Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Vietnam War and White House press relations

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How are you?

Well, somewhere like that.

Yeah.

You've seen the, uh, uh, Star and the Poseidon Spark never leave the story of the mine, I know, a lot of it, but... Well, that's an interesting story.

That's, that's, that's part of the reason I mentioned...

I mentioned that's a lesser story...

Very nice.

...about the weather, just, you know, it's just a very, you know, interesting story about...

I've mentioned that to you.

...about the weather, just, you know, interesting story about...

I

Well, I have a couple of things to cover with you, sir.

First of all, on today, the basic guidance that I'm going to go with, and I'm not too sure I'll be getting to this at 1130.

But if they ask me about the mining and rocketing story I'm trying to make the basic statement that he's actually turning to with apologies on my part, that is that he may, indeed, that they will continue until some time in order to survive, that is, because we do have enough time.

And they're designed to cope with another enemy wave up, and to prevent yet another round of offensive action against them by the enemy.

Now, on staying with those borders, yeah,

The question that I have is whether or not I pick up some of the points that Henry made the other day and that they discussed.

That is, we stand ready to conduct serious negotiations and constructive negotiations to achieve a real peace and a peace that will last.

But we will not involve ourselves in the trade when one side tries to gain some advantage, which we're able to do through the war.

Yeah, that's fine.

I don't like to hear it.

But we will not allow it.

We are not going to allow it.

uh uh

And that's what we call it here.

This is to prevent another disease.

I get used to it.

I don't have time to live it up to it.

I can do this.

But I ain't confident in that.

That's it.

but these are where these are from

Either side is going to be, uh, either side, uh, either side is going to be along the wall.

Either side is going to be, uh, going to be along the top.

That's right.

Now put a footstep away.

We're going to stop that.

I'm going to go around the way.

I'm going to go in that direction.

But you want me to, I think we should shift that to two.

In other words, basically, I don't know.

The meeting side is going to gain by prolonging the war.

The meeting side is going to gain by prolonging the time.

The time to come to end this war.

Right.

And that's going to be basically the type of war that has already been agreed upon and were agreed upon, you know, in our purpose.

Not in principle, but in principle.

And I'll be there.

You don't have to be there.

I'll just be there.

I don't want it to be in a creepy language, and they're very, uh, startling to me, but they sort of just keep laying the foundation, I think, of it.

Although Henry wasn't there, I'm pretty certain I don't see much of it, back in the day.

We're going to have to go to the studio.

Well, then, then moving on, this is a bridge line out of that.

The United States is ready to resume the talks at the region wrap, so whenever the interview is ready to do so,

That's what I was saying.

Nothing was left here, but then the treatment is true, it's impossible for them to break down.

They're ready to come back.

So, no, this is not the case.

To lead out of that, you know, if they ask about defunding and kill one of them, you know, it makes me disappointed.

But then just get out of it by saying, in the meantime, the person will continue to order whatever action he considers necessary by the agency.

To present what now appears to be an ominous build-up in North Vietnam for the purposes of the outside of the day.

Without, without, without, without, without, without, without, without, without, without, without, without, without,

I mean that's, that's obviously a good thing.

Right.

Right around the breath, that's a good thing.

That would have been a good thing.

To prevent any build up.

Which would, uh, prevent any continued build up, which would, uh, could lead to a re-opening of the factory.

Correct.

Okay.

That's the first thing, to build up a build up.

To open up a factory, because if they wouldn't support them, they wouldn't be able to build a build up.

Right.

That's my opinion.

Okay.

That's my opinion on that line.

Good.

Now, one other minor thing to say.

Excuse me, our media wasn't supposed to connect.

So they, of course, have not been invited to the set, and I'm getting very upset.

I agree completely now.

How the hell I can't let you know the story about this, about your observations on it.

The post has a story on the stiles that today the post is being barred.

Now, I'm of the view that you...

You have to hold firm on this.

You really should hold firm on this.

And I thought I would call maybe Julie and just discuss this with her a little bit.

I said, we have more strength to concern ourselves

because they were not invited to a social event.

So we are going to put you to the road, round, because maybe you have some kind of path that you are going to take on.

Do you invite all these visitors?

Absolutely not.

Does she always invite just some?

Yes.

That's a point.

No one paper is always going to be invited.

Right.

They're just passing around the building.

That's right.

And some clients respond, and they're going to be there even if they don't like the place.

Yeah.

You see my point?

Right.

That's what it means, yes.

Well, there's a pool covered section there.

Well, see, so today we'll have a, uh, good chance to meet a band of stars, isn't it?

Yeah, well, it's pretty good.

I know, that's my point.

Seriously, I mean, it's winter at the time, and I want to be sure they don't cover everything either.

That's right.

Okay, I'm going to do it.

And just say that no person has the right to do it anyway.

Well, as I said, we're just spreading it around, that's all.

As I said, the Martian Post is a special product.

The Martian Post and our WDW are the ones that support us.

We're the ones that do the work.

We're the ones that come on.

We are trying to make room for other cases in the country.

And also, you're also in the lay-down.

And ladies and gentlemen, let's say, let's understand, we have always had a wire service.

That's right.

We've always had a wire service.

We've had everything.

I make that point, sir.

Right.

The wiring services will all be included, but as far as special cases are concerned, no one can, or New York State can, get them in a special problem, which is that we're covering a nation, which is a nation's debt, and they're not doing the right thing.

Well, for example, in the Stiles of A, they have the story, barring the post, that they write about, if they use my quotes, it's like, of course there's no special cost.

But then they have...

The story by Dorothy McArdle on the Holiday Jubilee, and they have pictures by Associated Press.

She wrote her story based upon the pool report.

They weren't barred.

They had the opportunity, as I said, that the reporters had asked me about this, like hundreds of other news stations, to cover these events on the pool report.

The main thing is.

The only way we will crack this, the only way we will get it back to where it should be,

If they ask about it at some point, you can say anything at all about it.

You can say, well, that's interesting.

You can talk about this.

You can cover it with the press office out there.

Just handle it on that basis.

Okay, but the other thing, we have no, we don't respect the post.

I don't mind saying that.

I also don't mind to put out a tea party about this administration, but we don't have to concern ourselves with the Alabama administration.

I can feel it.

That's the point is that you don't let us be a fool around.

They are trying to, what they're trying to do in this strategy is very obvious today.

The first way today is to try to create an incentive that they all be surrounded.

I didn't give a choice that would allow them to, for example, to UPI.

I said, I have no comment about any conclusions of the United States International withdrawal.

And then I'll make a point to say that we have a full procedure which we will follow.

And we haven't, and I am going to be honest with you.

But I think we have to hold firm on it if we're ever going to crack this.

Because it will take a little heat for a week or two.

It's only going to hold it for a little bit.

You have to watch them for sure.

But like I say, I don't want to be sure that they're there for years.

Not even if I get to know all the countries right now.

But the church around the bridge there, the place is never to be left out.

Absolutely.

And it's very important.

Thank you.

The thing is, they're going to be there.

So they're going to be getting thousands and thousands around the country that want to come to the church where they're going to come.

There is no local paper that covers the White House.

I think we have to do this because, you know, there's a little

You know damn well that as a reporter for the Post, you felt you had a little additional clout.

You didn't intimidate, you didn't threaten, but you know the people you talked to within the administration were a little bit concerned about what might be written about your next style section, right?

Absolutely.

And I said,

Can you do that?

And he said, absolutely.

And I said, if we're ever going to break that, we have to handle the folks there.

They can cover all events.

We won't get a freedom of the passage, though.

But they have no special process.

That's a candlelight tour for the press.

And we have a few, we've got two, three, four, five, six, seven organizations that we invite to have the alternative of accepting the invitation of the client.

I also called the Kragler they wanted.

Excuse me?

You know, Bill Kragler, the Washington Star.

Oh, yeah.

He called and asked me about it, and I said, hey, now don't let the Star get defensive on this.

If people are going to write to the Star, it's being used just to get the post.

I said, the Washington Star and other stations in the country have just as much right and just as much responsibility to develop good sources of digital administration.

to use every aggressive technique that you have to cover this situation, just as the Post has done for years.

And, you know, Star has a tendency to get all tightened up about the fact that they're very immune.

I said, we don't care.

I said, we really don't.

I don't want any special reasons.

I just want you to be honest and fair.

And I said, above all, don't let the attitude develop that you are.

You know, in a negative way.

You people should do what the Post has done for years.

And he understood that.

And he did accept it, yes.

But, you know, it's just the habit, the tradition that's been developed in this town.

But the only way to do it, I think, the only way to break this big tradition, to cross this bridge, is to hold firm on that.

That's right.

Should I call Julie and discuss this in a mild way?

I think we should.

Yeah, yeah.

Just say to them, sir, if you like, you can give a ring.

And say, I like it, or I just like it.

Maybe that's better.

Yeah, just try it.

You know, if you need to do all of this stuff.

Okay.

All right.

And now I'm going to go.

Yes, sir.

Okay, I don't think, should I announce today your plans for the rest of the week today?

I'll wait for tomorrow.

Here's what's going to happen.

I'm going to do these

What do you want to get together?

Yeah.

I've never met a wife that's been around like that.

Good.

And on the ground.

Yeah, they sure do.

Yeah.

Sure.

I don't see them, so I thought about this last night.

I know there's a certain degree of pressure between them on this, but they're certainly through and thinking about the negative.

If it's ever going to be done, it's got to be done now and then.

I talked to Buchanan about it, but he said, well, he agrees completely.

As a matter of fact, he feels it's true.

So to say, if this turns into an issue, they're trying to make an excuse.

They're saying if we keep people watching the polls, they have the right to conduct a newspaper and read and sign it the way they want.

We don't have to have respect for them, and we don't.

And they can hold whatever opinion they want to hold about us.

They're free to cover it with the White House.

It's going to travel to New York City.

So I don't think it's really going to affect the importance of this news briefing.

Yes, sir.

I think the main line is that it's got to come to use as a peace talk, sir.

Or at an impasse because there's a noisy traffic.

I would not believe it.

I wouldn't say it's a good thing.

Right.

No, no, absolutely not.

Well, he seems to be locked in on it.

That's right.

Not by the president.

That's right.

Right.

Okay, good luck.

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Vietnam War and White House press relations

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Nixon Library Finding Aid

Also recorded on December 18, 1972

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