Conversation: 870-002
Prev:  870-001 Next: 870-003Start Date: 6-Mar-1973 3:42 PM
End Date: 6-Mar-1973 4:20 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Corcoran, Thomas G.; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On March 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Thomas G. Corcoran, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:42 pm to 4:20 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 870-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 870-2 Date: March 6, 1973 Time: 3:42 pm - 4:20 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Thomas G. Corcoran. Greetings Oval Office Linda and Claudia A. (“Lady Bird”) Johnson -Admiration for artist [?] -2- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) Lyndon B. Johnson -Vietnam settlement -Lyndon Johnson’s death, January 22, 1973 -Place in history -Vietnam settlement -Gratitude by Mrs. Johnson -The President's call to Lyndon B. Johnson prior to his death An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 3:42 pm. Refreshment The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:20 pm. Corcoran -President's gratitude for advice -Last election -Stakes John W. McCormack -Visit with Corcoran to Lyndon B. Johnson Library -Reception for George S. McGovern -Oral history transcription -Inauguration -Support for foreign policy -Importance to President -Unity -Gratitude to President -Reception -Invitation to Golda Meir dinner -Overnight stay in White House -Arrangements -Lincoln Room -Retirement -Anonymity John B. Connally -Corcoran’s acquaintance -Idanell Connally -3- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -University of Texas Law School -Presidential candidate -Political alignment in US -Jim Rose [?] Corcoran -Meeting with Connally -Democrats for Nixon -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon -Candidacy -Party identification -Public support -First job in Washington, DC -Herbert C. Hoover, Jesse H. Jones -Party identification -Support for President -Boldness Walter Bedell Smith -Party affiliation -Abilities -John Foster Dulles -Service to Dwight D. Eisenhower -Jerry Persons Corcoran's White House experience -Jesse Jones -Work as corporate lawyer -Franklin D. Roosevelt -Unofficial secretary [Anna] Eleanor Roosevelt -President's first encounter during World War II -South Pacific -Noumea, New Caledonia Franklin Roosevelt -Robert Sherwood's biography -Charm -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Courage -Compared to President -Larry Stewart [?] -Meeting with Corcoran -Tyrus R. (“Ty”) Cobb -Batting record Corcoran -Judgment of men -Judgment of Connally US foreign and domestic policy -Economic warfare -Public opinion -Korean War -Japan -Technology -Marshall Plan -Facsimile machine [?] -Creation of competitors -Public opinion -Economic opportunity -Land, airspace Connally -Abilities -Project -Assignment by President -Energy crisis -Compared with Jesse Jones -Banking crisis -Franklin Roosevelt -Corcoran’s experience in energy sector -Texaco [?] -Oil and gas -Nuclear power -New role -Democrats working with Republicans -Model of Jesse Jones -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Herbert Hoover -Example for other Democrats -Income -Houses, mortgage ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] Connally’s nomination for president -President’s endorsement -Problems with party switch -Democrats -Dominance by Left-wing -1972 election -George C. Wallace -Rules changes in House of Representatives -Democratic Study Group -Richard Bolling -Albert Cole -Wilbur D. Mills -Cloture rules -Republican nomination -Southern support -Political support -Mountain and plains states -California, Ohio -Republican opposition -Charles H. Percy -Decision making ability -Foreign policy -Compared to Hubert H. Humphrey -Warmth, heart -Spiro T. Agnew -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Age Ronald W. Reagan -Age -Age of former presidents and leaders at death -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Franklin Roosevelt -Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt -Hoover -Gen. Charles A. J. M. DeGaulle and Konrad Adenauer -Dwight D. Eisenhower and Winston S. Churchill -Post-65 years -Lyndon Johnson [?] -Stroke -Connally’s age -Vigor -Overexertion -Courage -Leadership abilities -Compared to Rockefeller Jewish leaders -Taft Schreiber, [unintelligible name] -Max Fischer -Democratic supporters -Support for President -Previous support for Humphrey, Henry M. (‘Scoop”) Jackson -Support for Connally James Farley -Talk with Corcoran -Connally Connally -Future in Democratic Party -1974 election -Party switch -Melvin R. Laird -Talk with Corcoran -Jesse Jones -Party switch -Timing -Strategy -Work with administration on special project -Candidacy for Presidency -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Problems of early start -Rockefeller, Reagan, Agnew -Preparations Corcoran’s party affiliation [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 3:42 pm. Gifts -Presidential cuff links The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:20 pm. Cuff links -Color -Value ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] Corcoran -Help with Connally -Party allegiances -Robert C. Hill [?] -Republican Party posts -District Attorney of New York -Secretary to Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. [?] -Hoover’s administration -Switch to Democrats -Lack of Republican boldness -Support for President -Democratic Party -Demise -New party system -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Liberal and conservative -Third party name [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** President’s image -Benjamin Disraeli -Comparison with Robert Walpole -Bernard Baruch -Frederick S. Oliver's book, Endless Adventure of Governing Men -Walpole -Impact on 18th century England and effect on unity and later Napoleonic challenge -Compared with President Corcoran -Children -Vietnam veteran -Harvard Law School -Work in District Attorney’s office -Work with Connally -Robert Hill -Link with Lyndon Johnson during Eisenhower administration -Corcoran’s retention of Democrat affiliation -Anecdote from George B. Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra and from Plutarch's works -Rolled carpet analogy 1968 election -Anna C. Chennault, Herbert G. Klein -Acquaintance with Corcoran -Air America -Corcoran’s ownership of predecessor -Executive -Claire L. Chennault -Death -Governor of Louisiana -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Maj. Gen. [first name unknown] Cooper -Corcoran -Letter to President -Request for interview with President -Wealth [?] Offer to help President -Support for Democrats -Support for Connally -Vietnam War Prisoners of war [POWs] -Meeting with President -Olin E. "Tiger" Teague -Wives -Meetings with President -Age -Length of captivity -Conditions of captivity -Sense of pride -Support for President -B-52 bombings -December 1972 Khartoum incident US ambassadors -Brig. Gen. Henry A. Byroade -Ambassador to Philippines -Acquaintance with Corcoran -China -Appointment to Sudan -Head of Near East Division Egypt, Afghanistan -Accident US strategic interests -New Caledonia -Corcoran’s mission to Micronesia -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -US Navy -United Nations [UN] mission [?] -Yap, Pulau, Ponape -Military bases -Maurice R. Greenberg -Protégé of W. Clement Stone -C. V. Starr and Co., Inc. -Ponape -Sullivan [?] Life Insurance Co. -Interest in Philippines -Ferdinand E. Marcos -Assassination -Civil war -Subic Bay naval base -Micronesia -Edward E. Johnston [High Commissioner for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands (TTPI)] -Johnston’s wife -Honolulu -Departure -Rats at a hotel -Compared to William McCormick Blair, Jr’s wife -Independence -Peace Corps -Congress of Micronesia -Corcoran’s experience -Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO]-funded legal advisors -Naval presence -Newport News -Aircraft carrier -Byroade -Johnston’s replacement -Tourism -Continental Airlines -Hotels -Water supply -Pulau, Truk -Sewage facilities -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Mar.-09) Conversation No. 870-2 (cont’d) -Roads Exit door Corcoran’s assistance -Connally [?] Photographs Byroade -Middle East, Pakistan -Donald McI. Kendall -Philippines Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:42 pm. Photographers Bull left at an unknown time before 4:20 pm. Corcoran's health Corcoran left at 4:20 pm.