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Conversation 042-006

TapeTape 42StartTuesday, April 6, 1971 at 9:22 AMEndTuesday, April 6, 1971 at 9:27 AMTape start time00:06:11Tape end time00:09:52ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Mansfield, Michael J. ("Mike");  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon coordinated an unscheduled meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield to discuss an upcoming, highly sensitive announcement regarding Vietnam policy. Nixon sought to brief Mansfield privately to prevent leaks that had plagued previous communications involving South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu. The two agreed to hold a discreet meeting at the Executive Office Building that morning, while keeping the encounter off the official record to avoid political friction with Republican leadership.

Congressional relationsVietnam WarInformation leaksPresidential schedulingExecutive privilege
AudioNARA Description

On April 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 9:22 am to 9:27 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 42-6

Date: April 6, 1971
Time: 9:22 am - 9:27 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield.

[See Conversation No. 245-2]

     Mansfield's schedule

     Meeting with Congressional leaders
          -Big Five
          -Gerald R. Ford
          -Carl B. Albert
          -Time

     Meeting with Congressional leaders
          -Albert
          -[Thomas] Hale Boggs
          -Ford
          -Hugh Scott
          -President's announcement
                -Nguyen Van Thieu
                -Leaks

     President's schedule
           -Meeting with Mansfield

     President's schedule
           -Message on revenue sharing
           -Meeting with Mansfield

The President conferred with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman at an unknown time between 9:22am and
9:27 am, April 6, 1971.

     Mansfield's schedule
         -Florida
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello?
Senator Mansfield, sir.
Ready?
Hello?
Yes, sir.
Hi, Mike.
Yes, Mr. President.
I don't want to put you out in terms of your own schedule, and that's why I'm calling you before I give the others a ring.
uh i would like to meet with the big five you know uh to uh be about say seven o'clock tomorrow night if you're not already left but if you're gone why uh uh the uh the the the only check we have found is that i i think ford's going to be here and i haven't checked albert or anybody like that could you make a meeting at seven
Well, I was planning on leaving about 1 o'clock today, Mr. President.
1 o'clock today?
Yeah.
Because we have nothing to do tomorrow.
Oh, I see.
All right.
I'll tell you what I'll do with you if you like.
Let me suggest this.
No, that's too bad.
Then if with you...
Wait a minute.
The only ones we have are you and... Let's see.
Majority Leader, we have you and...
We don't have anybody else in the Senate anyway, do we?
Except you on the Big Five, do we?
Yeah, that's right.
We got the Speaker.
We got Boggs.
We got Ford.
We have you.
Oh, Scott.
Scott, of course.
Right, right, right.
Let me ask you this.
because you and I can speak in confidence.
I'd like to tell you before I make the announcement what it's going to be.
It has to be closely held, Mike.
It will.
Well, I'll tell you the reason.
It isn't political.
But I'm not informing two until tomorrow, see?
And I don't want him to read it.
I mean, any leak or anything like that.
There have been all sorts of leaks as to how many and all that sort of thing.
So I'd just like for you to know, and I'll just tell you, and let's just say that it's one of those meetings that was never held.
Okay.
Is that all right with you?
Yes, sir.
Fine.
Now, if you would like, and just as you understand, also Scott Woodgis knows how to join it.
We told you the day in advance, but you understand.
Could you come down...
any time today.
I'm over in the, I mean, I'm free any time.
I'm working on the talk, as a matter of fact, today.
What's your schedule?
Testify at 10 o'clock, and I could be down there at 10.30.
10.30 is fine.
10.30, 11, better?
What time you on, any time?
Suit your time.
The only time I've tied up, I'm tied up at 11.30.
Between 11.30 and 12.30, I'm doing some revenue sharing message.
Could I make it flexible, say, between 10.30 and 10.45?
Sure.
And come in the southwest gate or the northwest gate?
Well, let me just see.
I don't know which gate is which.
Which gate, the southwest or northwest?
Come into Southwest Gate and come to the EOB, and one of our guys will be downstairs to bring you up.
You know, it's the little office where you and I met before.
Sure.
Fine.
I'll be there, sir.
All right, Mike.
Are you going home?
No, I'm going to walk the beach.
Oh, that's right.
You're going to Florida.
Yeah.
Right, at East Shore.
As I recall, where do you go?
Boca Grande.
Yeah, Boca Grande.
Uh-huh, uh-huh.
I'll tell you that.
I hope it's nice.
Gee whiz, it's going to snow here today.
Well, I want to get away from it.
Okay, Mike.
Okay, Mr. President.
Fine, I'll see you then.
And as I say, can we say that you and I just talked about our visit to Montana right now?
Yes, sir.
Because I've got a little sensitivity with my Republican leaders.
Good enough.
All right, Mike.
Bye.
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