Conversation: 826-008
Prev: 826-007 Next: 826-009Start Date: 19-Dec-1972 12:08 PM
End Date: 19-Dec-1972 2:00 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Biden, Joseph R., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Bull, Stephen B.; Colson, Charles W.;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On December 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:08 pm to 2:00 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 826-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 826-8
Date: December 19, 1972
Time: 12:08 pm - 2:00 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman at 12:08 pm.
Second term reorganization
-William D. Ruckelshaus
-Abilities
-Honesty, competence, toughness, administrative ability
-Loyalty
-Politics
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Qualifications
-Education, administrative ability, age
-Relationship with White House
-Politics
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Politics
Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Politics
Robert H. Finch
-Politics
-Primary
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
Politics
-Security
Second term reorganization
-FBI
-Ruckelshaus
-Law enforcement
-Politics
-Indiana legislature
-Qualifications
-Education
-Princeton University, Hard University
-Background
-Indiana
-New York
-Politics
-Relationship with the President
-Qualifications
-Administrative ability
-Politics
-Qualifications
-Law enforcement
-EPA
-Regulation
Joseph R. Biden
-Delaware
-Deaths of wife [Neilia (Hunter) Biden] and child [Amy Biden]
-Joseph Biden’s location
-Washington, DC
-Traffic accident description
-Ages
Second term reorganization
-Frank C. Carlucci
-Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
Cole left at 12:13 pm.
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
Second term reorganization
-Cabinet
-Under Secretaries
-Commerce Department
-Donald Marron
-Compared to Robert W. Fri
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Labor Department
-Peter J. Brennan
Elliot L. Richardson
-William P. Clements, Jr.
-State Department
-William J. Casey
-Attorney General
-Joseph T. Sneed and Robert H. Bork
-Credit
-Justice Department
-Republican National Chairman
-George H. W. Bush
-Support
-News summary
-Robert J. Dole
-Congressional relations
-Peter H. Dominick
1972 election
-Reaction
-Haldeman’s conversation with Bush
-Recognition of contributors
-Complaints
-Correspondence
-White House staff
-Mail, telephone calls
-Maurice H. Stans
-Invitations
-List of names
-Rose Mary Woods
-Contributors
-Dinners
-47-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
Dwight D. Eisenhower College
-Walter N. Thayer’s letter to the President
-Response
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Thayer
-Flanigan
Second term reorganization
-Anne L. Armstrong
-Office location
-Office of Emergency Preparedness [OEP]
-Conversation with the President
-National Security Council [NSC]
The President talked with Joseph Biden between 12:21 pm and 12:22 pm.
[Conversation No. 826-8A]
[See Conversation No. 34-131]
[End of telephone conversation]
Second term reorganization
-Ambassadorships
-Marshall Green
-Australia
-Labor government
-Indonesia
-Businessman
-Harold B. Scott
-Business background
-Indonesia
-Edward J. Frey
-Henry A. Kissinger's conversation with the President
-Indonesia
1972 campaign
-Recognition of contributors
-48-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-List of names
-Stans
-Dinners
-Appointments
-Boards, commissions
-Dinners
-Categories
-Social affairs
-Names
-Charles W. Colson
-Quotas
-Haldeman
-Bush
-Cabinet, labor leaders, friends
-Colson
-East Wing
Record
-Congressional relations
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 12:26 pm.
Press relations
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Tone
-Vietnam War
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-North Vietnam
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Vietnam War
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” statement
-Possible North Vietnam offensive in South Vietnam
-Enemy buildup
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Infiltration
-Vietnam negotiations
-North Vietnam’s delays (“filibuster”)
-“Peace is at hand”
-The President’s statements, October 1972
-49-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Settlement agreement
-Timing
-North Vietnam
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-Enemy buildup
-Cessation
-Timing
-October and December 1972
-Kissinger
-Hanoi
-The President’s conversation with Adm.
Thomas H. Moorer
-B-52 losses
-Surface to air missiles [SAMs]
-Possible North Vietnam offensive in South Vietnam
-Sources
-Congressional relations
-Consultations
-Timing
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Telephone calls
-Lack of change of policy
-Previous enunciations
-Tone
-Second term reorganization
-White House staff
-Washington Post
-Ziegler’s view
-Social affairs
-Invitations
-National press
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Fair and balanced treatment
-National press
-Pools
-First Family, White House
-Press coverage
-Timing
-News magazines
-50-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
Press relations
-Helen Thomas
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Frances Lewine
-News scoops
-Soviets
-Work habits
-Washington Star
-Compared to Washington Post
-Leaks
-Armstrong
-Kissinger
-New York Daily News
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Jerry Greene
-Washington Post
-John G. Veneman
-Departure
-Leaks
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Colson
-Ziegler’s schedule
Press relations
-Briefings
-Ziegler’s handling
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:26 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Colson
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:40 pm.
Press relations
-Arrogance
-1972 election
-51-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Congressional relations
-Congressmen, Senators
-Washington Post
-Contact with the President, White House
-Press conference
-1973 Inauguration
-Budget, personnel
-Press conferences
-Confrontation
-1972 campaign
-George S. McGovern
-Poll
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Washington Post
-Social affairs
-Invitations
-Benjamin C. Bradlee
-Howard Simon
-Ziegler’s view
-Press conference
-Washington Post
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Tone
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead’s speech
-Whitehead’s recent speech
-Bias
-Local television [TV] stations
-Responsibility for programming
-Networks
Colson entered at 12:40 pm.
Broadcasting
-Local TV stations
-Responsibility for programming
-Networks
-Charles Crutchfield
-Proposal
-52-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Meeting
-Wire services
-Licenses
-Delegation of responsibility
-New York
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-William S. Paley
-Contribution
-Maurice H. Stans
-[first name unknown] Gallup’s prediction
-Dwight D. Eisenhower election
-George H. Gallup
-Carroll Kilpatrick [?]
-Landslide
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Public relations [PR]
-Polls
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Whitehead’s speech
-Compared to US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Networks
-“Hawks”
-Political views
-“Hawks”
Vietnam negotiations
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-Congressional relations
-F. Edward Herbert’s statement
-“Hawks”
-53-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-William E. Timmons’s conversation with Colson
-“Doves”
-Press relations
-Prisoners of war [POW] wives
-Haldeman’s conversation with Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Carol Hanson
-Conversation with Scowcroft
-Support for the administration
-Press conference
-Disappointment
-Unknown black woman
-Press relations
-Harry Reasoner
-News summary
-The President’s relationship with Kissinger
-“Peace is at hand”
-John A. Scali’s conversation with Colson
-Scali’s telephone call to Reasoner
-North Vietnam
-Howard K. Smith
-Sevareid
-Anthony Lewis
-Tom Wicker
-Jim Deakin
-1972 election
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election results
-Missouri
-West Virginia
-Richard M. Scammon
-Arch A. Moore, Jr.
-Victory
-New York, Pennsylvania
-Errors in tallies
-West Virginia
-54-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Gains
-McGovern
-Missouri
-Certification
-Scammon
-Moore
-Official counts
-Scammon
-Publication of results
-Final count
-Wire services
-Percentages
-Alabama
-Scammon
-Black votes
-Third party
-New York
-Conservative, liberal parties
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Vietnam negotiations
-The President’s relationship with Kissinger
-“Peace is at hand”
-North Vietnam
-Press relations
-Reasoner
-Deakin’s article
-Reuters
-British newspaper
-Ralph Harris’s conversation with Ziegler
-Ziegler’s handling
-Public briefings
-Washington, DC
-“Peace is at hand”
-Politics
-1972 campaign
-North Vietnam’s statement, October 26, 1972
-55-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-George S. McGovern’s statements
-Response
-McGovern’s statements
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Purpose
-Dinner party
-POWs
-End of war
-Choice
-Congressional relations
-End of war
-North and South Vietnam
-Continuation of war and delaying peace
-Enemy buildup
-Cease-fire
-Offensive
-Psychology
-Enemy buildup
-End of war
-Effect
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-US withdrawal
-Casualties
-Negotiations
-Cease-fire, POWs, free elections
-PR
-“Hawks”
-“Doves”
-Christmas
-Duration
-Casualties
-Civilians
-Purpose
-POWs
-PR
-POWs
-Kissinger’s briefings
-Return
-Timing
-56-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam’s position
-“Pull back”
-Kissinger’s briefing
Press relations
-Washington Post
-Colson’s view
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Instructions for Ziegler
-The President’s national campaigns
-The President’s national efforts
-Travel
-Contacts
-Regional briefings
-Pools
-Wire services
-White House social affairs
-Washington, DC
-National press
-Washington Star
-National press
-Bureaus
-Pools
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Church services
-National press
-Ottomwa, Iowa
-Arlington, Texas
-Betty Beale
-Wire ser vices
-Pools
-Airplanes
-Canton, Ohio
-Walker’s Cay
-Washington Star
-National press
-Discrimination
-Buchanan
-57-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Conversation with Ziegler
-Clawson’s background
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-Contributions
-Paley
-Conversation with Colson
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Ziegler’s schedule
-Meeting with Clark Mollenhoff
Press relations
-White House social affairs
-Leak
-Mollenhoff
-Schedule
-Church services
-Washington Post
-Sally Quinn’s articles
-Unknown clergyman
-Mollenhoff
-White tie
Ziegler left at 1:09 pm.
Press relations
-1972 election
-Winning percentage
-Dole
-Richard M. Scammon’s article
-58-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Networks
-Whitehead’s speech
-Bias
-Networks
-PR
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Anti-establishment
-Wealth
Lawyers
-White House relations
-List
-Washington, DC lobbyists
-Lloyd N. Cutler
-Meetings with Peter M. Flanigan
-Second term reorganization
-Agencies
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
Second term reorganization
-Loyalists
-Colson’s schedule
-Personnel meeting
-Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS[
-“School”
-Bureaucracy
-BLS
-Meetings
-Frequency
-BLS
-Agencies
-Appointments
-Cabinet
-Administration role
-Indoctrination
-Washington, DC
-Bureaucracy
-Republicans
Miles W. Kirkpatrick
-Philadelphia
-59-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Credentials
-American Bar Association [ABA]
-Republican
-Colson’s conversation with Flanigan
-Unknown person
-Lawyers from New York
-Secret Service
-The President’s schedule
-The President’s trip to New York
-Much Ado About Nothing
-Two Gentlemen of Verona
-Joseph Papp’s meeting with the President
-Leonard Garment
-Demonstration
-Congress
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Sammy Davis, Jr.
-[Telephone conversation with] Francis J. (“Frank) Sinatra
-Meeting with Davis
-Garment
-Drug program
-Robert J. Brown
-Labor leaders
-Meeting with Davis
-Trip to Florida
-Colson’s meeting with Scali
-Scali’s conversation with Kissinger
-Christmas
Vietnam War
-Negotiations
-The President’s conversation with Kissinger
-North Vietnam
-US proposals
-Polls
-Sindlinger
-Biases
-Method
-Accuracy
-60-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Samuel Lubell
-Louis P. Harris
-George H. Gallup
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
Press relations
-Whitehead’s recent speech
-Reaction
-Colson’s note to Haldeman
-Networks
-WAMU
-New York Times
-Networks
-Colson’s note to Haldeman
-Colson’s conversation with Whitehead
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Smith
-Whitehead
-Work with Colson
-Toughness
-PR
-Prime time access rules
-Congressional relations
-Federal Communications Commission [FCC]
-Dean Burch
Replacement
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Burch
-Political plans
-Senate candidacy
-Age
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Health
-Indian
-61-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
1972 election
-The President’s victory
-Landslide
-Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Future evaluations
-Compared to 1964 election
-Number of states
-Minority party
-John F. Kennedy’s assassination
-Support for Johnson
-Governors, Congress
-Press relations
-Public reaction
-Celebration
-The President’s trips
-Needs of country
-New York trip
-Daniel P. (“Pat’) Moynihan
-Reaction of staff
-Spirit
-Public mood
-1973 inauguration
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
1972 election
-Celebration
-Second term reorganization
-Cabinet and White House staff
-Departures, changes
-The President’s meetings
-Hypothetical
-1973 Inauguration
-Festivities
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-62-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
1972 election
-Festivities on election night
-Shoreham Hotel
-Handshakes
-Atmosphere
-Reception with New Majority supporters
-Press relations
-Victor Riesel
-Young people
-Andrew Jackson
-Hard hats
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-The President’s supporters
-The President’s opponents
-Elitists
-Colson’s veterans hat
-Public reactions
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Establishment
-The President’s view
-“Incestuous” nature
-Lack of courage
-Republicans, Democrats
-Social set
-Tough times
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-McGovern’s defeat
-Establishment’s reaction
-Poor candidate
-“Too good to be President”
-63-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
White House social affairs
-Cabinet dinner
-Dinner party
-Seating arrangements
-Josephine (Brickley) Brennan
-Armstrong
-Armstrong
-Texas
-Background
-Vassar College, unknown place
-Conversations with labor
-Conversation with Josephine Brennan
-Labor
-Cabinet, White House women, the President
-Education
-Professors
-Josephine Brennan
-Education
-Grandchildren
-Etiquette
-White House tour
-Peter J. Brennan, Jr.’s schedule
-Peter J. Brennan, III
-Washington, DC
-Oval Office, Cabinet Room
-White House staff
-School paper
-Williamsburg
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Congress
-Abraham Lincoln Memorial
Colson
-Conversation with [Wendell Colson, II]
-White House
-64-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
Second term reorganization
-Kissinger
-Mood
-Telephone calls
-Jews
-Arnold Hutschnecker’s theory
-Paper
-1972 campaign
White House social affairs
-Church service
-John Cardinal Krol
-German choir
-Krol
-Trip to Poland
-Auschwitz
-Spectacles, hair
-Jews
-H. E. Pauls
-Conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Reception line
-German choir
-Youth
-Killing of Jews and priests
-Scale
-Advanceman
-German choir
-Church services
-Lucy A. Winchester
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Choirs
-Clergy
-Catholics, Protestants
-Jews
-Jesus Christ
-December 17, 1972
-Photograph session
-Previous visits
-Moneyraising
-65-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Home for disabled children
-Orphans
-Politicians
-Clergy
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Krol
-Foreknowledge
-Instruction for Haldeman
Jews
-[Holocaust]
-World War II
-Warsaw ghetto
-Martyrdom
-Kissinger
White House social affairs
-Dinner party
-The President’s conversation with Smith
-Smith home, garden
-Colson’s remark
-[Benedicte (Traberg) Smith]
-Danish nationality
-Gardening
-Smith’s home
Press relations
-Howard Smith
-Support for the President
-Liberalism
-Washington, DC
-Blacks
-Welfare
-Vietnam War
-[Jack P. Smith]
-Injury
-Benedicte Smith
-Watergate
-1972 election
-Dinner
-66-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Howard Smith
-Home
Second term reorganization
-Control
-Previous efforts
-New Establishment
-Intellectuals
-Right-wing
-Centrists
-Elitists
-Business
-George D. Webster
-Ehrlichman’s role
Lawyers
-White House relations
-Instructions for Colson
-Interior Department
-Land deal
-Edward Bennett Williams
-Client list
-Martindale-Hubbell
-White House dinners
-New Establishment
-Stans
-Colson
-Departure
-Announcement
-Contacts
-Cutler
Press relations
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Colson’s meeting with William S. Paley
-Job offer
-Cutler
-Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
-Retainer
-White House
-67-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-The President
-Daniel J. and Philip F. Berrigan
-White House mess
-Whitehead’s recent speech
-Lunch
-Berrigans
-Colson’s previous trips to New York
-License renewals
-Cable television [TV]
-Effect on networks
-Paley, Frank Stanton
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC], National Broadcasting Company
[NBC]
-Second term
-Whitehead
-Regulatory actions
-Contributions
-Persons in industry
-Networks
-Monopoly
-Effect
-Information technology
-Newspapers
-TV, radio, mail, telegrams
-Newspapers
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:09 pm.
The President’s letter to Joseph Biden
-Marjorie P. Acker
-Rose Mary Woods
-The President’s telephone call to Joseph Biden
Bull left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm.
Media relations
-Cable TV
-Technology
John B. Connally’s schedule
-68-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
-Return
-Christmas
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Political plans
-Change of party
-Timing
-Agnew
-Robert S. Strauss
-Democratic Party
-Nomination
-McGovern
-Political advisors
-George Christian
-Republican nomination
-Chances for Presidential victory
-South
-Mountain states
-Farm states
-Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania
-California
-Texas, Oklahoma
-Los Angeles, San Diego
-Orange County
-The President’s 1950 Senate victory
-Margin of victory
-1972 election
-Democratic Presidential candidate
-Credibility
-Personal goals
-Wealth
-Political plans
-Vice Presidency
-Advantages
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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-69-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Kissinger’s mood
Kissinger
-Relationship with the President
-The President’s credibility
Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:09 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger
Bull left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Woods
The President’s credibility
-Ziegler
Haldeman and Colson left at 2:00 pm.