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Conversation: 840-003

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Start Date: 3-Feb-1973 9:10 AM

End Date: 3-Feb-1973 10:29 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Bull, Stephen B.Ziegler, Ronald L.Walters, Barbara

Recording Device: Oval Office

840-003a.mp3

840-003b.mp3

NARA Description:

On February 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Barbara Walters met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:10 am and 10:29 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 840-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 840-3

Date: February 3, 1973
Time: Unknown between 9:10 am and 10:29 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

       Ronald L. Ziegler’s location

       Henry A. Kissinger's schedule

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:29 am.

Ziegler entered at 9:55 am.

       United Press International [UPI] story
              -Inaccuracies in story
              -Tricia Nixon Cox
                      -White House car
              -Corrections
              -Type of car
                      -Plymouth, Chrysler
              -Impression of story
                      -Limousine

       Kissinger's trip to Hanoi
              -Press relations
                       -Press participation in trip
              -Resolution by National Press Club

Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:55 am.

       Moving
             -Unknown person

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:29 am.
                                        -4-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Sep.-09)
                                                        Conversation No. 840-3 (cont’d)




Kissinger's trip to Hanoi
       -Press contact with Democratic Republic of Vietnam [DRV]
       -Press to accompany Kissinger
       -Negotiations
       -Press in Hanoi
                -Reasons for going
                -Protests

Prisoner exchange
       -Press relations
       -Exploitation of Prisoners of War [POWs]
       -Condition of POWs
               -George E. Allen
               -Woody Hayes
               -Press relations
                       -Protection from individual
       -Press attacks on the President
       -Lester Markel
               -Article in New York Times
               -Faults of press
                       -Self-evaluation
       -Press to go to Hanoi
               -Resolution by National Press Club
                       -Emotions

The President's press conference
       -Commentaries by Dan Rather
               -The President’s anger
                       -1962 campaign
                       -Ziegler’s views
       -Press reaction
               -Courtney R. Sheldon
               -Rather as representative of the press
               -Jules J. Witcover
                       -Vermont Royster
                                        -5-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Sep.-09)
                                                         Conversation No. 840-3 (cont’d)



                      -Mixed opinions
                      -Rather’s comments
                      -Television [TV] coverage
                      -Charles W. Colson
                      -Rather's style
                      -White House letter
                             -Columbia Broadcast System [CBS]
                             -Rather

Ziegler's relations with press
        -Attention to Rather
        -Factual errors
        -Opinion
        -Marvin Kalb
        -James McManus
                -Westinghouse Corporation
                -Question to Ziegler
                        -Ziegler’s response

       -Press bias
       -TV reaction to the President's conference
               -Clips

Kalb
       -Robert Pierpoint
       -Call to Ziegler
               -Questions to Kissinger in TV interview
                      -Kissinger's answers
                      -Dull questions
       -Attacks on Kissinger
       -Ziegler’s view of interview

Ziegler's announcement on Beijing
        -Barbara Walters
               -Telephone call
                                              -6-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Sep.-09)
                                                              Conversation No. 840-3 (cont’d)



Ziegler attempted to reach the White House operator but was unsuccessful.

       White House operator

       The President's press conference
              -Rather
              -Impact on journalists
              -Conflict
              -Witcover’s article
              -TV coverage
                      -Prime time
              -Format
              -Future press conferences
                      -Executive Office Building [EOB] briefing room
                              -Number
                              -Setting
                              -TV setting
                              - East Room
                                      -Impression
                              -Number of journalists
                              -East Room

       POWs
              -Press relations
                      -Privacy
                      -Exploitation
                      -Meeting with journalists

Barbara Walters talked with Ziegler at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 10:29 am.

[Conversation No. 840-3A]

[See Conversation No. 43-16]

The President talked with Walters at an unknown time before 10:29 am.
                                              -7-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Sep.-09)
                                                                Conversation No. 840-3 (cont’d)



The President conferred with Ziegler at an unknown time before 10:29 am.

       Instructions to Ziegler
               -Exclusive for Walters upon Kissinger’s return

       Kissinger's schedule


[End of telephone conversation]

       Kissinger's return to US
              -Press coverage

       Press relations
              -1973 Inauguration
              -January 23, 1973 announcement
              -Lyndon B. Johnson's funeral
              -Radio speech
                      -Budget
              -Accessibility
              -Mood

       Trip to California
               -Cancellation
               -Florida

       Press conference at Western White House
              -Arrangements
                     -Live TV
                     -Tent
                     -Background
                     -Local press
                     -Setting
                     -Facilities
                     -Tent
                             -Compared to hotel or high school gym
                                                -8-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Sep.-09)
                                                              Conversation No. 840-3 (cont’d)



                     -Acoustics
                           -Tent
                                    -Ziegler’s experience

       UPI story
              -Limousine
              -Impression
                     -Aristocracy

       Kissinger's schedule
              -Meeting with the President
              -POWs

Ziegler left at an unknown time before 10:29 am.