Conversation: 945-007
Prev: 945-006 Next: 945-008Start Date: 19-Jun-1973 3:09 PM
End Date: 19-Jun-1973 4:30 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Buzhardt, J. Fred, Jr.; Laird, Melvin R.; [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On June 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr., Melvin R. Laird, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:09 pm and 4:30 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 945-007 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 945-7
Date: June 19, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:09 pm and 4:30 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Leonid I. Brezhnev’s visit
-Camp David
-Travel options
-Mt. Vernon, Hagerstown
-Helicopter, car
-Travel time
-Sequoia
J. Fred Buzhardt Jr. entered at an unknown time after 3:09 pm.
Watergate
-Prosecutors
-Envelope
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Judge
-John W. Dean, III
-Earl J. Silbert
-Archibald Cox
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP]
-Forthcoming letter to Dean, June 19, 1973
-$14,000
-Dean
-Ervin Committee testimony
-Handling of funds
-Charles N. Shaffer
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Maurice H. Stans
-Conversation with Buzhardt
-Forthcoming letter to Dean, June 19, 1973
-Seymour M. Hersh
-Dean’s finances
-Dean
-Handling of funds
-Possible investigations
-Prosecutors
-Ervin Committee
-Possible newspaper stories
-$14,000
-W. Richard Howard
-Gordon C. Strachan
-Knowledge
-Conversation with Dean, November 1972
-Conversation with Stans
-$22,000
-$22,000
-Fred F. Fielding and Strachan
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman
-Stans
-Fielding and Strachan
-Possible use
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-John N. Mitchell
-Frederick D. La Rue
-La Rue
-Buzhardt’s attempted phone calls, June 19, 1973
-$14,000 and $22,000
-Hersh
-Source of information
-Finances
-Handling of funds
-Lawyer’s possible advice
-Trust account
-Reasons
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Hersh
-Investigation
-Possible press coverage
-Investigations
-Compared to Defense Department improprieties
-Letter from CRP
-CRP’s possible suit
Buzhardt left at 3:23 pm.
Melvin R. Laird
-Forthcoming conversation with President
-Role on White House staff
-Congress
-William E. Timmons
-Bills
-Veto
-Economic package
-Phase IV
-Haig’s resignation from Army
-US News and World Report article [?]
-Laird’s influence
-Role on White House staff
-Administration’s relations with Governors and Mayors
-Revenue sharing
-Economy
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-Staff
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
-Intelligence
-Communications department
-Replacement
-Forthcoming conversation with President
-John B. Connally’s role on White House staff
-Advisement
-Meetings
-Energy
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Economics
-Foreign policy
-Cabinet
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Skillset
-Background in law enforcement [?]
Haig
-Role on White House staff
-Laird, Harlow
-President’s schedule
-Interaction with Congress
Laird
-Meeting with Hugh Scott
-Alleged telephone call to President
Spiro T. Agnew
-Investigation in Maryland
-Laird’s forthcoming conversation with J. Glenn Beall, Jr.
-George Beall
-Intimidation
-Haig’s forthcoming conversation with Laird
-President’s influence
-Marvin Mandel
-Scope
-Possible effect
-Allegations
-Beall’s possible role
-Two prosecutors
-Forthcoming conversation with Beall
-Supervision
-Harlow
-St. Croix
-Laird
-Timmons
-Discretion
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
Watergate
-Dean
-Motives
-Immunity
-Handling of funds
-Testimony
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Press coverage
-Dean
-Motives
-Handling of funds
-Testimony
-Ehrlichman
-March 21, 1973 meeting with President
-Visit to Camp David
Laird entered at 3:38 pm.
Laird’s schedule
-Congressional leadership
-Republican Senators
-Policy
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Cole
-House of Representatives
-Carl B. Albert, Gerald R. Ford
Cambodia
-Forthcoming vote in House of Representatives
-Ford’s view
-Albert’s view
-Position of House of Representatives
-Timing
-Henry A. Kissinger’s possible role
-Appearance before Republican conference
-Ford’s view
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Attitude
-Date, September 1, 1973
President’s position
-Funding
-House rules on conference report
-Senate amendment
-Conference report
-Continuing resolution
-Efforts of Kissinger and Timmons
-Ford’s view
-J. William Fulbright
-Administration’s strategy
-Kissinger
-Laird
-Timmons
-Ford’s view
-Possible White House action
-House position
-Vote
-Republicans
-Compromise
-President’s authority
-Bombing
-Ford
-Albert’s view
-Timmons
-Senate amendment compared to House position
-Kissinger
-Schedule
-House Republicans
-Negotiations
-[North Vietnam] Hanoi
-Peace negotiations
-Peace negotiations
-President’s authority
-US withdrawal
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-September
-Impact
-Forthcoming vote in House of Representatives
-September amendment
-Continuing resolution
-Cut-off
-Ford’s position
Laird
-Office and staff
-Domestic council
Cole
-President’s recommendation
-Contacts
-Governors
-Mayors
-Relations with Laird
-Advisement
Laird
-Mail
-Letters
-Telegrams
-Importance
Harlow
-Role on White House staff
-Start date
-Timing
Laird
-Forthcoming conversations
-Timmons, Roy L. Ash, Cole, Haig, Harlow
Congressional relations
-Texas bill signing, June 19, 1973
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-George H. Mahon
-Ash’s view
-Legislation
-Effect of budget efforts
-Republican Congressional leaders
-Views
-Compromise
-Options
-Positions
-Possible vetoes
-Minimum wage
- Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW] legislation
-Ash’s views
-Possible vetoes
-Meetings with constituents
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 3:38 pm.
Refreshment
-Coffee, tea
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:30 pm.
Laird domestic policy
-Domestic Council
-Divisions
-Forthcoming conversations
-Ash
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Divisions
-Weinberger’s view compared with Ash’s
-Wage and price freeze
-Phase IV
-Forthcoming conversation
-George P. Shultz, Herbert Stein, John T. Dunlop
National economy
-31-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-President’s program
-Phase IV
-60-day freeze
-Phase III
-Food
-Laird’s role
-Shultz’s view
-Duration of freeze
-30, 40, 60 days
-Inflation
-Political implications
-Briefing papers
-Duration of freeze
-Views of Laird, Connally, Ash
-90-day freeze
-Laird’s schedule
-Meetings with economic advisors
-Wage negotiations
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons’s view
-Teamsters union
-Paul Hall’s view
-Impact of freeze
-Early end to freeze
-Benefit
-Food prices
-Progress
-Economic Stabilization Act
-Possible amendment
-Exports
-Supplies
-Arthur Burns’s view
-Taxes
-Taxes
-Possible Congressional action
-Congressional philosophy
-Views of Stein, Shultz, and Dunlop
-William E. Simon
-32-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Views
-Fiscal and political sensibilities
-Relationships
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Laird’s conversation with Mills
-Burns
-President’s schedule
-Views
-President’s August 15, 1971 action
-Gold convertibility
-Ideology
-Feasibility
-Political acumen
-Capitol Hill
-Flexible investment tax credit
-Practicality
-Political climate
-Forced savings
-Germany’s experience
-Matching funds from employers
-Pay raises
-Burns
-President’s program
-Confidence
-Business community
-Political climate
-Phase IV
-Laird’s participation
Connally
-Laird’s forthcoming dinner
-Schedule
-California
-Gas fuel
-Meeting with President
-Role on White House staff
-Energy
-33-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-National economy
-Influence
-Simon, Ash
-Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board
-Cabinet
-Skills
-Salesmanship
-Political judgment
-Reading of stock market
National economy
-President program
-Support for President
-Shultz
-Stein
-Dunlop
-Ability
-Shultz
-Speech
-Connally’s role
-Economic confindence
Connally
-Conversation with Haig
-Enthusiasm
-Possible activities
National economy
-President’s program
-Response
-Stock market
-Possible Congressional action
-60-day freeze
-60-day freeze
-Support for program
-President
-Haig
-34-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Connally
-Ash
-Political assessment
-Duration of freeze
-Food, gasoline
-60-day freeze
-Implications of 30-day freeze
-Views of Shultz, Stein, and Dunlop
-Laird’s role
-Support for 60-day freeze
-Haig’s forthcoming conversation with Shultz
-Farm prices
-Weather
-Modification
-Possible freeze
-Unprocessed farm products
-President’s program
-Connally’s possible role, Laird’s role
-Success
-Status
-Housewives’ view
-Economic health
-Compared to other nations
John A. Love
-Possible role in administration
-Forthcoming conversations
-Wife
-Travel to Washington, DC
-Haig
-Title options
-Czar
-Energy director
Energy
-Cabinet committee
-Rogers C. B. Morton, Simon
-35-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Defense Department, State Department
-Simon’s policy committee
-Treasury Department
-Staff organization
-Morton, Simon Shultz
Shultz
-Responsibilities
-Durability
-Work ethic
-Laird’s role
-Sensitivities
-Forthcoming meeting with Russians
Connally
-Forthcoming dinner with Laird
-President’s schedule
-California
-Staff harmony
-Statements concerning Ziegler
-Views concerning White House staff
White House staff
-Ziegler
-President’s assessment
-Briefing Books
-President’s schedule
-Ziegler’s role
-4th of July in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Milk Producers function, press
conferences
-Laird
-Contacts with press
-Open interviews
-Background interviews
-Television [TV]
-Connally
-Hugh S. Sidey
-36-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Importance
-Telephone calls on Cabinet
-Contacts with press
-Ziegler
-Forthcoming meeting with Walter Washington
-Meeting locations
-Officials
-Congress
-Contacts with press
-Timing
-Schedule
-Economic and energy matters
-Budget
-San Clemente
-Media
-Conversations with Haig and Ziegler
-Importance
-Public presence
Brezhnev’s visit
-Agenda
-Agreements
-Camp David
-Summit results
Laird
-Role on White House staff
-Response
-President’s schedule
President’s schedule
-Weekly meeting
-Laird, Harlow, Haig, Ziegler
Harlow
-Role on White House staff
-Timmons’s role
-37-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2011)
Conversation No. 945-7 (cont’d)
-Congress
-Administration’s appointments
-Judicial appointments
-Laird’s meeting with Senators
-Interaction with Laird, Haig, Ziegler
White House staff
-Meeting schedule
-Senior staff
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Sensitivities
Brezhnev visit
-Agreements
-Kissinger’s role
Shultz [?]
Laird and Haig left at 4:30 pm.