Conversation: 909-026
Prev:  909-025 Next: 909-027Start Date: 2-May-1973 12:11 PM
End Date: 2-May-1973 12:30 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Rogers, William P.; White House operator; Cole, Kenneth R., Jr.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 2, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, William P. Rogers, White House operator, and Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:11 pm to 12:30 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 909-026 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 909-26 Date: May 2, 1973 Time: 12:11 pm - 12:30 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with William P. Rogers. Meeting with Willy Brandt Watergate The President talked with the White House operator at 12:11 pm. [Conversation No. 909-26A] [Begin telephone conversation] [See Conversation No. 45-139] [End telephone conversation] President’s statement -Economic Stabilization Program Watergate -Special Prosecutor -Elliot L. Richardson -Senate resolution, May 1 -Senators’ understanding -Significance -Implications of “no confidence” vote -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] The President talked with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. between 12:11 and 12:12 pm. [Conversation No. 909-26B] -44- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 909-26 (cont’d) [Begin telephone conversation] [See Conversation No. 45-140] [End telephone conversation] Watergate -Senate resolution, May 1 -Barry M. Goldwater and James L. Buckley -Possible statements -Charles H. Percy’s role -Percy -Possible statement on Elliot L. Richardson -Motives John B. Connally -Political affiliation -Possible role in administration -Defense Secretary David Packard -Forthcoming meeting with President -Possible role as Defense Secretary Counsel to the President -President’s conversation with Cole -Role -John W. Dean, III -Possible candidates -Qualifications -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman -Rogers’s opinion -Cabinet -Congressional relations -Possible candidates -George H. W. Bush -45- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 909-26 (cont’d) -Commitments -Republican National Committee [RNC] chairman -Strengths -Bush, Bryce N. Harlow -Strengths -Bush -Possible role White House staff organization -Chief of Staff -President’s preference Spiro T. Agnew -Conversation with Rogers, May 1 -Meeting with President, May 1 -Watergate -Public statements -Intelligence, dignity -Possible foreign travel -Domestic Council -Attendance -Role Quadriad meeting -Agnew’s attendance -Phase III of Economic Stabilization Act -Announcement -Pre-reporting requirements -Large corporations Counsel to the President -Possible candidates -Bush and Harlow -Donald H. Rumsfeld -Suitability -Senate candidacy -Interpersonal relations -46- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 909-26 (cont’d) -Bush -Harlow -Bush -Qualifications -Precision -Authoritarianism -Bush -Republican National Committee [RNC] commitments Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Compared with Sherman Adams -Relations with Republicans, Democrats Counsel to the President -Possible candidates -Bush -James T. Lynn -Qualifications -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger -Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW] Secretary -Workload -Lynn -Housing and Urban Development [HUD] Secretary -Previous experience in Washington, DC -Maurice H. Stans -Commerce Department -Congressional relations -Age -Strength -Bush -Capability -Compared to Prescott S. Bush -Integrity -Intelligence -Decency -Need for legal background -Possible candidates -47- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 909-26 (cont’d) -George McKinnon -Health -Current judgeship -Integrity -Pension -Age -Retirement -Pension Watergate -Special Prosecutor -Richardson -Edmund G. (“Pat”) Brown -Rogers’s viewpoint -Previous experience -Temperament -Possible Democrat -Barnabas F. Sears -Qualifications -Rogers’s conversation with Richard G. Kleindienst -Qualifications -John N. Mitchell -Difficulties of forthcoming prosecutions -Burden on prosecutor -Jury -Possible motion for change of venue -Mitchell, other possible defendants -Washington, DC Counsel to the President -Possible candidates -John W. Byrnes -Finances -Family -Intelligence -Experience -Possible dynamic with President -48- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 909-26 (cont’d) -Meeting with Rogers -Interest -Bush -Lynn -Rogers’s check -Age -Strengths -Experience -Precision -Working style -Relations with colleagues, Cabinet -Bush -Working style -Ambition -Loyalty -Byrnes -Telephone call with Rogers -Interest Rogers’s schedule -Brandt’s Head of State visit, German officials -Opera President’s Schedule -Haile Selassie -Head of State visit -Dinner -Toast -Possible message to Dr. Minassie Haile -Florida -Timing Rogers left at 12:30 pm. -49- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 909-27 (cont’d)