Conversation No. 88-2

Date: January 26, 1972
Time: Unknown after 7:47 am until 10:02 am
Location: Cabinet Room

Vice President Spiro T. Agnew met with Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, Norris Cotton, Gordon
L. Allott, Peter H. Dominick, Barry M. Goldwater, Gerald R. Ford, Leslie C. Arends, John B.
Anderson, Samuel L. Devine, Richard H. Poff, Barber B. Conable, Jr., H. Allen Smith, Robert C.
(“Bob”) Wilson, John W. Byrnes, Frank T. Bow, Robert J. Dole, George P. Shultz, Caspar W.
(“Cap”) Weinberger, Herbert Stein, John D. Ehrlichman, Clark MacGregor, William E.
Timmons, Richard K. Cook, Thomas C. Korologos, Harry S. Dent, Ronald L. Ziegler, Bryce N.
Harlow, Noel C. Koch, William L. Gifford, Henry A. Kissinger, and William P. Rogers

     Schedule

     [General conversation/Unintelligible]

The President entered at 8:03 am

     1972 campaign

     Agenda
         -Budget

     Attendees
                                               3

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 10/08)



          -Goldwater

     John F. Kennedy
          -Conversation with Goldwater about the Bay of Pigs

     Recording devices in the Cabinet Room

     Agenda

     The President’s January 25, 1972 speech on Vietnam
          -Reaction
               -J. William Fulbright
               -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
               -John C. Stennis

     Vietnam
          -Negotiations
              -Revelation of secret talks
              -Issues
              -The President’s opponents
                     -Nguyen Van Thieu
                     -Views
                     -George S. McGovern


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     Vietnam peace negotiations

Goldwater left at an unknown time before 10:02 am

[To listen to the segment (59m52s) declassified on 02/28/2002, please refer to RC# E-574, E-
575.]

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     Stein’s forthcoming presentation

Rogers left at an unknown time before 10:02 am

     Fiscal Year [FY] 1973 budget
                                        4

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)




National economy
     -Status
     -Prospects
           -Federal budget
     -Wage and price controls
           -Operation
                 -Pay Board, Price Commission
     -Administration’s accomplishments
     -Real income
     -Administration’s policy
     -Stein’s role
     -Balance of payments
           -Currency realignment
                 -Japanese, European action
           -US productivity
           -Views of John B. Connally and Paul A. Volcker
           -Currency realignment
           -Interest rates

Federal budget for FY 1973
     -Reduction in tax rates
     -Effect on generated revenues
     -Byrnes tax bill
     -Views of Shultz and Weinberger
     -Inflation
     -National defense
           -Procurement
     -Rate of increase in outlays
           -Compared to previous years
                -Lyndon B. Johnson
     -National defense
           -Compared to human resources
     -Crime and drugs
     -Rate of increase in outlays
     -Cities
           -Public housing
           -Revenue sharing
     -Food stamps
           -Number of recipients
     -Crime and drugs
           -Accomplishments in fight against problems
                                         5

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/08)




Civil rights
      -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy’s speech
      -The President’s accomplishments
      -Federal employment
            -Reverse discrimination
      -Speeches by the President’s opponents

Federal budget
     -Controllability
     -Reduction in increase in outlays

National economy
     -Unemployment
           -Reductions in armed forces
                -Withdrawal of troops from Vietnam

Federal budget
     -Possible roles of Shultz and Weinberger
     -Republican doctrine
     -Role of government in the economy
     -1958 deficit
          -Harlow
          -Dwight D. Eisenhower
          -Size
     -1966-68 deficits
          -Compared with deficits during the President’s tenure in office
     -Deficits
          -Full-employment revenues
                 -Inflation
     -Liberals’ views
          -Welfare, food stamps, day care centers, the environment
                 -Spending
     -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson’s views
     -Congress’ role
     -National defense
          -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
                 -Anti-Ballistic Missiles [ABM]
     -Water Bill
     -Social welfare programs

Congress
                                                 6

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/08)



           -Action on the President’s programs

     National economy
          -Dock strike on the West Coast


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Non-historical]
[Duration: 21s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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     [General conversation/Unintelligible]

Recording was cut off at 10:02 am