Conversation: 826-004
Prev:  826-003 Next: 826-005Start Date: 19-Dec-1972 11:27 AM
End Date: 19-Dec-1972 11:51 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ruckelshaus, William D.; Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; White House photographer; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On December 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, William D. Ruckelhaus, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:27 am to 11:51 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 826-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 826-4 Date: December 19, 1972 Time: 11:27 am - 11:51 am Location: Oval Office The President met with William D. Ruckelshaus and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. The White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting. Greetings Budget -Surplus [Photograph session] [Environmental Protection Agency] [EPA] -Ruckelshaus’s job -Problems -“Hawks” -“Doves” Environment -Credibility of administration -Ruckelshaus’s credibility -Birds -People -34- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-08) Conversation No. 826-4 (cont’d) ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] Ruckelshaus’s plans -Senate candidacy in Indiana -Birch E. Bayh, Jr. -1974 election -Popularity -Controversy -Judgeships -Polls -Vance Hartke -Compared to Bayh -Party divisions -Ruckelshaus’ decisions -Timing -Mayor of Indianapolis -Richard G. Lugar -Governor -Conflict -1975 Presidential election -John B. Connally -Party change -1976 Presidential nomination -Spiro T. Agnew -Southerners -Justice Department -Age -Indiana Governor -Otis Brown -Speaker of Indiana House -Edgar D. Whitcomb -Indiana -Support for the President -Midwest -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Ohio -Senate candidacy -Bayh -Hartke -35- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-08) Conversation No. 826-4 (cont’d) -Personality -Health [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** Second term reorganization -Ruckelshaus -Attorney General, judge -Law enforcement -Judiciary -Cabinet -Water -Withholding of funds -Controversy -Background -General Counsel, Attorney General’s office, Indiana -Indiana House of Representatives -Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division -Law enforcement -Administrative ability -Lawyers -Deputy Administrator [Robert W. Fri] -Work with people -EPA -Establishment -Turf fighting -Credibility -Air and water pollution -Louis P. Harris poll -Timing -Background -Harvard University Law School -Princeton University -Indianapolis -Ivy League -Grandfather -Republican state chairman, 1900 -36- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-08) Conversation No. 826-4 (cont’d) Ivy League -Charles W. Colson -Brown University -Opposition to the President’s decisions -Cambodia, May 8, 1972; summits -Presidents -Little Three -Amherst College, Trinity College, Williams College -Polls -Faculties -Students -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger -Henry A. Kissinger -Quality -Civilization -Possible course -Harvard University, Princeton University -University of California -Stanford University The President’s philosophy of civilization -Leader class -Decline of society -Britain, France, Roman Empire -US -Non-Communist nations -West Germany, Japan -Konrad Adenauer -US -Opposition to the President -Universities, networks -Compared to national editors -Opinionmakers -Georgetown -1972 campaign -The President’s conversation with Alice Roosevelt Longworth -George S. McGovern -37- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-08) Conversation No. 826-4 (cont’d) -Permissiveness, US withdrawal from Vietnam, welfare -“Libs” -Conservatives -1964 campaign -Reactionary right -Barry M. Goldwater -Tennessee Valley Authority [TVA] -Marquis Childs -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston -1972 election -Results -Press relations -Television -Intellectuals -Environmental issues -Air and water pollution -Racial issues -1960s -Mississippi -Universities -Football -Stanford, University of Southern California [USC] -Vietnam War -Environmental issues -Earth Day -1971 -Zero population growth -Articles -Timing -Ruckelshaus’s position -Intelligence -Lack of character, courage -Economy -Congressional relations -Budget ceiling -Editorials in New York Times, Washington Post -Withholding of funds -38- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-08) Conversation No. 826-4 (cont’d) -Water -Ruckelshaus’s meeting Ruckelshaus -Retention -Politics -Future -Primary Donald H. Rumsefeld -Politics -Conversation with the President -Senate -Hamlet -Polls -Adlai E. Stevenson, III -Adlai E. Stevenson, II -The President’s view -Risks Robert H. Finch -Politics -Senate -Alan Cranston -Toughness Politics -Risks The President’s appreciation -Budget -Cole Ruckelshaus left at 11:51 am. -39- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-08)