Conversation: 945-003
Prev: 945-002 Next: 945-004Start Date: 19-Jun-1973 9:36 AM
End Date: 19-Jun-1973 11:00 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; White House operator; Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On June 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, White House operator, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:36 am to 11:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 945-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 945-3
Date: June 19, 1973
Time: 9:36 am - 11:00 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Demeanor
-Political skill
-Schedule
Ronald Ziegler entered at 9:37 am.
Watergate
-Television [TV] networks’ coverage
-Lead stories on John W. Dean, III
-Ziegler’s views
-Brezhnev’s visit
-Haig’s view
-Newspapers’ coverage
-Washington Post
-Radio coverage
-Brezhnev visit
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
TV coverage
-Dean
-Handling of funds
-Seymour M. Hersh story in New York Times
-J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.’s statement
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr., Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
-William P. Rogers’s conversation with Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield,
June 18, 1973
-Haig’s conversation with Mansfield, June 18, 1973
-Rogers
-Mansfield
-Handling of funds
-Archibald Cox
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Possible indictment of President
-Republican Senators
-Leslie C. Arends
-Robert P. Griffin
-Buzhardt, Bryce N. Harlow
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Forthcoming conversation with Melvin R. Laird
-Cox
-Cox
-Possible indictment of President
-Press conference
-Response
-Charles W. Colson
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford
-Congress
-Laird
-Dean
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Importance
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Ervin, Baker
-White House response
-Cox
-Possible response by member of Congress
-Response
-President
-Edward J. Gurney
-Carl T. Curtis, Scott
-Ford
-George H. W. Bush
-Charles S. Rhyne
-Strategy
-Rhyne
-Senate
-Harlow
-Scott
-Rhyne
-William E. Timmons
-Harlow
-Laird
-Timmons
-Cox
-Dean
-Importance
-Possible press coverage
-Cox
-Scott’s possible response
-Charles A. Wright’s possible response
-Dean
-Handling of funds
-Buzhardt
-Hersh’s story
-Hersh’s view
Brezhnev’s visit
-Media coverage
-TV
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Brezhnev’s arrival
-Crowds
-President’s speech
-State dinner
-Signing ceremonies
-Impact
-Agenda
-Sequoia
-Media presence
-Kissinger, George P. Shultz, Nikolai S. Patolichev, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin,
Andrei A. Gromyko, Rogers
-Leonid M. Zamyatin
-Briefing with Ziegler
-Camp David
-Agenda
-Brezhnev’s request
-Camp David
-Gromyko, Rogers
-Camp David, San Clemente, Air Force One
-Private talks with President
-Coverage at Camp David
-Photograph opportunities
-Arrival
-Aspen Lodge
-Meeting
-TV coverage
Watergate
-Dean
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Mansfield’s conversations
-Rogers
-Haig
Brezhnev’s visit
-Agenda
-Signing ceremony
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Plenary session
-Delay
-Brezhnev
-Rest
-Shultz, Patolichev
Shultz
-Memorandum
-Content
-Compared to John B. Connally
-Negative comments
Brezhnev’s visit
-Plenary session
-Connally, Laird
Connally
-Possible press conference
-Rumors
-Haig’s assessment
-Media speculation
-Story
-Ziegler
-Possible press conference at Camp David
-White House media
-Connally’s new status as a Republican
Ziegler left at 10:03 am.
National economy
-Price rollback
-Announcement
-Stock Market
-Arthur F. Burns
-President’s schedule
-Demeanor
-Plan
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Meeting with Shultz
-President’s program
-Popular opinion
-Freeze
-Lifting of controls
-Price and wage freeze
-Timing
-President’s decisions
-Shultz’s viewpoint
-30 compared with 60 days
-Food price controls
-Shultz
-Doctrinaire viewpoint
-Popular opinion
-Stock Market
-Albert E. Sindlinger’s prediction
-Price controls
-Burns
-President’s assessment
-Shultz
-Management style
-Views
-Herbert Stein, John T. Dunlop
-William E. Simon
-Phase III
-Timing
-Mistake
-Correction
-Panic
-President’s program
-Laird’s role
-Shultz
-Differing points of view
-Debate
Laird
-Brezhnev visit
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-[Plenary session], economy meeting
-Connally
-View point
-Attendance
-Story concerning Connally and Ziegler
-Leaks to the media
-[Plenary session]
-Cabinet meeting with Haig and Shultz
-Connally’s role
-Views concerning Connally
-President’s support
-Schedule
-San Clemente
-Connally
-Congressional session
Haig’s schedule
-Buzhardt
The President talked with the White House operator at 10:12 am.
[Conversation No. 945-3A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 41-12]
[End telephone conversation]
Watergate
-Media coverage
-President’s opponents
-Effect on Brezhnev’s visit
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson’s statement
-Paris, Iceland
-President’s economic plan
-Responses of President’s opponents
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
John A. Love
-Wife
-Haig’s conversation with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-Conversation with Connally and Laird
-Forthcoming conversations
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Brother [?]
-Relationship to Love
-Campaign manager
-Haig’s telephone call
Buzhardt entered at 10:13 am.
Watergate
-Dean
-Handling of funds
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming meeting
-Ervin Committee
-Carmine Bellino
-Statement concerning $14,000
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming meeting with Maurice H. Stans
-$22,000
-Stans
-Details
-Amounts
-Fred F. Fielding’s role
-Amounts
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Privacy]
[Duration: 33 s ]
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
*****************************************************************
Watergate
-Handling of funds
-Ervin Committee interest
-Hersh
-New York Times
-Jack N. Anderson’s story
-Metromedia
-Les Whitten
-Anderson
-Bail for a former employee
-Dean
-Forthcoming statement
-Handling
-Ervin Committee
-Executive session, June 18, 1973
-Dean
-Lawyer’s statement
-Dean’s possible testimony
-Effect on possible trial
-Dean
-Handling of funds
-Investigations
-Previous testimony
-Bob Manuel [sp?]
-Role in Billy Sol Estes investigation
-Ervin Committee
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Edward J. Gurney’s view
-Gurney
-Dean
-Handling of funds
-Possible civil suit by CRP
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Deposition
-Rhyne
-Relationship with President
-Manuel [sp?]
-Cox
-Statement concerning possible indictment of President
-Possible Congressional response
-Wright
-Ziegler
-Timmons
-John C. Stennis
-White House response
-Statement, June 18, 1973
-San Clemente
-Gift of President’s papers
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming conversation with Richardson
-Cox’s jurisdiction
-San Clemente
-Haig’s forthcoming conversation with Richardson
-Richardson
-Possible statement
-Cox’s jurisdiction
-Conversation with Buzhardt, June 16, 1973
-Forthcoming conversation with Haig
-Cox’s jurisdiction
-San Clemente
-Kennedy family
-Watergate burglary and cover-up campaign activities
-Grand jury
-Activities
-Cox’s investigation
-Prosecutors
-James Neal
-Role
-Background
-John F. Kennedy administration
-James (“Jimmy”) Hoffa
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Ervin Committee
-Cox
-Compared to Ervin Committee
-Possible indictments
-White House response
-Publicity
-Democrats’ campaign financing
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Dean’s forthcoming testimony
-Timing
-Buzhardt’s possible conversation with Fred D. Thompson
-Letter from Mansfield, Scott
-Baker, Ervin
-Dean’s lawyer
-Herman E. Talmadge
-Today show interview, June 19, 1973
-Reporters’ questions
-Dean’s forthcoming testimony
-Dean’s forthcoming testimony
-Content
-Possible cross-examination
-Thompson
-Effect
-Possible cross-examination
-Sources
-Baker
-Gurney
-Baker
-Gurney
-Questioning
-Buzhardt’s assistance
-Thompson
-Dean
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony
-Possible perjury
-Thompson
-Press coverage
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Compared to previous leaks
-Response
-White House
-Haldeman, John Wilson, Buzhardt
-Meeting with President and H. R. Haldeman, March 21, 1973
-President’s motive
-Charles N. Shaffer
-Handling of funds
-Timing
-Anderson
-Don McI. Kendall
-Hersh
-Reporters’ views
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Timing of Dean’s testimony
-Baker’s statement, June 18, 1973
-Mansfield’s and Scott’s letter
-Stennis
-Health
-Forthcoming conversation with Buzhardt
-Goldwater
-Barry M. Goldwater, Jr.’s relationship to Dean
-Senators’ response to Dean
-Curtis, Roman Hruska, Strom Thurmond, Harry Byrd
-Dean
-Ervin Committee testimony
-Response
-Subornation of perjury
-Clemency
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III’s statement
-Conversations with Gray and Richard G. Kleindienst
-Content
-White House response
-White House strategy
-Media reports
-Ervin Committee testimony, June 18, 1973
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Martha (Beall) Mitchell
-Helen A. Thomas’s stories
-Conversation with Haig
-John N. Mitchell
-Health
-Mitchell
-Knowledge
-Effect of Martha (Beall) Mitchell’s press contacts
-Thomas
Press relations
-Tom [Last name unknown]
-Dennis Chavez
-Unknown man from West Virginia
-Herman E. Talmadge
-Carl B. Albert
-Jack Anderson
-Stature
-White House staff
-Double standard
Watergate
-Samuel Dash
-Cox’s statement
-Possible response
-Ziegler, Hruska
-Press coverage
-New York Times, Washington Post, network news
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming conversations with Laird, Ziegler
-Mitchell
-President’s report to Henry E. Petersen
-William O. Bittman
-Possible relationship with Petersen
-E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
-Financial condition
-Bittman’s fee
-Funds from Dean
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-Colson’s view
-Buzhardt’s forthcoming actions
-Possible subpoena of Dean financial information
-Laird meeting
-Stennis
-Meeting with Senators
-Possible effect
-Washington contrasted with rest of nation
-Washington Post
-Senator’s possible conversations
-Wright
-Leonard Garment
-Jacob K. Javits, Charles H. Percy
-Dean
-Handling of funds
Buzhardt left at 10:53 am.
-Response to press charges
-Haig’s view
-Dean
-Motive
-Richardson
-Forthcoming conversation with Haig
-Cox’s jurisdiction
-Mandate for confirmation
-White House response
-Love
-Meeting with President
-Possible press statement
-Possible effect of Dean’s testimony
-Forthcoming role on White House staff
-Conversation with Haig
-Dean
-Laird
-President’s White Paper [Statement on Watergate, May 22, 1973]
-White House response
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-3 (cont’d)
-White Paper, May 22, 1973
-Dean
-Conversation with President and H. R. Haldeman, March 21, 1973
-$1 million
-President’s response
-Camp David
-Mitchell meeting, March 22, 1973
Haig left at 11:00 am.