Conversation: 878-019
Prev:  878-018 Next: 878-020Start Date: 13-Mar-1973 5:22 PM
End Date: 13-Mar-1973 5:45 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; Friedersdorf, Max L.; Dorn, William J. B.; Sanchez, Manolo; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On March 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Max L. Friedersdorf, William J. B. Dorn, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:22 pm to 5:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 878-019 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 878-19 Date: March 13, 1973 Time: 5:22 pm - 5:45 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with William J. B. Dorn, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. and Max L. Friedersdorf. Greetings Chairmanship of Veterans’ Affairs Committee Seating Veterans -Legislation Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time before 5:45 pm. Refreshments Sanchez left at an unknown time before 5:45 pm. Veterans Defense budget -Attempted cuts -Republicans, Democrats -Southern Congress members -39- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 878-19 (cont’d) -Impact on Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -Soviet Union -Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR] -Europe -US successes -US negotiations with Soviet Union -SS-9s -Effect of unilateral cuts -Mendel Rivers -Dorn's support for President -Volunteer army concept -Vietnam settlement -Tendency for disarmament after war -John J. McCloy -New York friends -US military strength -Effect on Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Peace -Disarmament -1933 horse cavalry units -High school principle -Dorn’s recollection -Adolf Hitler -Panzer tanks -West Point -Dorn’s brother -Gen. Billy Mitchell -Court martial -John E. Rankin -President’s experience on House Un-American Activities Committee [HUAC] -Speeches -Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. -Meeting with Rankin -Dorn’s military service -Slapping incident in Sicily -Drew Pearson's reporting of incident -Prolonging of war -Leadership qualities -40- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 878-19 (cont’d) -Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Omar N. Bradley -Army commander -Movement -Gen. Douglas MacArthur -President’s wish to meet -Dorn’s military service -Message runner -Breakthrough in 1944 -Bradley -Gas -Siegfried Line -Maginot Line [?] -Defense cuts -Congress -US position in 1940 -Cavalry -Germany -France -Impact on chances of peace -US strength -Vietnam settlement -Soviet Union -PRC -Opportunity for peace Vietnam settlement -December 1972 bombing -Effect -Lyndon B. Johnson's meeting with Dorn, Olin E. (“Tiger”) Teague, Rivers -Bombing -Haiphong [?] -Duration of war -1968 election -Johnson’s potential escalation of bombing -Eugene J. McCarthy Budgetary problem Veterans -41- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 878-19 (cont’d) -Committee -President's bills -Avoidance of veto -Vietnam and disabled veterans -Separate legislation -Prisoners of war [POWS] return -Reminder of patriotism, veterans -Bills before Congress -Problems -Conference committee -Cooperation between Congress and President -Pressure from veteran organizations -Work with Dorn -Cost -Help for Vietnam and disabled veterans -Dependents’ provisions -Veterans medical system -Vietnam veterans -Increased aid -POWS -President's talk with Col. Robinson Risner and Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. -Years in solitary confinement -Meals -Disabled, jobless veterans -Dissension, discontent -Report recommendation -Disabled veterans’ benefits cuts -Leak to press -Disloyalty -Embarrassment to President -Work of committee -Dorn contacts with Cole -News summary -President’s support -Dorn's Republican counterpart -John P. Hammerschmidt -Veterans bill -Senate passage -42- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 878-19 (cont’d) -Veto -Dependants of disabled veterans -Medical care -Provisions -Dependents of deceased Veterans -Cemeteries -Costs -Sponsors of legislation -Social Security increase -Allowable income -Partisanship on committee -Medical care provisions -Compromise -Separation from other bills -Budget busting -Veto -Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO] -Public support -Letters to committee -Constituents -Social Security increase -Bill in 1950s -House of Representatives -Senate additions -Cost -Hugh Scott and Gerald R. Ford -Irresponsibility -1950's Senate handling of legislation -Robert A. Taft, Harry F. Byrd, Jr., Walter George -House of Representatives Workings of Congress -Coordination -Election cycle -Senate -Problems -Ken Waring -Southern Democrats -Spending -43- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 878-19 (cont’d) -Teague -Nikita S. Khruschev -Spending Veterans bill -Cuts -Social Security Medical provisions of bill -Drug treatment programs -Vietnam veterans -Dishonorable discharge -Senate -Additions -Costs -Pensions [?] -Support for President Photograph Reception in Caucus Room -Invitation -Frederick B. Dent -South Carolina Years in Congress -Work with President, Johnson, and John F. Kennedy -William E. Timmons Dorn et al., left at 5:45 pm.