Easy NixonAbout

Conversation: 828-013

Prev:  828-012 Next: 828-014

Start Date: 27-Dec-1972 11:01 AM

End Date: 27-Dec-1972 12:01 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Brennan, Peter J.Sanchez, ManoloBull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

828-013a.mp3

828-013b.mp3

NARA Description:

On December 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Peter J. Brennan, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:01 am to 12:01 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 828-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 828-13

Date: December 27, 1972
Time: 11:01 am - 12:01 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Patrick J. Buchanan.

       Buchanan’s schedule
            -Christmas

       The President’s schedule
            -Trip to Florida
                  -Weather
                         -Sun
                               -Pool
            -Family
            -Trip to Florida
                  -Thanksgiving
                         -Florida

       Buchanan’s possible book
            -Arrangements
            -Deadline
            -Outline
            -Deadline
            -Theme
                  -Richard M. Nixon administration
            -Outline
                  -Chapter one
                        -1968 election
            -Points to make
                  -Administration
                        -Philosophy
                        -Buchanan’s memorandum to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                          -26-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. June-08)

                                           Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

     -Telephone call
     -Buchanan’s New York Times article
     -Theodore H. White
     -Press relations
           -Jeffrey Hart’s book
                  -1972 election
-1972 campaign
-1964 campaign and election;
     -1966 campaign
     -Effect on Republican Party
           -Press coverage
           -Attacks on Barry M. Goldwater
                  -Nelson A. Rockefeller
                  -Liberal and conservative Republicans
     -Republican Party reconstruction
           -The President’s role
                  -1962 election
                        -1960 election
                        -Press conference
                  -Vice Presidency
                  -Handicaps
                        -Lack of staff, funds, retirement benefits
                  -Post-1962 election
                        -New York
                        -Travel
                              -International
                                    -Coach flights
                                    -Lack of entourage, stenographers
                                    -Southeast Asia, Europe Africa
                                    -1967
                                    -1963, 1964
     -Republican National Convention
           -Goldwater
     -The President’s travels
           -Commercial flights
           -Goldwater, Congressmen, Senators
     -The President’s relationship with Goldwater
     -Lyndon B. Johnson
     -Republican Party reconstruction
                           -27-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                    Tape Subject Log
                      (rev. June-08)

                                             Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

             -The President’s role
                    -1966 campaign
                          -New York
                          -Travel
                          -Predictions
                                -Congressmen, Senators, governors
-Press relations
      -[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
      -Martin Z. Agronsky
      -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
      -Predictions about the President’s career
             -Cambodia
             -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
      -Chapters
             -Organization
                    -Buchanan’s New York Times article
                    -Adversity
      -1966 campaign and election
             -The President’s travels
             -Sevareid
                    -Television [TV]
                    -The President
                          -Predictions
             -Rockefeller, Ronald W. Reagan, George W. Romney
             -News magazines
             -Unknown commentator
                    -The President
             -Romney
             -Polls
             -The President’s travels
                    -1967
-1968 campaign and election
      -1964 election
             -Congressmen, Senators
             -Johnson
                    -Congressmen, Senators, governors, state legislators, voters
      -Republicans
             -George H. Gallup
             -1972 election
                          -28-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. June-08)

                                          Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

-1972 election
     -Republican Party
            -Dwight D. Eisenhower
                  -Political balance
                         -Congress, Senate, governors
     -Political balance
            -Goldwater
            -1964 and 1966 elections
     -1970 election
     -Republican Party
            -Congressmen, Senators, governors, voters
     -Press relations
            -Editorial endorsements
            -Washington, DC
            -National TV
            -Liberal establishment
            -Johnson
            -Eisenhower
            -1968 campaign
                  -Hubert H. Humphrey
            -George S. McGovern
            -Edith Efron
                  -1968 campaign
                         -Tone
-The President’s career
     -Guts, determination, stamina
     -Luck
     -1962
     -1961 – November 5, 1968
            -Vice Presidency
            -Funds
                  -Public
                  -Republican Party
                         -1966 campaign
                               -Travel
                                     -Airplane
                  -Earnings
                         -Winston S. Churchill
                               -Books
                           -29-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. June-08)

                                            Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                             -1932
                             -US lectures
                        -Networth
                             -1969
                             -Spending
-1968 campaign
      -Republican Party
             -Minority status
                    -Congress
      -Press relations
             -Opposition
                    -Exceptions
-Press relations
      -Opposition
             -Exceptions
                    -The President’s trips to the People’s Republic of China
                     [PRC] and the Soviet Union
             -First term
                    -Edmund S. Muskie, Humphrey, McGovern
             -Administration reaction
                    -Actions
                    -TV
                          -The President’s November 3, 1969 speech
                          -Cambodia, the President’s May 8, 1972 decision
                          -Chapter
                          -Trips
                    -Chapter Two
                          -The President’s November 3, 1969 speech
                                -Camp David
                                -Tone
                                      -David S. Broder’s article “The Breaking
                                       of the President”
                                      -News magazines
                                      -Demonstrations
                                      -Confrontation
                          -Gallup polls
                          -New Majority
             -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
             -Cambodia
                            -30-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                    Tape Subject Log
                      (rev. June-08)

                                             Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

     -Predictions
            -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
                   -World War III
                   -US-Soviet Union summit
     -Criticism
            -Respect
            -Single standard
            -First term
                   -The President’s lack of critical meetings or telephone calls
                    to editors, publishers, TV commentators
                         -The President’s supporters
            -Johnson
                   -TVs
                   -News tickers
                   -1967
                         -Eugene J. McCarthy
                   -Compared to the administration
            -The President’s experience
                   -1962 election
                   -Vice Presidency
                   -Alger Hiss case
                   -Post-public life [1962-1968]
            -The President’s view
                   -Reading
                         -News summary
                                -“Puff pieces”
                         -Self-adulation and self-pity
                                -Press releases
                                -Time
                                      -Covers
                                              -The President’s trip to the PRC
                                -Effect
                         -Personalizing issues
                                -Detachment
                                      -Friends and foes
                                      -Substance
                                      -News summary
                                              -TV, news ticker
-1968 election
                                 -31-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                                 Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

            -1964
                    -1962
             -Lack of funds, support
      -First term
             -Criticism by supporters
                    -Cambodia
                    -1970 campaign
      -1972 election
             -Victory margin
             -Press relations
                    -McGovern
                          -Man and ideas
             -Issues
                    -Busing
                    -Permissiveness
                          -Drugs, crime
                    -Vietnam War
                          -US withdrawal
             -Social issue
             -National scope
                    -South
                    -Massachusetts
                    -Southern strategy
             -The President’s trips to the PRC and the Soviet Union
             -Economy
                    -The President’s announcement
-Outline
      -Chapter one
             -1968
                    -Triumph
                          -Election
                    -Tragedy
                    -Triumph
                          -1962
                    -Tragedy
                          -Tet Offensive
                          -McCarthy
                          -Robert F. Kennedy
                          -Johnson
                          -32-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. June-08)

                                           Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                  -Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
                         -Washington, DC riots
                  -Kennedy
                  -Triumph
                         -Election
            -Victory margin
     -Administration opposition
            -Media, universities, foundations, Congress
            -Supreme Court
                  -Earl Warren
                         -Resignation
                               -Timing
            -Liberal establishment
                  -Compared to Eastern establishment
                  -The President’s interview with Garnett D. (“Jack”) Horner
                  -“Washington establishment”
-Chapter two
     -Confrontation
     -The President’s speech
            -Summer 1969
                  -Moon landing
                  -Guam Doctrine
                  -The President’s trips to Vietnam and Romania
                  -The President’s speech on welfare reform
                  -The President’s trip to California
            -Left
                  -Demonstrators, media, Congressional relations
            -Press relations
                  -News magazines
                         -Broder
            -Tone
            -The President’s public approval rating
                  -Chapter length
                  -Left
                  -Silent Majority
-Chapter three
     -Media relations
-Speechwriting
     -The President’s role
                                            -33-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. June-08)

                                                             Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                              -1973 Inaugural speech
                              -Franklin D. Roosevelt
                                    -Samuel I. Rosenman
                  -Chapter three
                       -Media relations
                              -Establishment
                              -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s Des Moines speech
                              -Washington Post
                              -Networks
            -Sales
            -Syndication
                  -Chapter length
                       -Outlook section
                       -Op-ed articles
            -Outline
                  -Chapter four

Manolo Sanchez entered and left at an unknown time after 11:01 am.

       Buchanan’s book
            -Outline
                  -Chapter Four
                       -Blacks on Supreme Court
                       -Supreme Court
                             -Philosophy
                       -Blacks
                             -Hostility
                             -1972 election
                             -The President’s personal commitment, working relationships
                             -Busing, welfare
                                   -Liberal establishment
                             -Supreme Court
                             -Rockefeller
                                   -Republican Party
                             -Eisenhower
                             -1960 campaign and election
                                   -Catholics
                                   -John F. Kennedy’s telephone call to [Coretta Scott King]
                                         -Robert Kennedy
                                  -34-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                          Tape Subject Log
                            (rev. June-08)

                                                   Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                                     -[Martin Luther King’s release from jail]
      -Foreign policy chapter
            -The President’s trip to the PRC
                  -Photographs
                         -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
            -Philosophy
            -The President’s trip to the PRC
            -Vietnam War
                  -Chronology
                  -Success
                         -US force level
-Deadline
      -Foreign policy chapter
            -Vietnam War
                  -US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Outline
      -New Majority chapter
            -McGovern
            -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
            -Labor relations
                  -George Meany
                         -The President’s Miami trip
                  -Patriotism
                         -Business leaders, press relations
                  -Work ethic
                  -Politics
                  -Respect
                         -Meany
                  -1972 campaign
                         -Neutrality, support
      -Final chapter
            -Future
                  -Second term reorganization
                         -Bureaucracy
                  -Spending, taxes
                  -Responsibility
                  -Congressional relations
                  -1972 election
                         -Victory margin
                                      -35-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. June-08)

                                                      Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

     -Length
     -Organization
     -Writing
           -Press relations

Press relations
      -Ronald L. Ziegler’s press conferences
      -Accommodations
      -Compared to Johnson
      -Press conferences
      -Opposition
             -Networks
                   -Power
                   -Public opinion
             -1968 campaign
             -1972 campaign
                   -McGovern
                         -Welfare
                                -$1000 per person proposal
                                -Vietnam War
                                -Redistribution of wealth
      -News
      -Strategy
             -Networks
                   -Power
                   -Public support
                         -Louis P. Harris poll
                         -Polls
                                -Reliability
      -Vietnam War
             -End
                   -Effect
      -Opposition
             -John D. Ehrlichman’s and Henry A. Kissinger’s briefings
             -Administration reaction
                   -Tone
                   -Influence
                         -Subscriptions
                   -US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                                     -36-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. June-08)

                                                      Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                     -Morale
                 -Compared to Johnson
                     -Telephone calls
                           -Effect
     -Change
           -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr., Dan Rather, John Chancellor
           -Women
           -Blacks
           -Administration
                 -Possible actions
                       -Buchanan’s lunch with William Small
                       -Cable TV
                       -License renewal
     -Bias
           -Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead’s speech
                 -Local stations’ responsibility
                       -New York
                              -El Paso

Buchanan’s book
     -Buchanan’s schedule
     -Controversy
          -Liberals

Press relations
      -Bias
             -Efron
                   -Effect
                         -Networks
                         -Public opinion
                                -Networks
             -Agnew’s Des Moines speech
                   -Networks
             -Public awareness
             -Buchanan’s book
      -Public relations [PR]
             -Washington establishment
                   -“Intellectual incest”
                   -The President’s conversation with unknown European ambassador
                               -37-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                        Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. June-08)

                                               Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                 -Presentation of credentials
                 -Ambassador’s US trip
                 -US
                       -Goodness
                 -Mental and emotional sickness
           -Dissipation
           -Commentators
-1972 campaign
      -Robert D. Novak’s article
           -McGovern
                 -Reported gains
                       -Polls
                       -News summary
                       -Accuracy
-Vietnam War
      -TV coverage
           -South Vietnamese
                 -Battles
                 -Compared to North Vietnamese
                       -Provincial capitals
                 -Battles
                 -Countryside
                 -Provincial capitals
           -Network requests for Hanoi photographs
                 -Bomb damage
                       -The President’s meeting with Col. Richard T. Kennedy
           -North Vietnamese atrocities against South Vietnamese civilians
                 -Rocketing of cities
                 -Assassination, murder
           -US military action
                 -Military targets
           -Double standard
-Spanish Civil War
-American Revolution
      -Army
      -Continentals
      -Loyalists
           -Tories
-Spanish Civil War
                                -38-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                             Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

      -Communists
            -Loyalists
      -Gen. Francisco Franco
            -Rebels
-Loyalists
-Civil War
      -South
            -The War of the Rebellion
            -The War between the States
-The President’s use of TV
      -1972 campaign
      -Press conferences
      -Vietnam negotiations
            -Breakdown
                  -Kissinger
            -Resumption
      -Press conferences
            -Purpose and location
                  -Bureaucracy
                        -Oval Office
                  -National audience
                        -East Room
                  -Single point
                        -Desk
                        -Questions
            -Guidelines
            -Timing
            -Scheduling
            -Programs
                  -Congressional relations
            -PR
                  -Commentators
            -Frequency
                  -Eisenhower
                        -Republican Party
                  -John Kennedy
                  -Johnson
            -Johnson
                  -Kennedy
            -Kennedy
                                                -39-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. June-08)

                                                             Conversation No. 828-13 (cont’d)

                              -Wit

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:01 am.

       The President’s schedule
            -Walk from Oval Office

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:01 pm.

       Buchanan’s book
            -Preparation

Buchanan left at 12:01 pm.