Conversation: 854-017
Prev:  854-016 Next: 854-018Start Date: 13-Feb-1973 9:48 AM
End Date: 13-Feb-1973 10:52 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Colson, Charles W.; Sanchez, Manolo; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On February 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 10:52 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 854-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 854-17 Date: February 13, 1973 Time: 9:48 am - 10:52 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Charles W. Colson. Colson’s trip to Romania and Soviet Union -President's telephone call -Lobbying -Departure -Weather -First stop -London -Ambassador’s residence -Mr. and Mrs. Walter Annenberg -Moscow -Leningrad -Bucharest -Ambassador -Romanians -Soviet Union -Physical appearance -Moscow -Leningrad -Americans -Tour sights -Monuments -Palaces in Leningrad -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -Galleries -Kremlin -Factories -Contact with people -Bucharest -Freedom -Compared to Soviet Union -Lack of restraint -Poland -Israel -Soviet Union Manolo Sanchez [?] entered at an unknown time after 9:48 am. Greeting [?] Sanchez left at an unknown time before 10:52 am. Colson’s trip -National or ethnic traits -Prejudice -Jews -Irish -Alcohol -Italians -Jews -Personalities -Abilities -Israelis -Compared with other Jews -Strength -Jews -Participation in Vietnam War -Prisoners of war [POWs] -Air Force enlistment -Desk jobs -Government work -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -Deferments -College students -Deserters -Canada -Sweden -Television [TV] interviews -Amnesty News summary -Martin Schram -“TRB” [Richard Strout] -Dan Rather -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.’s interview -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] -Transcript -Administration -Relations with TV advertisers -Dishonesty -Conciliation Public attitudes -Antagonism to administration -“Doves” -Support -Middle -Right wingers -Reaction to press -Schram -Cronkite -Mail Press relations -“TRB” -Christian Science Monitor -Richard Strout -Writer -John F. Osborne -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -The New Republic -The National Review -Human Events -Relevance -New York Times -Washington Post -Human Events -Patrick J. Buchanan -Left wing view -Martin Z. Agronsky show -Relations with administration -News summary -Liberals -Washington -Press Corp -Amnesty, peace with honor -Rev. Theodore S. Hesburgh -Notre Dame -Religious people -Forgiveness -Catholic Church -Colson’s view -Confession -Sin -Weakness Public relations -President’s image -Strength, toughness -1972 election -Soft-line -Public demand for hard-line policies Prisoners of war [POWs] -Return -Associated Press [AP] -Appreciation of President, US -TV coverage -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -Film clips -Impact -Prime time specials -Jack Perkins -National Broadcasting Company [NBC] -Capt. James A. Mulligan, Jr. -Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. -Col. Robinson Risner -Pilot -Appearance on return -Salute -President's conversation with Mrs. Mulligan -Bombing -Opposition -Necessity -Effectiveness -Public support -Air Force propaganda -Loss of aircraft -B-52 bombers -Publicity -Heroism -President’s conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler -POW wives -Privacy -Time story -POW support for President -Telephone call from Col. Robinson Risner -News coverage -Extent -Impact of return -Return -Appearance of POWs -Vietnam settlement -Ticker-tape parade -POW wives -Today Show -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -POW support for the President -Release -Terms -John Sherman Cooper, Frank F. Church, Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield, George S. McGovern, Charles H. Percy -Pride -Vietnam settlement -Fragility -South Vietnam -Laos -Cambodia -Missing in action [MIAs] -Hope for release -“Oriental mentality” -Bill Anderson -Chicago Tribune -Article -Release due to President -McGovern -Loyalism -“TRB” -Rather -Schram -Washington Star -Photograph -Statement on release -Everett Alvarez, Jr. -Character -Courage -Compared to draft resister, deserters -Canada Amnesty -Hugh Scott's views -Opposition -Attitude of deserters -14- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -Hardship cases -Deserters -Jews -Affluent families -Supporters and abettors of deserters -Press relations -William J. Baroody, Kenneth Clawson -Colson’s attitude -John V. Lindsay -Quotations -Circulation -Philadelphia -McGovern -Edmund S. Muskie -Reconciliation -Prolonged debate -“Doves” -Domestic social programs -Hospitals -Housing for elderly -Divisiveness -Treatment of deserters -Leniency -Franklin D. Roosevelt -Attacks on right -John Donnelly -Iron Cross -Harry S. Truman -John F. Kennedy -Lyndon B. Johnson -Consensus -Kennedy -Unity -Invitations to White House -Attacks -Johnson -Opposition to President -15- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Respect -Weak leadership -Attacks on administration -Fundamental change in political attitudes -Necessity -Access to administration ********************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] 1976 election -Ronald W. Reagan -Candidacy -Speaking tour -Finances -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Percy -Spiro T. Agnew -John B. Connally -Reagan -Southern support -Compared to Agnew -Southern Republicans -Rockefeller -Reagan -Qualifications for office -Agnew -Rockefeller -Ages -Reagan -Rockefeller -Connally -Agnew -President -Campaigning -16- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ********************************************************************** Personnel appointments -Meeting with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, and George P. Shultz -Labor Department -Peter J. Brennan -Shultz -Undersecretary -Shultz -Subordinates -Brennan -Approval of promotions -Control -Shultz’s criticism -Qualifications -Subordinates -Ehrlichman -Managerial type -Shultz -Dealings with Brennan -Political loyalty -Competence -John W. Larson -Interior Department -Interview by Colson -Background -Frederic V. Malek -Political experience -Internal Revenue Service [IRS] -Systems analyst -Compared to Robert S. McNamara -Don Alexander -Lawyer -17- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) -Cincinnati -George D. Webster -Shultz’s disapproval -Undersecretary of Commerce Department -Frederick B. Dent -Sensitivity of job -Congressional relations -Shultz -Input on appointments -Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS] -Problems -Unemployment statistics News summary -Employment -President’s conversation with Reagan Economy -Hobart Rowen -Complaints -Wall Street -Devaluation -Impact on Wall Street [A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.1-10.] Manolo Sanchez [?] entered at an unknown time after 9:48 am during the transcribed portion. Consume Sanchez [?] left at an unknown time before 10:52 am during the transcribed portion. [End of transcribed portion.] Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:48 am. -18- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. August-10) Conversation No. 854-17 (cont’d) President’s schedule -Meeting with Shultz -William E. Timmons -Ronald L. Ziegler Bull left at an unknown time before 10:52 am. Personnel appointments -Meeting with Shultz, Ehrlichman, and Haldeman -Brennan's Labor Department -Number -Malek -Assistant secretaries -Conflict with Brennan -Shultz -Undersecretaries -Solicitor General of Labor [?] [Richard F. Schubert] [?] -Qualifications -Donald F. Rodgers -Political loyalty President’s schedule Colson left at 10:52 am.