Conversation: 862-016
Prev:  862-015 Next: 862-017Start Date: 23-Feb-1973 12:57 PM
End Date: 23-Feb-1973 1:37 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Volpe, John A.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Sanchez, Manolo; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On February 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, John A. Volpe, Henry A. Kissinger, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:57 pm to 1:37 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 862-016 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 862-16 Date: February 23, 1973 Time: 12:55 pm – 12:57 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Henry A. Kissinger and John A. Volpe. Volpe’s visit -Report -Kissinger -Relations with US US Ambassadors to Latin America -Brazil -Leadership -William M. Rountree -Capabilities -Volpe’s schedule -Letters -Venezuela -Argentina -Brazil -Air traffic control project -Loss of contract -Raytheon Corporation of Massachusetts -Charlie Adams -US firms -French contract -Reopening of negotiations -Contract -Growth potential -Amazon River developments -Trans-Amazon highway -Volpe’s travel Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 12:57 pm. -30- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) Message for Volpe Sanchez left at an unknown time before 1:10 pm. Latin America -Brazil -Importance -Emilio Garrastazu -Visit by President -Mexico -Luis Echevarria Alvarez -Statements regarding US Volpe’s job as ambassador -Promotion of US Italy -Political situation European nations -Electoral politics -Great Britain -Election -Greece -Turkey -Spain -Socialist Italy -Economically oriented -Parties, Interests -Volpe’s task -Ties to political parties -Party shifts -Jeopardy -31- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) -Economic potential -Ties to West -Support for Andreotti -Meeting with Andreotti, Christian Democratic Deputies, Industrialists -Transportation Secretary -Pride in US -Italian history -Andreotti -Stability -Congress of Christian Democrats -Timing -Fall of government -US position regarding Andreotti ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National Security] [Duration: 22 s] ITALY END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ********************************************************************** -Cautions -Leaks -Corruption -Reputation -Industry, economy -Politics -Compared with Ancient Rome -Industry -Politics -32- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) -Leaders -Bureaucracy -Volpe’s view Volpe’s role -Andreotti -Meetings Prime Ministers -Cabinet -Opposition party members -Former prime ministers -[First name unknown] Ashburg [?] Kissinger's meeting with David K. E. Bruce -Timing -Meeting with the President -Radio talk Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo -Business -Women Kissinger left at 1:10 pm. Unknown woman -Foreign Service Volpe -Support for the President -Ambassadorship -President’s achievements -Vietnam -Critics -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Impression -33- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) -Pride State Department -European affairs -William P. Rogers -Walter J. Stoessel, Jr. -William J. Casey -Kenneth D. Rush European Community -Volpe’s work -Year at Europe -Importance -Relations with US -Economic confrontation Volpe’s job as ambassador Peter G. Peterson -International monetary situation -Volpe’s request for reports -Travels -Italy, France People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Navigation system -Kissinger’s letter to Volpe -Defense Department -Conflict -Usefulness -Peace -Effect on US labor Volpe’s meeting with George Meany -Work with Meany -Bill Driggs [?] -34- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) -State Department -Free Labor Movement -Union cooperation -Italy -Communists -Christian Democrats -Numbers -US policy Poles -Businessman US contacts abroad -Work with Volpe News summary -Patrick J. Buchanan -Copy for Volpe -Diplomatic mails -Newspapers abroad -New York Times -Biases -Walter H. Annenberg Ethnics -John A. Scali, Frank C. Carlucci -Ella T. Grasso -Poles -New American Majority -Michael P. Balzano -ACTION posting -Reputation Volpe’s experience in business -Ethnics -Quotas -35- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:10 pm. President's schedule -Radio talk Bull left at an unknown time before 1:37 pm. Volpe's job Ethnics -Commission of Food Advisory, other commissions -Cost of Living Council [COLC] -Assistant to Volpe -Support for Nixon -Staff appointments -Blacks, Polish-Americans, Italian-Americans, Slavs President's administration -Credit for domestic problems -Transportation, health -Long-range plans -Congress -President’s plans adopted -Airport -Speech -Credit -John D. Ehrlichman's interview in US News and World Report Transportation Department [DOT] -Environment -Achievements -Expressway -Tennessee -Highway safety -Lives saved -36- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) -Decline of auto deaths -Air bags -General Motors, Ford Motor Corporation -Support -Railroads -Potential for nationalization -Northeast corridor -Volpe's report -Savings over highways -Service to public -Public-private corporation -AMTRAK -Subsidy -Success -Congressional relations Public transportation -Budget -General funds -Claude S. Brinegar -Highway funds -Congressional relations Volpe's experience -Bismark chief executive -Commission of Public Works -Governor -Cabinet officer service -Staff meeting -President's statement -Cabinet officers -Staff in DOT -John McReynolds -Joseph A. Bosco -John Cole -[First name unknown] Russell -37- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) President’s call to Cabinet officers and families -Volpe’s son -Italian lessons -Work -Vacation Staff members -Power -Attitudes Congress members -Contacts with White House Cabinet members -Support from President -Telephone calls -Encouragement President’s travel plans -Europe -Timing -France -London -Germany -France, Italy Europe -Length of trip -Difficulties -Compared with USSR, PRC -Italy -Timing -Election -Andreotti -Communists -38- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) -Socialists Volpe’s report -Origin -Massachusetts President’s image Volpe -Role in Italian-American community Scali -United Nations [UN] -Rebuilding -Recognition of Italian-Americans -Anglos -Henry Cabot Lodge -George H. W. Bush Gifts -Cuff links -Ash trays -Golf balls -Presentation -Expense -Mementoes -Meeting with Andreotti Giovanni Leone -Letter to President -Reply -Middle East -Role of Italians -Role of Volpe, Andreotti Volpe's weight -39- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Jan.-10) Conversation No. 862-16 (cont’d) Volpe's return to US Volpe left at 1:37 pm.