Scott -Meetings with Democrats -Mansfield -George H. Mahon -Mills -Compared to meetings with Charles McC Mathias, Jr., Percy, Edward W. Brooke -New Majority -Split government -Harry S. Truman -80th Congress, 1946-48 -55- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Issues -Robert A. Taft, Sr.- Fred A. Hartley Act -Wage and price controls -Domestic policy -Foreign policy -Domestic policy -Wage and price controls -Achievements -Nonpartisanship -Republicans -Partisanship -Governors -Request for quarterly meetings with the President -Gerald R. Ford -Breakfast meetings with the President -The President’s obligations -National interest -State of the Union speech -1973 Inaugural speech -State of the Union speech -Delivery -Length Speechwriting -Domestic policy -Briefing paper -Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. -1972 campaign -Problem solving -Proposed projects -Legislation -1973 Inaugural speech -Previous speeches -Word count -The President’s conversation with Haldeman -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -Theodore Roosevelt -The President, 1969 -Roosevelt -56- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Franklin D. Roosevelt, 193[7] -John F. Kennedy, 1961 -The President’s view -Brevity -Kissinger -Price -Gettysburg Address -People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip announcement -1973 Inaugural speech -Proposed length -Price’s draft -Briefing papers -Domestic policy -Messages to Congress -Brevity -Vetoes -Speechwriters -Teaching of writing -Discipline -Book length -Winston S. Churchill -Use of language -Problem of time -Theodore Roosevelt as writer -1905 Inaugural speech -Churchill as writer -Compared to the President as writer -Theodore Roosevelt -Speechwriter -Price’s view -Price -Tone -Kissinger’s view -The President’s natural style -Theodore Roosevelt -The President’s writing -November 3, 1969 speech -May 8, 1972 speech -Cambodia speech -57- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Effectiveness -Work with the President -Speech construction -Outline -The President’s frame of mind -Outline -Reading -Introduction -Conclusion -Price -Patrick J. Buchanan -John K. Andrews, Jr. -Style -Experience -William L. Safire -Style -The President’s radio address on the Philosophy of Government -The President’s writing style -Lawyers -Acceptance speeches -Quotes -Use -Speech construction -Work required -Outline -Introduction -Conclusion -Lee W. Huebner -Anecdotes -Appropriateness -Hiring -Background -Rockefeller Foundation -William E. Brock, III -Type of writer -Comparison -Buchanan -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan -Style -58- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -1973 Inaugural speech -The President’s trip to Florida -Problem Second term -Domestic policy -Briefing paper -Accomplishments in first term -Issues -Race -Focus -Administration actions -Media relations -Revenue sharing -Importance -Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations [ACIR] meeting -Governors, mayors, Congressmen -Property tax -Cities, states -Budget surpluses -Ehrlichman’s press briefing -Urban crisis -Riots -Crime rates -Drug rates -Mass transit -Revenue sharing -Dan Rather’s conversation with Herbert G. Klein, Kenneth W. Clawson -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] -Ehrlichman’s possible briefings -Frequency -Revenue sharing -Kennedy -Kennedy’s foreign policy -Nuclear Test Ban Treaty -Importance -US, Soviet Union -59- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Domestic policy -Press relations -Revenue sharing -Passage -Corruption -Local action -City councils, county supervisors -Taxes -Lighted streets, schools, police -Race [blacks] -Tokenism -Payton -Job -Possible meeting with the President -Walter E. Washington -National recognition -Relationship with the Administration -Washington, DC -Housing and school integration -Welfare -Family Assistance Plan [FAP] -Food stamps -Sickle cell anemia -Possible programs -Assistance -Black-White confrontation -Education -Disadvantaged neighborhood schools -Financial help for physical plants, faculty, books -Moynihan’s view -Hereditary and environment -Schools -Tokenism -Minority business -Previous legislation of 92nd Congress -Possible visits by the President -Neutral ground -Reading programs -Truism -60- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Minority advancement -FAP -Department of Housing, Education and Welfare [HEW] -Elliot L. Richardson -Weinberger -Ehrlichman’s press briefing -1972 election -Mandate for tougher work requirement -Congressional relations -Senate -Deadlock -1972 election -Welfare reform -The President’s platform -Administration proposals -Elimination of Aid to Families with Dependent Children [AFDC] -Employment -Fraud elimination -Experiments -AFDC Race relations -Blacks -The President’s concern -Abraham Lincoln’s views -Equality with whites -Slavery -Fairness -The President’s views -Liberals -University of Southern California [USC] and Stanford University football teams -Entrance requirements -Black athletes -Recruitment -Black leaders, children, waiters -Intelligence -Payton -61- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Jewell S. Lafontant -Whites -Empathy -Equality with whites -Intelligence -School and housing intergration -Need for honesty -Rewards -Tokenism -Sammy Davis, Jr. -Schools -Improvement -Minority business -Cost -Mexian-Americans -Expectations during first term -Deflation -Cabinet appointments -General Motors [GM] -Judgeships -Ambassadors -Ambassadors -Sweden -Liberia -Norway -Denmark -Jerome H. Holland -Achievements -The President’s appointments -Merit -Schools -Assistance to blacks -Civil rights leaders -Rev. Theodore S. Hesburgh -Civil rights community -Georgetown elite -Views Second term reorganization -Hesburgh -62- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Departure -J. Stanley Pottinger -Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division -Background -Commission on Civil Rights -Intellectual -John B. Connally -National Center for Voluntary Action [NCVA] -George W. Romney -Ehrlichman’s meeting with Robert H. Finch -Conversation with the President -The President’s meeting with Romney and W. Clement Stone -Finch’s performance -Second phase -The President’s meeting with Romney, Ehrlichman -Fundraising -The President’s role -The President’s meetings with Romney, Stone -Dinners -Stone -John W. Gardner -Fundraising -Use of White House -Dinners -Boys Clubs The President’s schedule -Business Council -Future meetings -New people -Compared to old elite -John W. Gardner -Urban Coalition -National Alliance of Businessmen [NAB] -Donald McI. Kendall -Representation from Sears Roebuck -Unknown person -Chicago -NAB -Subsidies -63- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Use of White House -Fundraising -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -Brennan -Labor Department -Instruction to Ehrlichman -Eastern establishment -Lyndon B. Johnson administration -Great Society -Ehrlichman’s record -Dinners -Congressional relations -Breakfast meetings -Ford -Compared to telephone calls -White House contact -Wives, staffs, news letters -Frequency -Hand-shaking -Democrats, Republicans -Passage of revenue sharing -Mayors -Need for allies -John A. Tower -Attitude -Peter H. Dominick -Attitude -Gordon L. Allott -Brock -Value Congressional relations -Bryce N. Harlow -Timmons -Meetings -Clark MacGregor -Timmons -Presence -Personality -Second term reorganization -64- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -James E. Smith -Treasury Department -Korologos -Senate -Effectiveness -Smith -Presence -Possible meetings with the President The President’s schedule -Cabinet dinner -Seating arrangements -Departures -Mrs. Brennan -The President’s right -Under Secretary’s wife -The President’s left -Adele (Langston) Rogers -[Suzanne (Lowell) Krogh] -Background -Japan -Under Secretary’s wife -William E. Simon -[Carol (Girard) Simon] -Background -New York -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon -Maurice H. Stans -John N. Mitchell -Clifford M. Hardin -Romney -John A. Volpe -Romney -Volpe -Stans -Under Secretary’s wife -Invitations -Blacks -Cabinet, Under Secretaries, White House staff -Blacks -65- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d) -Under Secretaries -Samuel L. Jackson -Robert J. Brown -Price -Klein -Finch -Donald H. Rumsfeld -Jackson The President’s schedule -Congressional relations -Social affairs -Effect -Meetings with the President’s supporters -Senate Finance Committee -Effect -FAP -Cabinet dinner -Haldeman Press relations -Ziegler -The President’s meeting with Ehrlichman -Duration -Domestic programs Ehrlichman left at 1:54 pm.