Conversation: 883-005
Prev:  883-004 Next: 883-006Start Date: 19-Mar-1973 10:30 AM
End Date: 19-Mar-1973 12:34 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On March 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:30 am to 12:34 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 883-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 883-5 Date: March 19, 1973 Time: 10:30 am - 12:34 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. Weather -Snow -Cherry blossoms President’s schedule -Willy Brandt’s visit -Confirmation of date -Kakuei Tanaka's visit -Confirmation of date -May 1, 1973 date for Brandt visit -3- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Possible trip to Africa -Dates -Prisoners of war [POWs] dinner -Problem of scheduling -Congressional fundraising dinner -Mid-week departure -Press coverage -Meeting with Brandt -Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft’s participation -Advice from Henry A. Kissinger Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 11:06 am. [Conversation No. 883-5A] Brandt visit -Scowcroft -Date -Status report [End of telephone conversation] President's schedule -Meetings with foreign heads of state -Brandt -Guilio Andreotti -Paris visit -Georges J. R. Pompidou -Kissinger's recommendations -Visit by Pompidou to US -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] country objections -President’s concerns -US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] summit -Brandt's trip to US -Public relations trip -Paris -Haldeman's meeting with Kissinger -Pompidou's visit -President's meetings with European leaders -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Kissinger’s recommendation -Location of meetings in Europe -Azores -Paris -President’s concern -Kissinger -State Department -President’s trip to Africa -Two country visit -Favors -NATO -President’s security during visits -Europe -Netherlands -Denmark -Belgium -NATO base -Luxembourg -Spain -Portugal -Azores -Frequency of visits Julie L. Pineau -Departure from National Security Council [NSC] job -Reasons -Kissinger -Abilities ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] John B. Connally -Party switch -Arrangements -George Christian -Announcement -Paul Latt [?] -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Follow-up -Delays -Timing Christian -Democratic Party [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** Gen. John P. Flynn -Health -Announcement -Telephone call to Flynn -Timing -Senior officer status Pineau -Competence -Dealings with Kissinger Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s schedule -White House weekend events -Church services -Evenings at the White House -Rigor of schedule -Rex W. Scouten -Lucy A. Winchester President’s schedule -Head of state Visits -Number of Evenings at the White House -Lists of invitees -Rose Mary Woods and William E. Timmons -Individuals sought by President -Completion -Maurice H. Stans -Worship services -Local guests -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Purpose of events -Compared with purpose of audience -Evenings at the White House -Political figures -Stans's group -Campaign contributors -Frequency of Evenings at the White House -Limitations -Rest -Press conference -Congressional relations -Trip to west coast -Nguyen Van Thieu -Lee Kuan Yew's dinner -Andreotti's visit -Florida trip -Easter holiday -Brandt's visit -Evening at the White House -Finance dinner -USSR visit -Dates -Evening at the White House -Visit by African head of state -President’s trip to Africa -[Shah of Iran] Mohammed Reza Pahlavi’s visit -Dinners -Entertainment -Gifts for attendees -Foreign visitors -Congress members -Congressional assistants -Length of time Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s schedule -Meetings with young people -Value to administration -Symbolism -Committee to Re-Elect the President [CRP] -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Party at White House -Church service -Oswald Hoffman [?] President's schedule -Church services -Monthly schedule -White House correspondents dinner -Palm Sunday [?] -May schedule -Brandt’s visit -President’s trip to Africa -Mother’s Day -President's revisions -White House correspondents dinner -Saturday events -Use of White House -Effectiveness -Summer schedule -California -Frequency -Difficulty of scheduling -International monetary situation -Speeches -Evenings at White House -Preparations -Early scheduling -Arrangements -Quality of show -Audience -Congress member -Kentucky -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's birthday -Personal touch -Green bow tie -Entertainment -Poem -Bonnie Owens of Merle Haggard's group -Birthday poem -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Merle Haggard -Personality -Guests -Visits upstairs -Value -Flowers -Dining room -[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II's comparison of President, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy -Availability -Rose Mary Woods -Attendance of White House dinner -Spiro T. Agnew -Secretary’s attendance -[First name unknown] Summers -Camp David and Sequoia -Cabinet -Use -David Eisenhower's observations -Social events -Frequency -First term -Psychology -Pressures of election -Congressional relations -Camp David and Sequoia -Cabinet -Upstairs of White House -Use by outsiders -Mrs. Nixon’s birthday -POWs -Evening at the White House -Stag dinners -Campaign contributors -Compared with state dinner -Dwight D. Eisenhower's approach -Number attending -Conversation with White House staff -Cabinet -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Governors -Value and format -William T. Cahill -Foreign visitors -Length of dinner -Chief of protocol -Identification of campaign contributors -Foreign visitors -Congress members -Church services -Invitees -William F. (“Billy”) Graham's recommendation of minister -Reasons for having services -Religious observance -Church in Florida -Compared with White House for holidays -Assistant secretary invitees -Evening at the White House -Campaign contributors -Social events -Types -Church services -Evening at the White House -State dinner -Youth events -Frequency -Brandt’s visit -Lee Kuan Yew's visit -Stag dinner -Woods, Charles W. Colson and Patrick J. Buchanan -Invitees -New establishment compared with New Majority -Educators -Columnists -Broadcasters -Editors -Publishers -Government managers -Foundations -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Labor unionists -George Meany -Jay Lovestone -Blacks and Mexican-Americans -Quota basis -New Majority -Italian-Americans -Brandt dinner -Invitees -Campaign contributors -Pahlavi [Shah of Iran] dinner -Invitees -Campaign contributors -Haldeman's conference with Kissinger and Agnew Nguyen Van Thieu's visit -Visit to Washington, DC -California -Isolation -Demonstrators -Impact -Possible cancellation by Thieu Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 11:06 am. -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.'s advice Watergate -News report on Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. -Image -Partisanship -Gerald L. Warren's briefing -Arrests of potential witnesses -Administration response -Approaches -John D. Ehrlichman, Richard A. Moore, and John W. Dean, III -President's statement -Comments on Ervin's comments -Ehrlichman -President's response to Ervin's threats -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -White House cooperation on information -Separation of powers -Supreme Court test -White House cooperation -Ziegler's statement for press -Ervin's partisanship -Confrontation with administration -"Face the Nation" appearance -Emphasis on administration's cooperation -Ehrlichman -News media -Congress -Reporting on Watergate -Peter M. Flanigan's testimony -Ziegler's response on question -Sherman Adams testimony -Ziegler's statement -Charge of crime -Flanigan's testimony -Precedent -Written statement in Sansinena oil tanker case [1970] -International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] case -Circumstances -Parallels with Watergate -White House aides -Testimony -Court case -Delays -Ervin Committee -Ehrlichman's advice -Threats of imprisonment -President's reply -Separation of power -Cooperation -Justice Department -Sensationalism -Central issues -White House cooperation -Separation of powers -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Examination of Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] raw files -White House staff morale -Ervin Committee -Sensationalism -Dean -ITT case -Securities and Exchange Commission [SEC] investigation -Justice Department -Ziegler's comments -Files on case -SEC subpoena -William J. Casey -Summary of contents -Agnew, Connally, and Peter G. Peterson -Leaks from committee -Comments Press relations -Proper length of briefing -Ziegler's judgment -Ehrlichman's briefings -Compared with Kissinger’s briefings -Length -Limits -Earl L. Butz -Department briefings -Press objective -Cut-off point -Press hostility -Clark R. Mollenhoff -Biases of reporters -Announcements of positive stories -[First name unknown] Alexander -Food White Paper -Herbert G. Stein Watergate -Press briefings -Warren -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Briefings -Administration's cooperation -William J. Baroody's office -Publicity -Jeremiah O'Leary story in Washington Star -Raw files -Alger Hiss analogy -Cooperation Ziegler left at 11:26 am. -Public relations efforts -Someone to direct -White House staff -Public relations sense and coordination of efforts Public relations -POW story President’s schedule -POW party -Press presence -Risk -Coverage -Restrictions on behavior -Ziegler -Entertainment -Response by women attendees -Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope -Format -President's toast and Flynn's response -Press coverage -Entertainment -Hope -Personality -Gags -Haggard -Straight lines -Welfare recipients -14- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Patriotism -Bumper stickers An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:26 am. President’s schedule -President's meeting with Theodore H. (“Teddy”) White -White’s notebook -Memorandums on Brandt The unknown person left at an unknown time before 12:34 pm. POWs -Reception -State Department -Defense Department -Briefing -Value -Flynn’s opinion -Wives -Activities -Tea at State Department President's schedule -Social events -Amount of effort -Range of invitees -Value -President’s popularity -Job responsibility of President -Renewal of country’s faith -Event in Topeka -Value -Motorcade -Chicago trip -Format -Walk -Thieu’s visit -President's trip to California -15- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Florida -President's visit -Weather compared to California -Location -Washington, DC -California -Demonstration -Jane Fonda -Beaches in California -Camp Pendleton -Capistrano State Park -Protesters -Fonda’s presence -POWs POWs -North Vietnam -Viet Cong -Absent without leave [AWOL] -Public relations -Determination -Confinement -Prayers -Patriotism Vietnam War -Definitive history -Sir Robert Thompson -Kissinger -Joseph W. Alsop -Thompson's book -President's impressions -Sequel -President's support and collaboration -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Kissinger -Sensitivity to left-wing criticism -December 1972 bombing -Conflicts with Haig -16- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Success -Behavior -December 1972 bombing -POW reaction -Support for President’s decision -Release from captivity -Decision -Haldeman's conversation with William L. Safire -Relation to May 8, 1972 decision -Use of B-52's -President’s decision -Carpet bombing -Terror bombing -Military targets -Stewart J. O. Alsop's column -Criticism of President -Lyndon B. Johnson and Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -Reasons -Defending troops and POWs -Grounds to resume bombing -Bombing of military targets -Hanoi -Future US bombing -Dikes -Civilian targets -Previous accusations -Cease fire -Sources -Herman Kahn -Abandonment of settlement effort -POWs -Cease-fire -Limited scope -Press reports -Stories of massive destruction -Earlier bombing -Dikes -Prison camps -Hospitals -17- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Reaction of POWs -Kissinger's ambivalence -Appearance of objections -Safire -May 8, 1972 decision -Safire's writing on President's and Kissinger's behavior -Cambodia -Role of Kissinger in decision -Inaccuracies -Demeanor of Kissinger compared with President -Dr. G[eorge] Alexander Heard -College students -Association with protester -Safire -Rebuttals to Kissinger's accounts -Role as Jew Kissinger -Cambodia -India-Pakistan War of 1971 -Laos -Anxieties -Vietnam War -Bombings -TV -Safire -December 1972 bombing -Paris messages -Proposed TV appearance by President -Henry Brandon -Conflicts with William P. Rogers and Melvin R. Laird -Disruption -Safire -Brandon -Comments on Rogers -Safire’s opinion -Role in Cambodia invasion -Self-delusion -Talks with James B. (“Scotty”) Reston -Haldeman's comments -18- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Kissinger's reactions to Reston's column -State Department -Meeting with Reston -Personality -Integrity -Self-delusion -Oriana Fallacci interview -Haig -Tape recording -Safire -Haig -Cambodia -Kissinger's conversations with Haldeman -May 8, 1972 decision -Military’s role -Kissinger's role -1972 Moscow summit -Cancellation -December 1972 bombing -Responsibility -Connally's role -Kissinger's approach -Mining -Bombing -Surgical bombing -Ports -Ship withdrawal -Menu strikes -Johnson Vietnam War -Gradual escalation -Vietnam settlement -Military fears of losing B-52's -Kissinger -Bombing -Use of B-52's -Kissinger’s reaction -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer's conversation with the President -19- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -President’s responsibility for decision -Expansion of strikes -Kissinger’s opinion -Publicity -President's record of conversations with Kissinger -President’s memory -Revisionism -Cambodian invasion -President's role in decision -Heard -Determination -Military advice -Public relations -Kissinger on offensive -Ehrlichman’s public appearances -Connally [?] -Herbert G. Klein, Bryce N. Harlow and Haldeman’s role -Arms capture -Compared with heroin seizure -Significance -Talking points -Press coverage -Ziegler, Moore, David R. Gergen, Buchanan and Ehrlichman -Domestic side -Ehrlichman compared with Kissinger Kissinger -TV briefings -Popularity -Integrity -Accounts of personal involvement in decisions -Self-delusion -Cambodia decision -Sunday Supplement magazine excerpt -Brandon’s book on Kissinger -Leaks on Cambodia -Kent State University -Speech -Heard -20- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Meeting with Ivy League presidents Book by Safire -Potential controversy -View of Kissinger -Haig's role on Vietnam ***************************************************************** [Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift] 1972 campaign -Surplus finds -Disposal -George H.W. Bush -State committees -Candidate selection -Bills -Apportionment around states -California -New York -Advertising -Stans -Republic National Committee [RNC] plans -Announcement -Bush -Role of RNC -Candidate selection -President’s concern -RNC -Press coverage -Washington Post -Limits of role -Grassroots organization -Candidate selection -Committees -Ethnics -Women -Youth -21- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -National and county organization -Campaign -Candidates for House of Representatives -Senate 1974 election in Illinois -Senate race -John B. Anderson -Donald H. Rumsfeld -Delay of decision -President’s non-involvement in primary -Pre-emption of primaries -Candidate selection -Bush -Robert H. Finch -Indecision on race in California -Senate -Governor [End segment reviewed under deed of gift] ***************************************************************** Agnew -David Eisenhower -Statements -Quotations from liberals -Intellectual pretensions - John K. Galbraith and Plato -Press relations -Gridiron comments -Texas -Credibility -Comments on Southern Republicans -Harry S. Dent’s support for Connally -Compared with support for Agnew -Colson Speech to Congress -22- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Delays -Cooperation with Congress -Conditions -TV coverage -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy and Roman L. Hruska -Contents -Domestic concerns -Responsibility of Congress Press conference -Watergate questions -Public interest -Media interest -Testimony before Congress -Cooperation -Press reports -Stories of confrontation -Scheduling -Last troop withdrawal from Vietnam -Return of POWs President’s speech -TV speech -Reading -White House -Congress -Personal role -Dwight Eisenhower -Tone -Microphone technique -Franklin D. Roosevelt and President -Speech before Congress -Advantages -Congressional relations -Willingness to cooperate -Public perception of conflict -Reassurance of cooperation -Reception of President by Congress -Press conference -23- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) -Disadvantages -Attention on Watergate -Scheduling -Watergate hearings -Options -Press conference -TV coverage -Timing -East Room -Advantages to President -TV coverage -Timing -Advantages to press -Speech to Congress -Haldeman's preference Book by Safire -Deadline -Interview of President -President’s schedule -California -Biases -Jew -Analysis of Kissinger -Critique of book by Brandon -Rogers, Laird -Impression of President -Treatment -Brandon's background -Jew -Czech An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:26 am. Items for Old Executive Office Building [EOB] office -Dictabelts for private file The unknown person left at an unknown time before 12:34 pm. -24- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2010) Conversation No. 883-5 (cont’d) State dinners -Lists of guests -Preparation by President -Staff member's aid at receiving line -African dinner -Brandt dinner -Guests -Selection and announcement -Arthur F. Burns and Hugh Scott -Guests -Invitation Weather Speech -Work by President Haldeman left at 12:34 pm.