Conversation: 246-007
Prev:  246-005 Next: 246-008Start Date: 7-Apr-1971 12:16 PM
End Date: 7-Apr-1971 2:00 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Laird, Melvin R.; Rogers, William P.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); White House operator; Hughes, James D. ("Don"); Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:29:54
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:14:33
NARA Description:
On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Melvin R. Laird, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and James D. ("Don") Hughes met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:16 pm to 2:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 246-007 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 246-7 Date: April 7, 1971 Time: 12:16 pm - 2:00 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President met with Melvin R. Laird, William P. Rogers, and Henry A. Kissinger John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz Vietnam -Admiral Thomas H. Moorer -Conversation with Laird -Richard M. Helms -National Security Council [NSC] -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. 13 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Jacob K. Javits -Story in Washington Post, April 7, 1971 -Republicans -Withdrawal from Vietnam -North Vietnamese -Troop withdrawals -Military’s reaction -President’s position Conv. No. 246-5 (cont.) -Negotiations -Timing -Kissinger -John Sherman Cooper’s call to Kissinger, April 6, 1971 -Troop withdrawal -Timing -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Jack R. Miller’s approach -POWs -Negotiations -Possible Congressional action -President’s options -Draft bill -Status -John C. Stennis -Withdrawal date -Possible effects -Discussions -Options -Laird’s forthcoming testimony -Military’s reaction -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -National mood -President’s forthcoming speech -Congress’ role -Vietnamization program -Troop withdrawals -World Wars I & II, Civil War -Troop withdrawals -Rate -President’s forthcoming announcement -Military operations -Message to Ellsworth F. Bunker -General Nguyen Van Thieu 14 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Thieu’s conversation with Bunker -Troop withdrawals -Rate -Thieu -President’s message to Nguyen Cao Ky -NSC -Withdrawal rate -Bunker Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) -Laird’s conversation with Thieu, Bunker, General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. -Following announcement -President’s forthcoming announcement -Official comments -North Vietnamese military capability -Laos -Cambodia -United States’ military dispositions -Troop withdrawals Latin people ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Privacy] [Duration: 17s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** Vietnam -Troop withdrawals -Military’s reaction -President’s policies -Cambodia -Views of Cooper, Frank F. Church, Javits -Moorer’s comments regarding Edmund S. Muskie, Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy -President’s forthcoming speech -Television 15 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Charts Ronald L. Ziegler and members of the press entered at 12:49 pm President’s schedule -Latin ambassadors -Photo session Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) President’s forthcoming speech -Preparation of speeches Ziegler and the members of the press left at 12:50 pm Time magazine Vietnam -President’s forthcoming speech -Chart -John F. Kennedy -US military presence -Congress -Republicans -Democrats -Vietnamization -Comments -Carl B. Albert -Foreign policy making -Responsibility -Possible actions -Draft bill -Dr. David K. E. Bruce -Negotiations -POWs -President’s responsibility -Albert, Charles M. Teague, Gerald R. Ford Congress -Clark MacGregor’s views -Revenue sharing -Government reorganization -Laird’s forthcoming conversation with Ehrlichman and Shultz 16 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Vietnam -Troop withdrawals -Agreement with President -Joint Chiefs of Staff -Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr. Rogers and Laird left at 1:00 pm Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Charts -Additions -Troop withdrawals -Dates -Woods’ revisions -Possible changes -Troop withdrawals -US casualties -Forthcoming enemy activity -Rogers’ views -Possible changes -Kissinger’s forthcoming briefing -Topics -Casualties -Air sorties -Possible press questions -POWs -Laird’s possible reaction -Residual force -Laird’s view -POWs -United States’ policy -Possible Congressional action -President’s comments to Laird -President’s responsibilities -Donald H. Rumsfeld’s comments in staff meeting, April 7, 1971 -Javits -Charles H. Percy -Political ambitions -Laird, Rogers 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) [H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President between 1:15 pm and 1:16 pm] [Conversation No. 246-7A] President’s schedule [End of telephone conversation] Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) Vietnam -Support of President’s policies -Laird and Rogers Rogers -Foreign Service ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [National Security] [Duration: 29s ] FOREIGN AFFAIRS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ****************************************************************************** -Views regarding Vietnam Haldeman entered at 1:20 pm Vietnam -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Changes -Preparation -Woods MacGregor 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Rumsfeld -Relations with the New York Times and Washington Post -Tenure in office -Forthcoming trip to Europe with Robert H. Finch -Role with administration -Comments in staff meeting April 7, 1971 -Vietnam Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) Vietnam -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Kissinger’s forthcoming briefings -Robert B. Semple, Jr., Chalmers Roberts, Joseph W. Alsop President’s schedule -Unknown newsman Karl (“Skipper”) Taylor, Jr. -Nickname “Skipper” [Pause] Vietnam -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Content -Shirley Taylor, sons Karl and Kevin -Possible effect -Laird, Rogers Kissinger left at 1:30 pm -Poll -President’s policy -Calley [Pause] -Opinion Research Corporation [ORC] [The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:20 pm and 1:30 pm] [Conversation No. 246-7B] 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Call to Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes [End of telephone conversation] Vietnam -Polls -President’s policy -Calley Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) [The President talked with Hughes between 1:30 pm and 1:31 pm] [Conversation No. 246-7C] Sergeant Karl Taylor -Medal of Honor citation [End of telephone conversation] Vietnam -Polls -Results -Calley -Elmo Roper -Claude Robbins [sp?] -George H. Gallup -Dwight L. Chapin -President’s policy -Troop withdrawals -ORC -National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] [Hughes talked with the President between 1:36 pm and 1:37 pm] [Conversation No. 246-7D] Medal of Honor citation [End of telephone conversation] Vietnam -Polls -ORC 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Democratic caucus -President’s policy -Gallup -Withdrawal issue -Forthcoming demonstrations -Forthcoming demonstrations -Possible administration response -Polls Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) -National mood -Laos, Cambodia -Calley -Possible effect of President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Calley -Ehrlichman, Shultz -Son Tay raid -General Douglas MacArthur Laird -Conversation with President -Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Ehrlichman -Stanley R. Resor -Tenure in office -Possible replacement -Robert F. Froehlke -Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Laird, April 8, 1971 Vietnam -Public opinion on withdrawal -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Kissinger -Calley Revenue sharing -President’s conversation with Ehrlichman -Congress -Program problems -Presentations -Edwin L. Harper, Shultz -Slogans -Domestic Council -Laird’s possible meeting with Ehrlichman and Shultz -Presentation 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Vietnam -Emmett Dedmon’s comment -Polls -Calley -Haldeman’s conversation -[Forename unknown] Derge [sp?] -Haldeman’s conversation with Thomas Veneman Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) -Calley -President’s policy -President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971 -Timing -Polls -Forthcoming call to unknown pollster -Chapin -Derge -Polls Revenue sharing -Ehrlichman and Shultz -Selling administration’s program Briefings -Length -Kissinger, Ehrlichman, Shultz -Points -John B. Connally -Paul W. McCracken Vietnam -Polls -Disclosure Rumsfeld -Role with administration -Finch -Comments in staff meeting April 7, 1971 Peter G. Peterson Vietnam -Polls 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Possible release -Timing -President’s forthcoming speech April 7, 1971 -Effect -Military services -Views of Douglas L. Hallett and Patrick J. Buchanan -Lyndon B. Johnson -Calley Conv. No. 246-7 (cont.) Domestic Council -Shultz -Public relations -Ehrlichman -Herbert G. Klein -Edward L. Morgan Public relations -President’s personality -Connally’s views Revenue sharing -President’s conversation with Laird -Ehrlichman, Shultz President’s schedule -Briefing April 8, 1971 -Media Haldeman left at 2:00 pm