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Conversation: 933-003

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Start Date: 6-Jun-1973 9:01 AM

End Date: 6-Jun-1973 10:03 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haig, Alexander M., Jr.White House operatorBuzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.

Recording Device: Oval Office

933-003a.mp3

933-003b.mp3

NARA Description:

On June 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:01 am to 10:03 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 933-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 933-3

Date: June 6, 1973
Time: 9:01 - 10:03 a.m.
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

       Haig’s trip to West Point, June 5, 1973

       Watergate
             -Wiretaps
                     -Media coverage, June 5, 1973
                     -Compared to coverage of John D. Ehrlichman’s deposition
                            -Jeb Stuart Magruder and Gordon Strachan
                     -Networks' coverage of Hugh Scott statement
             -Distribution
             -Names
                     -Possible release
                                      -6-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. June-2011)

                                                       Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

       -Dan Rather’s commentary, June 6, 1973

White House staff changes
      -President’s possible announcement          

             -Personnel         

             -Risks        

             -Gerald L. Warren         

             -Melvin R. Laird        

             -Format          

                     -Laird       

                     -Photograph         

             -Timing          

                     -Herbert G. Klein       

             -Laird         


John B. Connally
       -Meeting with President, June 6, 1973
              -Haig’s assessment         

       -Conversation with Pierre Rinfret 

       -Meeting with President, June 6, 1973 

              -National economy
                     -Export controls on food
                            -Freeze
                            -People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                            -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
                                    -Grain

National economy
       -Controls
              -Possible effects
                     -Philosophical change for administration
                     -Trade bill
                     -Relations with Japan, USSR
                             -Grain        

       -George Shultz-Herbert Stein plan 

              -Assessment by Connally         

                     -Haig        

                                              -7-


                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                      Tape Subject Log 

                                       (rev. June-2011)

                                                                Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

                              -President       

                      -Watergate effects         

                              -Private conversations       

              -Prices        

                      -Albert E. Sindlinger        

              -Shultz        

                      -Job performance         


       Watergate       

             -President’s call to J. Fred Buzhardt, June 5, 1973 

             -President’s meeting with Buzhardt, June 5, 1973 

                    -Samuel Dash’s possible subpoena for logs
                            -Dean
             -Dean’s subpoena           

                    -Leonard Garment or Buzhardt call 

                    -Gerald L. Warren briefing          

             -Haig’s forthcoming call to Buzhardt

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 9:01 am and
9:14 am.


[Conversation No. 933-3A] 


[Begin telephone conversation] 


[See Conversation No. 39-97] 


[End telephone conversation] 


       Watergate       

             -Buzhardt       

             -Cabinet meeting attendance             


Haig talked with Buzhardt at an unknown time between 9:01 am and 9:14 am.

[Conversation No. 933-3B]
                                            -8-


                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                     Tape Subject Log 

                                      (rev. June-2011)

                                                             Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

[Begin telephone conversation]

[See Conversation No. 39-98]

       Watergate       

             -John W. Dean’s possible subpoena 

                    -Information supplied by Buzhardt
                           -Publicity
                           -Garment

[End telephone conversation]

       Watergate       

             -Ronald Ziegler        

             -Dash’s possible subpoena         

                    -Buzhardt’s conversation with Fred D. Thompson, June 5, 1973
                    -Dash’s call to Buzhardt, June 5, 1973
                    -Press coverage

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 9:01 am and
9:14 am.


[Conversation No. 933-3C] 


[Begin telephone conversation] 


[See Conversation No. 39-99] 


[End telephone conversation] 


       Watergate
             -Jews
                      -Garment

The President talked with Buzhardt between 9:14 am and 9:15 a.m.

[Conversation No. 933-3D]
                                          -9-


                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                   Tape Subject Log 

                                    (rev. June-2011)

                                                         Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)


[Begin telephone conversation]

[See Conversation No. 39-100]

[End telephone conversation]

       Watergate       

             -White House response          

                    -Public relations needs       

             -Ehrlichman’s deposition
                    -Press reports [White House News Summary]
                    -Magruder and Strachan
             -White House response
             -Archibald Cox, Dash
             -President’s papers
             -Buzhardt, Garment
             -Buzhardt
                    -Access to President’s papers
                            -Ownership
                    -Dean’s, Ehrlichmans, Haldeman’s papers
                    -Haldeman
                    -Dean’s safe
             -President’s papers
                    -Contents
                    -Possible press reports
                            -Magruder, Strachan
             -Strachan
                    -Contacts with President
             -President’s papers
                    -Subpoenas
             -White House response
                    -Buzhardt, Charles Wright, Garment
                            -Meetings with Haig, President
                            -Haig meeting, June 5, 1973
             -Wiretaps
                    -Press coverage
                                     -10-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. June-2011)

                                                      Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

                     -New York Times, Washington Post
              -Names          

                     -Patrick J. Buchanan        

                     -Buzhardt          

       -White House response          

              -John B. Connally’s views        

              -Success         

              -President’s activities        

                     -Purpose          

              -Melvin R. Laird           

              -Bryce N. Harlow             


National economy
       -Package           

              -Readiness            

              -Preparations           

       -Speech          

              -Quality          

              -Raymond Price and other speechwriters 

                       -President’s note to Haldeman
                       -President’s assessment
                       -Price
                       -David R. Gergen
       -Package           

              -President’s confidence          

       -Speech          

              -Peoria, Illinois         

              -Investors          

       -New York            

              -Political climate          

              -Demonstrators, press          

       -Friendly cities [?]
              -Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, New Orleans, Columbus, Cleveland
       -Meetings in White House
              -Publicity
                       -Thailand, Cambodia
              -Stock brokers
                                      -11-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. June-2011)

                                                            Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

              -Frank E. Fitzsimmons             

       -President’s travels        

              -Economic speeches             

                       -Chicago, radio           

                       -Publicity        

              -Community meetings              

                       -Shultz ideas         

                       -Meetings with African Americans            

                       -President’s assessment         

                       -Media coverage             

                       -President’s interest         


President’s schedule
       -David N. Parker
       -Shultz

Cabinet’s schedule

National economy
       -Stock market
              -Dow Jones
       -Real estate market
              -Shifts
       -Dollars abroad
              -Inflation
       -Possible freeze
              -Effect
                      -Failure
              -Advice to President
       -Controls
              -Philosophy           

                      -[Unintelligible name]

                      -Republican Party         

              -Effect       

                      -Perpetual controls           

              -Status quo         

                      -Need for leadership              

                                         -12-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. June-2011)

                                                         Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

              -Effect of Watergate         

                      -Disquiet in Washington, D.C.          

                      -Need for active leadership        


Watergate
      -White House response
      -Leonid I. Brezhnev visit effect
             -Media reaction         

             -Reaction of Congress              


President’s schedule
       -Brezhnev’s schedule
       -San Clemente
       -Brezhnev’s reaction
       -Gift
               -Golf cart
                      -Brezhnev’s reaction           

               -Cadillac       

               -Gen. Robert E. Cushman, Jr. 


Vietnam negotiations press coverage
      -Henry A. Kissinger

Clarence Kelley
       -Media coverage
       -Meeting with President
       -Announcement
       -Time

President’s schedule
       -Florida Technical University speech 

               -Preparation       

               -Economic policies        

               -Future of America        

                      -Youth

Haig’s West Point speech, June 5, 1973
                                      -13-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. June-2011)

                                                          Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

       -President’s accomplishments        

       -People’s Republic of China, Vietnam

       -Support for President       


Watergate
      -Popular opinion
      -Mail to Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox
      -Elliot L. Richardson
      -Ehrlichman’s deposition
              -Press coverage        

      -Scott’s statement         

      - Spiro T. Agnew’s statement 

      -Popular opinion         

              - Connally’s view
      -Wiretaps         

              -John F. Kennedy’s administration       

              -Release of names         

              -Daniel Ellsberg tap        

              -Names         

                      -Buchanan
              -Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy years, Lyndon B. Johnson years
                      -Henry Brandon
                             -J. Edgar Hoover

National economy
       -Rinfret’s view of freeze 

              -Haig’s agreement           

              -Duration of price freeze        

                      -60 days, as opposed to 90 days 

       -John T. Dunlop          

              -Cost of Living Council [COLC] 

                      -Chairman         

                      -Labor [Advisory Board]         

       -Possible freeze        

              -Duration           

              -Development of Phase II           

       -Connally
                                     -14-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. June-2011)

                                                       Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

                -Contribution to debate          

       -Shultz          

       -Stein         

                -President’s assessment           

       -Need for economic advice 

                -Generation of ideas           

       -Treasury Department             

       -Haig’s forthcoming meeting with William E. Simon 

                -Simon’s possible conversation with Dunlop 

                -Shultz, Connally          

                        -Severity of situation      

       -Haig’s forthcoming conversation with Dunlop 

                -President’s request for ideas        

       -Possible freeze         

                -Duration         

                        -Labor        

       -Statistics        

                -Haig call to Simon          

                        -President’s decision       

                        -Possible delays          

                -Forthcoming decisions from advisors

President’s schedule
       -Cabinet meeting, June 7, 1973 

               -Laird        

               -Agenda            

                      -Paris negotiations        

                      -Economic package            

                               -Preparedness         

                      -Iceland Summit          

                      -Reports          

                               -Peter J. Brennan
                                       -Therapy
                               -Claude S. Brinegar
                               -Caspar W. (Cap) Weinberger
               -Length          

                      -Presentations         

                                      -15-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. June-2011)

                                                         Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

                     -Meeting        

              -John Connally, Laird        

              -National economy          

                     -President’s decision-making
                            -Recommendations

Watergate
      -Press coverage
      -White House response
              -Connally         

              -President’s possible press conference        

                     -Timing         

                             -Brezhnev’s visit       

      -Popular opinion         

              -Joseph Alsop’s column

                     -Mail        

                             -White House         

                             -Networks         


President’s conversation with William P. Rogers
       -Georges J. R. Pompidou 

               -Meeting         

               -Health        

               -Contingency plans        

       -Donald McI. Kendall          

               -Ambassador to Mexico         

                       -Appointment        

       -Rogers          

               -Political shrewdness       

       -Watergate          


Watergate
      -Rogers’ view
      -Popular opinion
             -Dean       

             -Connally’s view          

             -View of politics        

                                      -16-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. June-2011)

                                                         Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

       -President’s opponents
       -Paul N. McCloskey, Jr. 

              -President’s call to Gerald R. Ford 

              -Possible speech, possible resolution       

       -Impeachment resolution          

              -Carl B. Albert’s view          

       -President’s conversation with Rogers 

              -Meetings with Dean          

       -Rogers        

              -A meeting with Haig           


President’s schedule
       -Laird, Harlow, Haig
               -Possible Sequoia cruise with President
       -Florida Technical University speech
               -Laird’s morale

Watergate
      -Dean         

              -A Phone call from President 

              -March 21, 1973 meeting with President 

                      -President’s response      

                              -Buzhardt        

              -Credibility        

                      -Press comment         

                              -Alsop       

       -White House response          


National economy
       -Haig’s forthcoming conversations         

               -Dunlop         

               -Simon        

       -Status quo
               -Haig’s view         

                      -[Freeze]        

                      -Experience        

                      -Political viewpoint       

                                        -17-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. June-2011)

                                                      Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

               -Effect of Watergate

Watergate
      -Charles W. Colson
             -Television interview
      -Albert E. Sindlinger’s statement
             -Relationship to national economy

National economy
       -Economic figures
       -Timing
               -Kelley’s nomination         

               -President’s trip to Florida       

       -Congressional relations           

               -William E. Timmons            

               -Possible freeze         

               -Execution          

               -Follow-up          

                      -Phase II          

               -60 days         

               -Dunlop          

       -Status quo         

       -Possible freeze         

               -Expectations          


John Connally
      -Role on White House staff
              -President’s schedule
                     -Watergate
              -Haig
              -Possible departure
              -Laird
              -Agnew
              -Cabinet meetings
              -COLC
              -Energy
              -President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [FIAB]
                                     -18-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. June-2011)

                                                      Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)

       -Briefings
               -Briefing officer         

       -Special advisory role          

       -Law firm

       -Use of government plane 

               -Convenience           

       -Role        

               -Laird        

       -Forthcoming conversation with Haig
               -Connally’s role on White House staff
               -Cabinet, National Security Council [NSC], Energy meetings
                       -Conflict of interest    

               -60 day freeze          

                       -Simon, Dunlop, Shultz         

       -Views on economic package 

               -President’s views             

                       -Franklin D. Roosevelt       

                       -Connally            

                       -Gimmick            


Laird’s role
       -Shultz

Forthcoming press statements
       -Warren
       -Assistant to President
       -Ziegler
       -Klein’s statement
              -Ziegler        

              -Schedule of announcements          

       -White House staff changes 

              -Haig, Laird         

       -Draft        

              -Changes           

              -Typing          

       -Arrangements          

              -Warren [?], Laird, Haig      

                                                -19-


                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 


                                          Tape Subject Log 

                                           (rev. June-2011)

                                                               Conversation No. 933-3 (cont’d)


       Personnel management           

              -Job offer    


Haig and the President left at 10:03 am.