Conversation: 103-004
Prev: 103-003 Next: 103-005Start Date: 22-Jun-1972 5:20 PM
End Date: 22-Jun-1972 6:28 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Batson, Charles; Crutchfield, Charles; Eaton, Daniel R.; Fetzer, John; Gilmore, James S., Jr.; Israel, Larry; Kluge, John; Mechem, Charles S.; Michaels, Bill; Murphy, John T.; Paine, Ancil; Poor, John; Quaal, Ward; Reinsch, Leonard; Shaw, Bill; Shaw, Reid L.; Slaughter, Robert; Snyder, Franklin C.; Sonderling, Egmont; Vadeboncoeur, E. R.; Waters, M. C.; Weber, Fred; Wells, Robert; Chapin, Richard; Klein, Herbert G.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Flanigan, Peter M.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Romney, George W.; Colson, Charles W.; Moore, Richard A.; Snyder, Alvin; Whitehead, Clay T.; Burch, Dean; White House photographer;Recording Device: Cabinet Room
NARA Description:
On June 22, 1972, Richard M. Nixon and chief executives of the broadcasting industry, including Charles Batson, Charles Crutchfield, Daniel R. Eaton, John Fetzer, James S. Gilmore, Jr., Larry Israel, John Kluge, Charles S. Mechem, Bill Michaels, John T. Murphy, Ancil Paine, John Poor, Ward Quaal, Leonard Reinsch, Bill Shaw, Reid L. Shaw, Robert Slaughter, Franklin C. Snyder, Egmont Sonderling, E. R. Vadeboncoeur, M. C. Waters, Fred Weber, Robert Wells, Richard Chapin, Herbert G. Klein, Ronald L. Ziegler, Peter M. Flanigan, John D. Ehrlichman, George W. Romney, Charles W. Colson, Richard A. Moore, Alvin Snyder, Clay T. ("Tom") Whitehead, Dean Burch, and the White House photographer, met in the Cabinet Room of the White House from 5:20 pm to 6:28 pm. The Cabinet Room taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 103-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 103-4
Date: June 22, 1972
Time: 5:20 pm - 6:28 pm
Location: Cabinet Room
The President met with Charles Batson, Charles Crutchfield, Daniel R. Eaton, John Fetzer,
James S. Gilmore, Jr., Larry Israel, John Kluge, Charles S. Mechem, Bill Michaels, John T.
Murphy, Ancil Paine, John Poor, Ward Quaal, Leonard Reinsch, Bill Shaw, Reid L. Shaw,
Robert Slaughter, Franklin C. Snyder, Egmont Sonderling, E. R. Vadeboncoeur, M.C. Waters,
Fred Weber, Robert Wells, Richard Chapin, Herbert G. Klein, Ronald L. Ziegler, Peter M.
Flanigan, John D. Ehrlichman, George W. Romney, Charles W. Colson, Richard A. Moore,
Alvin Snyder, Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead, and Dean Burch
Greetings
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-McGraw-Hill Co.
-Klein
-Gilmore of Gilmore Broadcasting
-Andy Granatelli
-President of Mexico
-Press
-Unknown woman journalist
-Commission on Baseball
-Unknown person
-New York
-Cleveland
-Baseball
-Crutchfield
-[General conversation/Unintelligible]
-Mayor Louie Welch
-Association of Mayors
-President’s phone call
-Astros
Request for group to be seated
The White House photographer entered at an unknown time after 5:20 pm
Photograph session
The White House photographer left at an unknown time before 6:28 pm
Opening of meeting
Reason for meeting
-Media requests
-Networks
-News programs
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Conflicts with local broadcasters
-Klein
-Flanigan
Private enterprise system
-President’s views
-Communications industry
-Newspaper, radio, television
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Television
-Comparison with abroad
-Shortcomings
-Quality
-Public broadcasting
-Support from staff
Format for meeting
-Flanigan
Domestic licensing processes
-Federal Communications Commission [FCC]
-Renewal objections
-Federal Trade Commission [FTC]
-Advertising
-FCC, FTC relationship
Brand names
-Moscow, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Advantages
-Advertising
-Restrictions
-Impact
-Public broadcasting
FTC regulations
-Advertising
-Fairness doctrine
-Camel
-Cigarette controversy
-General Motors
-Networks
-Compared with environmentalists
-Attacks on private enterprise
Private enterprise, profits
-President’s support
-FTC
-Problems with staff
-Philosophical debate
-Broadcast industry
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Manufacturers and distributors
-General Foods
-Advertising
-Networks
License renewal problems
-Public interest groups
-New York Daily News station
-Censorship dangers
-Petitions
-Statistics
-FCC
-Office of the Presidency
-Proposed legislation
-Denver, Colorado
-Channel 2
-Financial standing
-Chicanos
-Criticism of station
-Wells
-Appointment
-FCC
-Minnesota station
-Station finances
-Uncertainty over licenses
-Proposed legislation on renewal
-Klein
-Flanigan
-Whitehead
-Scripps-Howard Memphis station
-Coalition of whites
-Complaints
-Blacks
-Complaints
-Broadcasting Magazine
-FCC
-Costs
-Courts
-Decisions
-Nebraska
-Omaha
-Complaints
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Action consequences
-Financial abilities of applicants
-Washington baseball team
-Comparison
-Quaal
Meeting with President
-Television networks
-Views about the Administration
-Criticism
-Need for balanced views
-Freedom of expression
-Cambodia coverage
-J. William Fulbright
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Chappaquiddick
-Vietnam bombing announcement
-Quality of television coverage
-Predictions
-Accuracy
-Network news
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
Legislative needs of broadcasters
-Congressional committee
-FCC
-Courts
-Conflicts with FCC
Broadcast executives’ problems
-Courts
-Washington
-New York
-FTC
-Appeals Court in Washington
-Decisions
Court cases
-Supreme Court
-District Court cases
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Federal cases
-J[ames] Skelly Wright, Judge, US Court of Appeals, Washington, DC
-Access cases
-Vietnam
-Court of Appeals
-Supreme Court
-Whitehead
-Fairness doctrine
-Problems
-Black Panthers
-Oil interests
-Businessmen against Vietnam
-Advertisement
-Los Angeles
-Court case
-Wright
Sports
-President as sports fan
-FCC
-”Antisyphon” petition
-Free television vs. pay television
-Football games
-Cable Television [CATV]
-Blackout rules
-National Football League [NFL]
Overextension of licenses
-Bakersfield, California
-Radio stations
-Number
-Denver
-Chairman of the FCC
-Burch
-Concern
-Fort Wayne Ultrahigh Frequency [UHF] station
-Chicago
-Cleveland
-Free television
Television industry
-Capital investment
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-WGN-Television
-Indianapolis
-Bloomington-Indianapolis
-Financial situation of Channel 4
-CATV
-Action
-Shaw
-Jack Harris
-Klein
-Shaw
-Fort Wayne station
-WGN television signal
-Impact on local television
-Fort Wayne
-Indianapolis
-Rockford
-Springfield
-Local situations
-Broadcast signal
-FCC
-Decision
-Supreme Court
-Recent orders
CATV
-Support, opposition
-Columbus, Indiana
-Need for cable television
-Networks
-ABC
-CBS
License renewal
-Analogy with President’s reelection
Advertising
-Criticism
-Competition
-Ford
-General Motors
-Federal standards
-Brand names
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Station license renewals
-Burch
-Legislation
-Opponents
-Motives
-Finances
-Censorship dangers
-Reform of procedures
-Investments
-Opponents
-Motives
Broadcasting industry
-Legislation
-License renewals
-Ethical standards
-Complaints
-Legal action
-Time involved
-Proposed legislation
-Robert P. Griffin
-Joel T. Broyhill
-Renewal procedures
-Length of license
-Burden of proof
-California
-Judicial selection
-Compared to renewal procedures
-Burden of proof principle
-FCC
-Courts
-Workload
-Communications Act
-Administrative process
-Opponent financing
-Ford Foundation
-Stern Foundation
-Rochester, New York
-Challenges to licenses
-Denver
-Paul Miller
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Property
-Legislative objectives
-John O. Pastore
-Administration support
-Present policies
-Reasons
-Klein
-Recognition of President
-President’s concern for broadcasting
-Censorship possibilities
-Censors
-Future Presidents
-Quaal
-License renewal
-Mexican President
-Views
-Mexican constitution
-Similarities to US Constitution
Presidential cuff links
-Meeting with President
-Quaal
-Buggings
Presidential pins
-Appearance
-Cost
Network news
-Balancing of views
-Haiphong mining
-Commentary
-Gerald R. Ford
-NBC
-David Brinkley
-CBS
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Political views
-Brinkley, Sevareid
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
-Unknown reporter’s column
-President’s response
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Nebraska football team
Blair House
-Refreshment
-Meeting
Introductions
-Ehrlichman
-T. Whitehead
-Snyder
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Flanigan
-Discussions
[General conversation/Unintelligible]
President, et al. left at 6:28 pm