Conversation: 859-021
Prev:  859-020 Next: 859-022Start Date: 21-Feb-1973 10:47 AM
End Date: 21-Feb-1973 11:11 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Dent, Harry S.; White House photographer; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On February 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Harry S. Dent, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:47 am to 11:11 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 859-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 859-21 Date: February 21, 1973 Time: 10:47 am - 11:11 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Harry S. Dent; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting. Photographs President's South Carolina visit -Black out on television [TV] -Crowds -Newspaper coverage -President’s demeanor -TV coverage -President's appearance -Extemporaneous remarks South Carolina Democrats -John C. West -George S. McGovern supporter -Support for the President -Graciousness -President's popularity -South Carolina election results -Effects of December bombing South Carolina visit -Strom J. Thurmond -President’s comments -Ernest Hollings -President's statement -Mrs. James Thurmond -TV coverage -President's mixing with crowds -Image of young boy -25- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) -President’s statements -Vietnam -Federal and state powers -President’s role in Congress -Campaign pledges -South -President's conduct -Mixing with crowd -Mrs. Brynes -Young boy -Appearance -Speech content -South Carolina Democrats -Legislature -Governors Visits to South -Southern strategy -Thurmond’s support -President’s address to the South Carolina state legislature -Recalcitrance -Andrew Jackson -Start of Civil War -Independence -Thurmond -Significance -West ********************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] -President’s statement -TV coverage -Little boy [?] -Closing statement -26- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) -Book signing [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ********************************************************************** -Republican National Committee [RNC] -Dent’s role -General Counsel -Dent’s appreciation -Prestige -George H. W. Bush -Statement -Southern reaction -Fred C. Scribner, Jr. ********************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] Frederick B. Dent -Briefing paper -Strength -1974 election -Governorship of South Carolina -Importance of business support -Republican support -Democrat -Weaknesses -Earle Morris, Jr. -Divorce Solomon Blatt -Support for President in 1968, 1972 -Jewish ancestry -Compared with Benjamin Disraeli -Protectionism -27- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) Political poll President’s visit [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ********************************************************************** Budget -Rebellion -Cuts -Taxes -Demonstrations -Republican -Cuts to Rural Electrification Administration [REA] -Complaints -Public support for President -Protest -Agricultural workers -President's popularity Pete Strong -South Carolina Law Enforcement Division -Statements about support for President President's policies -Dent’s statements -Meeting with Southeast housing officials -Prisoners of War [POWs] [?] -Taxes -Inflation -Vietnam ceasefire South Carolina political issues -Housing -28- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) -Special interest groups -REA complaints -Press reaction -Newspapers -Support for President -Dent's contacts with editors -President’s appreciation -Endorsement -Coverage -Greenville -Columbia -Spartanburg -Charleston Press -TV commentators -Coverage South Carolina visit -Coverage -Motorcade -Byrnea ********************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] Dent’s plans -RNC -Candidate search -South -Democrats Republicans -President’s support -1972 election -Exceptions -James O. Eastland, John L. McClellan -29- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) -Compared with 1974 election -South Carolina legislature -Two women -Need for more women candidates -South -Youth -Governor [John C. West] -Charles W. Colson South Carolina Court system -Democratic control John B. Connally -Party switch -Future in Democratic Party -Effects on business community -Effect on party alignment -Electibility -Presidency -Opposition to Connally -Charles H. Percy -Ronald W. Reagan -Spiro T. Agnew -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Percy -Lack of support in South -Agnew -Rockefeller -Agnew -Attitudes -South -Public opposition -Approval as Vice President -Controversy -Public fears -South -30- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) -Republicans -Democrats -Public support -Conversation with Dent -Party switch -Delay -Support at conventions -Presidential material -Nomination -Governor -Support in South -Compared with the President -Midwest -Illinois, Ohio, California -Nomination -Outsider status -President’s support -Agnew, Rockefeller, Reagan -Public respect -Continuing President’s policies [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ********************************************************************** Congressional relations -Fight with President -Presidential power -Democrats -Russell B. Long -1972 election -Vietnam cease-fire agreement -Herman E. Talmadge -Support for President -Interest groups -Cheese imports -31- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-21 (cont’d) -Dairy producers -Liaison -Contributions -REA leaders -Lobbying groups -Control of Congress -Blacks -Jesse L. Jackson -Demonstration -Capitol -Howard J. Phillips [?] President's policies -Second term administration -Special interests -Opposition -Government’s role Government expenditures -Great society Stephen B. Bull -Governor [West] -Gift Dent left at 11:11 am.