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Conversation 016-012

TapeTape 16StartMonday, December 6, 1971 at 9:07 AMEndMonday, December 6, 1971 at 9:09 AMTape start time00:33:10Tape end time00:35:25ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rogers, William P.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discussed the feedback from a legislative breakfast regarding the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan. Rogers reported that Senate leaders Mike Mansfield and Hugh Scott advocated for a neutral U.S. position and noted that Congress would likely oppose further foreign aid to nations ignoring UN resolutions. The President instructed Rogers to follow up with these leaders later that day to provide a briefing on the situation and also discussed the upcoming favorable Senate confirmation votes for Supreme Court nominees Lewis F. Powell, Jr. and William H. Rehnquist.

India-Pakistan WarForeign AidLegislative RelationsUnited NationsSupreme Court Nominations
AudioNARA Description

On December 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 9:07 am to 9:09 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 016-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 16-12

Date: December 6, 1971
Time: 9:07 am - 9:09 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William P. Rogers.

[See Conversation 629-5]

     President's schedule

     Legislative breakfast
          -Michael J. Mansfield
          -Hugh Scott
                -Pakistan
                      -Rogers briefing
                           -Mansfield and Scott
                      -Mansfield’s position
                           -Neutrality
                           -United Nations [UN]
                      -Support for administration
                      -UN position
                           -US resolution

                           -Indian position
               -India
                     -Foreign aid
                            -Military action
                                  -UN resolution
                                  -Congress’ view
          -Rogers’ call to leaders
               -Mansfield and Scott
          -Lewis F. Powell, Jr. and William H. Rehnquist
               -Senate votes on confirmation
                     -President’s view

     Congressional schedule
         -Harriet McCormack's funeral
               -House leaders
               -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

     President’s schedule
           -Legislative meeting
                -Timing
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Yeah.
Secretary Rogers.
Yeah.
Good morning, Mr. President.
Hi, Bill.
I'll be calling you a little later on that other matter, because when we see what time we can clear.
Okay.
But I just finished that breakfast, you know, with the legislative leaders.
I talked to Mike and Hugh Scott afterwards.
Their major interest, of course, apart from just winding up this session, which they have hopes they might even get through this week, I think probably the middle of next week.
But in any event, their major interest is naturally into Paxton.
i told mike and hugh that uh i talked to you after we met this afternoon and that
you might be able to give them a little rundown because they think that we're doing what is right.
First, they start with this proposition.
As Mike says, he says, stay out of it.
He says, take a neutral position.
Second, they feel that the U.N. position, which is overwhelmingly supportive of our resolution and against the Indian position, is something that is...
a new element in the matter and shifts the debate considerably from where it was previously, where it was primarily pro-Indian.
The other point is that several of them raise the point of aid.
They say that if a country continues military action after an overwhelming UN resolution, that the idea of aid is
going to be very dimly looked upon up in the House and the Senate.
But in any event, I'll talk to you later about it.
All right.
I might give them a call if you think it's wise to offer to see them.
Yeah, all right.
Should I call Mike and Hugh?
Yeah, I would call both Mike and Hugh.
Now, they have a vote today on Powell, and they think that's going to be unanimous.
Rehnquist, of course, not unanimous, but it'll be favorable.
So you might give them a call.
The House leaders went up
the McCormick funeral.
Pat went up, incidentally, too.
So you might give him a call and set it up.
But I would set it up after 4 o'clock, perhaps.
Okay?
Fine.
We'll call you later.
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