Conversation: 915-004
Prev: 915-003 Next: 915-005Start Date: 10-May-1973 8:35 AM
End Date: 10-May-1973 9:09 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, Hugh; Griffin, Robert P.; Ford, Gerald R.; Arends, Leslie C.; Timmons, William E.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; White House photographer;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 10, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, William E. Timmons, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:35 am to 9:09 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 915-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 915-4
Date: May 10, 1973
Time: 8:35 am - 9:09 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, William
E. Timmons and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. The White House photographer was present at the
beginning of the meeting.
Watergate
-President’s speech, May 9
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Special Prosecutor
-Duties and line of authority
-Nomination
-Timing
-Possible effects
-Justice Department
-Philip A. Hart
-Congressional liaison
-Haig, Scott, Roman L. Hruska, and James O. Eastland
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2012)
Conversation No. 915-4 (cont’d)
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Richardson’s confirmation
-Special Prosecutor
-Senate investigations
-Timing during grand jury investigation
-Alger Hiss case
-Grand jury activities
-John C. Stennis
-Witnesses
-Potential indictment
-Effect of Senate hearings
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr’s actions
-Indictments
-Attorney General
-Use immunity
-Witness list
-John W. Dean, III
-Robert C. Odle, Jr.
-Possible public statement by the President
-Purview
-Campaign financing
-Donald H. Segretti
-Campaign violence
-Alleged Democratic campaign practices
-Bombing of Republican National Committee [RNC]
headquarters
-Grand jury
-Effects of television [TV]
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Edward J. Gurney, Jr.
-Possible Senate action
-Ervin
-Stennis
-Eastland
-Media image
-Executive session
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2012)
Conversation No. 915-4 (cont’d)
-Ervin
-Prosecutors
-Richardson
-John J. Sirica
-Background
-Nicholas B. Katzenbach’s statements
Appointments
-Richardson
-Dr. James R. Schlesinger as replacement at Defense Department
-Stennis and F. Edward Hebert
-William Colby at Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Vietnam War
-Compared with Richard M. Helms
-Haig
-Role in White House
-Congressional relations
White House staff
-Haig
-Chief of Staff
-Access to President
-Congress
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Objections
-Military experience
-Robert H. Michel [?]
-Civilian experience
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Congressional relations
-Timmons
-Access to President
-Exaggeration
-Frank Sanders
-Previous experience
-Melvin R. Laird
-North Carolina Democrat
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2012)
Conversation No. 915-4 (cont’d)
-Republican leanings
Watergate
-Schlesinger
-Confirmation hearings
-CIA activities
-Colby
-CIA involvement
-Compared to Pentagon Papers
-Schlesinger
-Colby
-Vulnerability
Dwight D. Eisenhower
-James Duff
-Request for meetings
President’s speech, May 9
-Possible press actions
-Reaction in House, Senate
-House Democrats
-William Proxmire and Scott
-Support by Republican congressmen
-Scott, Griffin
Campaign finance reform
-Spending and practices
-Congressional interest
-William E. Brock, III
-John W. Gardner
-Common Cause
-Possible recommendation by the President
-Blue ribbon commission
-Composition
-George H. W. Bush
-Democratic National Committee [DNC] chairman
-Compared to Federal Electoral Commission
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2012)
Conversation No. 915-4 (cont’d)
-Purpose
-Carl B. Albert, Scott, and Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
-Mansfield
-Ray C. Bliss and Marlow W. Cook
-Possible recommendation by the President on commission
-Purview
-Leonard Garment and Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
-Ford
-Appointments
-Milton S. Eisenhower
-Formula
-Need to seize initiative on issue
-Possible recommendation by the President on blue ribbon commission
-Robert C. Byrd’s pending bill
-Rules Committee
-Change of national election date
-Possible action on Senate floor
-Richardson’s role
-Congressional leadership
-Statutory authority
-Appointments
-Composition
-RNC and DNC chairmen
Timing
Watergate
-Ervin Committee hearing
-Effects on administration
President’s schedule
Chinese tradition
John B. Connally
-Absence
-Role in government
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2012)
Conversation No. 915-4 (cont’d)
-Compensations
-Cabinet meeting
Appointments
-Colby
-Role in Watergate
-CIA
-President’s statement
-Schlesinger
-Colby
-Record in Vietnam
-Connally
-Role in White House
-Special advisor
-Compensation
Housing in Detroit
-Garment
-Foreclosures
-Detroit News
-Legislation
-Administration
Scott et al. left at 9:04 am. Timmons remained.
President’s speech, May 9
-Response
-Distribution of transcripts to Congress
President’s schedule
-Republican leaders
Congressional relations
-Hearings
-Vote count
-Hart
-Report
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-2012)
Conversation No. 915-4 (cont’d)
-Forthcoming House vote
-Bipartisan support
-Democratic Caucus
-Margin
-Importance
The President and Timmons left at 9:09 am.