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Conversation: 855-010

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Start Date: 14-Feb-1973 10:13 AM

End Date: 14-Feb-1973 10:49 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Colson, Charles W.Bull, Stephen B.Sanchez, Manolo

Recording Device: Oval Office

855-010.mp3

NARA Description:

On February 14, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:13 am to 10:49 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 855-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 855-10

Date: February 14, 1973
Time: 10:13 am -10:49 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Charles W. Colson and Stephen B. Bull.

       Changes in speech draft

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:49 am.

[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.
1-18.]

[End of transcribed portion.]

       Prisoners of war [POWs] return
              -Frank E. Fitzsimmons
                     -Conversation with Colson
                     -Support for President
              -Press
                     -Misjudgment of public
                             -National remorse
                                    -Delight
                             -Heroism
                     -“Draft dodgers”

       Amnesty
             -Divisiveness of issue
                    -National healing
                            -Press
                    -Right wing
                                      -8-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. August-10)
                                                   Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


              -Veterans groups
                       -Condemnation
              -Public hostility to amnesty
       -Compared to black issue
       -Public hostility
              -Anti-elitism
                       -College deferments
       -Hardship cases
       -Law-breaking
              -James R. (“Jimmy”) Hoffa
              -Major crime

National pride
       -Colson's memorandum
       -President’s accomplishments
       -Need to rebuild
               -Herman Kahn
               -Washington Star
       -President's program
       -Amnesty
               -Conflicts
                       -Compared to 1960s
               -Welfare
               -“Draft dodgers”
               -Responsibility
               -Equal burden
               -Busing
       -Changes in mood
               -President’s legacy

Press relations
        -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
                -Stock price
                       -News summary
                              -Business Week
        -Network news
                -Less viewing by public
                                      -9-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. August-10)
                                                    Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


              -Impact on public
                      -Lyndon B. Johnson
                      -John F. Kennedy
              -Frustrations
                      -Indifference of President’s administration
                      -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
                      -Pornography, permissiveness
                      -Peace at any price
              -Hostility to administration
                      -Loss of control
                              -Washington Post
                              -New York Times
                              -Endorsement of George S. McGovern
                                     -Compared to President
              -Reporters
              -Washington, DC compared to rest of country

Dollar devaluation
       -Phase III
       -New York Times
              -Criticism of President
              -Inaccuracy
              -Gross national product [GNP]
                      -Foreign components
                      -Size of economy
                      -Trade
       -Pubic understanding
              -Previous devaluation decision
                      -Acceptance
                      -Price freeze
              -Phase III
              -Complexity
              -Concerns
                      -Utilities, rent
              -Acceptance
       -John B. Connally
       -George P. Shultz
                                              -10-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. August-10)
                                                          Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


                    -Skill with press, public relations
                            -Free trade, protectionism
                    -President’s statements
                            -Photograph opportunity
                            -Catch phrases
                            -Connally

      POWs
             -Congratulations for President
             -Statements upon return
                     -Support for President
                             -Today Show
             -Credit to President
                     -Press relations

      Vietnam settlement
            -John A. Scali’s statement


**********************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

      Party changes
             -Connally
             -Mickey Gardner
             -Conflicts[?]
             -Press reaction
             -Democrats
                     -Albert E. Sindlinger[?]
             -Polling
                     -Connally’s announcement
                             -Effect on Republicans

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
**********************************************************************
                                             -11-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. August-10)
                                                              Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


       Congress budget preparation
             -News summary
             -Editorials
                     -Poor people
                     -John S. (“Jack”) Knight
                            -Opposition to Watergate, Vietnam War
                            -Support for President’s position
             -Expenditures
                     -President’s position
                     -Hugh Scott’s role
                     -Support for President
                     -Public attitudes
                            -Waste
                                     -Poverty Programs, welfare
                            -Protecting tax dollars
                                     -Compared to ideas of aid

       Colson’s trip to East Europe
             -Boston
             -Visit with parents
             -London

[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.
19-20.]

[End of transcribed portion]


**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[NATIONAL SECURITY]
[DURATION: 5s        ]

       INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**********************************************************************
                                              -12-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. August-10)
                                                              Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)




[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.
19-20.]

Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:13 am during the transcribed portion.

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:13 am during the transcribed portion.

[End of transcribed portion.]

Colson, Bull and Sanchez left at 10:49 am.