On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., John K. Andrews, Jr., unknown person(s), Ronald L. Ziegler, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 4:10 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 253-022 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 253-22
Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 3:35 pm - 4:10 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Raymond K. Price, Jr. and John K. Andrews, Jr.
President’s forthcoming speech
-President’s marks on draft
-Audience
-Length
-Vietnam
-United States’ position in world
-A background statement
-Vietnam
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR], Middle East, People’s Republic of
China [PRC]
-Vietnam
-President’s revisions of draft
-Graduates
-Possible service in war
-Vietnam
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Vietnam, World Wars I and II
-Peace
-President’s Birmingham, Alabama speech
-Duty and honor
-Graduates’ grandfathers
-Superpowers
-PRC
-Europe
-Middle East
-US position in world
-Peace
-US strength
-President’s Alabama speech
-Arms limitation
-Purpose
-Mutual, unilateral
-USSR, Asia, Israel
-Middle East
-Israel
-Length
-Tone
-Vietnam, USSR, PRC
-US military, economic, and moral strength
-20th Century wars
-US goals
-World Wars I and II, Korean War, Vietnam War
-US responsibilities
-Consequences of denial
-Neo-isolationists
-President’s conversations with world leaders
-Neo-isolationists
-Consequences of denial
-Pride
-Challenge to graduates
-War casualties
-US today
-Survival
-Burden for US
-Draft
-President’s revisions
-Vietnam
-War
-Arms control
-Eisenhower
-Peacetime vs. wartime service
-Honor, responsibility
-Army
-Public opinion
-Problems
-Insubordination
J. Edgar Hoover
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 3:35 pm
President’s schedule
-Meeting with Hoover, John N. Mitchell
-Location
-Possible photograph
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:01 pm
President’s speech
-Forthcoming draft
-Price’s and Andrews’ work
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 3:55 pm
President’s schedule
-Forthcoming meeting with Hoover
-Location
-Photograph
-Mitchell
-John B. Connally
-Location
President’s speech
-Work by Price and Andrews
Andrews
Price and Andrews left at 4:01 pm
President’s schedule
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 4:02 pm
-Press ladies’ shower for Tricia Nixon
-Time
-Hoover
Butterfield left at 4:04 pm
A statement concerning New York, New York police shooting
-President’s letters to families
-Charles W. Colson
-President’s November 1970 directive to Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Possible scholarship fund
-Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming meeting
The President and Ziegler left at 4:10 pm
Conversation
Conv. No. 253-45
No. 253-23
(cont.)
Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 4:11 pm - 5:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with J. Edgar Hoover, John N. Mitchell, John D. Ehrlichman, and Egil
(“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
A function given by Hoover, May 26, 1971
-John [Mitchell or Ehrlichman]
-A woman [Name unintelligible]
Seating arrangements
Killing of New York, New York policeman
-Details of shooting
-Compared with President
Respect for law
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-San Francisco
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Bella S. Abzug
Respect for armed forces and police force
-Historical precedents
-Drug problem
-President’s and Hoover’s service
-Vietnam
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 09/11/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[253-023-w003]
[Duration: 10s]
Respect for armed forces and police force
-Drug problem
-Stanley R. Resor
-The President’s opinion
******************************************************************************
Respect for armed forces and police force
-Drug problem
-Political dimensions
-Hoover’s program
-President’s and Mitchell’s position
-Dwight D. Eisenhower administration
-Herbert Brownell, William P. Rogers
-Mitchell’s position
-President’s position in Eisenhower administration
-Public opinion
-Opening of a new academy (?)
-Mitchell’s previous trip to Atlanta
An unknown person [Ronald L. Ziegler?] entered at an unknown time after 4:11 pm
Seating arrangements
The unknown person [Ziegler?] left at an unknown time before 4:15 pm
Respect for police
-Mitchell’s previous trip to Atlanta
-Businessmen
-Publicity
-Polls
Ziegler and members of the press entered at 4:15 pm
[Camera noise]
Mary Sholto
[Camera noise]
Length of time for photos
FBI
Killing of New York, New York policeman
-Richard S. Schweiker’s bill
-President’s condolence letters
-A scholarship fund
-Need for administration action
-FBI role in investigation
-Jurisdiction
Killing of a Washington, DC policeman, May 25, 1971
-Daughter of Thomas W. Fletcher, Sr., Heidi Fletcher
-Son [Thomas W. Fletcher, Jr.]
-College in California
-Roommate
-Commune
Killing of New York, New York policeman
-FBI role in investigation
-Congress
-Publicity
-Compared with Mickey C. Mantle’s baseball career in New York
-Funeral
-Police representation
-Number of states
-President’s call to Edward J. Kiernan
-Black officers
-Black response
-Motive
Mitchell’s September 1970 meeting with International Chiefs of Police
-Schweiker bill
-Response
-Effect
-President’s directive
-Response
-Schweiker bill
-Response
Federal funds for families of slain police
-Possible scholarship fund
-Law Enforcement Assistance Administration [LEAA]
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Proposed National Service Insurance Bill
-Police and firemen’s response
-Provisions in some states
-Revenue sharing
-State and local contributions
-Possible legislation
-Insurance
-Kennedy bill
-Social Security
-Chicago, New York, Los Angeles
-Local option
-FBI contributions
-Federal law enforcement establishment
American society
-Burning of cities
-Killing of policemen
-Disrespect for armed forces and law enforcement
-Future
-Black Panthers, Bobby G. Seale
-FBI wiretaps
-Police
-Effects
-A specific wiretap
-Publicity
-Attorney General’s authorization
-Local authorities
-A wiretap related to a bank robbery
-Stake-out
-A girl, robbers
-Motive for robbery
-Recording of serial numbers
-New York arrests for gambling
-Savings of policemen’s lives
Seale case
-Status
-Judicial system
President’s Alabama trip
-A sign concerning Angela Y. Davis
Davis
-President’s response to case
-Publicity
Daniel J. and Philip F. Berrigan
-Publicity regarding case
-Case
-P. F. Berrigan
-Followers’ beliefs
-Letters
-Police or FBI role
-An attachment
-W. Ramsey Clark
Wiretapping
-Clark
-Statements in May 26, 1971 newspapers
-President’s position
-President’s California press conference
Killing of New York, New York policeman
-Insurance program for families
-Prosecution of case
-Schweiker bill
-Local police
-White House statement
-President’s meeting with Hoover
-Patrick V. Murphy
-Funeral
-Murphy, John V. Lindsay
-Police Benevolent Association
Respect for law
-White House action
-A directive
-President’s and Mitchell’s position
-Hoover’s press contacts
-Status of legislation
-Law Day
-A broadcast
-Legislation
-Possible recognition for Washington, DC policemen
-South Lawn ceremony
-Effect
-Law Enforcement Day
-Possible Presidential actions
-President’s statements concerning law enforcement
-International Chiefs of Police convention in California in September
-Group and officers
-[Forename unknown] Pang [?]
-National Crisis Information Center [NCIC]
-President’s speeches
-Possible event
-President’s visit to a hospital in Kansas City
-Purpose
-President’s, Mitchell’s, and Hoover’s positions
-Publicity
-Compared with military
-Compared with Muskie, Hubert H. Humphrey, and Kennedy’s
position
Drug problems
-President’s position
-[Forename unknown] Brown at Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
[HEW]
-Marijuana
Respect for law
-President’s position
-Compared with former presidents
-International Association of Police [IAP]
-Possible meeting with President
-Time
-Number
-Location
-Representation
-Purpose
-Date
-Purposes
-Pending legislation
-Publicity
-Possible attendees
-House Judiciary Committee
-Emanuel Celler
-Senate Judiciary Committee
-Celler
-William M. McCulloch
-James O. Eastland
-Location
-Attendees
-Statements to press
-Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, “Heartland”, South,
Missouri
-Officers of organization
-Schweiker bill
-White House staff work
-Krogh
-Ehrlichman’s office
-Protective techniques
-Police Recognition Day
-Compared with Armed Forces Day
-Richard J. Daley
-Chicago police recognition
-”Police brutality”
-Police Recognition Day
-Process of establishment
-President’s role
-Radio address
-Publicity
-President’s meeting with police officers
-Purpose
-Schweiker bill
-Police Recognition Day
-Public opinion
-Lawmen, armed forces
-Drugs
-FBI
-Jack Pumpereau [?]
-Parole of assailant
-Sheriff’s Association
-[Forename unknown] McCandless, president
-First vice president
-International Association of Chiefs of Police head
-Law enforcement organization officials
-McCandless
-California
-Other attendees
-Hoover, Mitchell
-Jerry V. Wilson
-Head of Justice Department, Criminal Division
-Head of LEAA
-McCandless
-Press statement
-Head of International Chiefs of Police
-McCandless’ experience
-”Merv Griffin Show”
-Attendees
-New York representation
-Head of benevolent association
-Schweiker bill position
-Mayor Daley
-President’s and Mitchell’s positions
-Otto Kerner
-Actions in public housing projects
-An LEAA project
-Public housing outposts
-FBI
-Training regarding assassinations
-Academy graduates
-Possible training for police
-Possible appearance by President
-Number of attendees
-Need
-Intelligence
-Class sizes (?)
-Scheduling of training
-Legislation
-Possible conference of FBI and police
-Possible National Police Recognition Day
-Congress
-Possible statement
-Senate and House Judiciary Committees
-Meeting with President
-Celler’s and McCulloch’s possible attendance
-Richard H. Poff and Eastland
-Roman L. Hruska
-President’s meeting with Hoover
-Statements to press
-Hoover, Ziegler
-Legislation
-A forthcoming announcement
-Public opinion
-New York policemen’s killing
-Race, assailants’ race
-Washington, DC demonstrations
-Washington, DC police
-Public safety
-A meeting
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s [?] possible appearance
-Murphy
-Possible attendance at a meeting
-Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
R. F. Kennedy
-Johnson
-Hoover
-Campaign
-A US attorney from Minneapolis
-1964 Democratic convention in Atlantic City
-Planned demonstrations
-John F. Kennedy
-Johnson
-Hoover’s meeting with Johnson
Johnson
-Staff
-Hoover
-1964 Democratic convention
-Planned demonstrations
-Kenneth P. O’Donnell
-R. F. Kennedy
-R. F. Kennedy’s plan
-Hoover’s role
-Call to Hoover from Austin
-New York Times’ statement
-Claudia A. (Taylor) (“Lady Bird”) Johnson
-President
-Hoover’s reply
Jack N. Anderson
-Reporters’ search through Hoover’s garbage
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:17 pm
Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
Bull left at an unknown time before 5:17 pm
Anderson
-Reporters’ search through Hoover’s garbage
-Findings
-Hoover’s reply
Drew Pearson
Anderson
Moshe Dayan [?]
Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Saud Faisal
-Forthcoming visit
-Previous visit
******************************************************************************
[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 09/11/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[253-023-w004]
[Duration: 8s]
******************************************************************************
Malik ibn Abd al-Aziz al-Saud Faisal
-An event
-Hoover’s invitation
-Time
******************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-016. Segment declassified on 06/19/2018. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[253-023-w001]
[Duration: 40s]
Foreign liaison
-Training programs
-Parents
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Tel Aviv
-Cabinet contacts
-Spain
-Juan Carlos
-Golf
******************************************************************************
Drug Program
-President’s role
-HEW and National Institutes of Mental Health [NIMH] role
-Marijuana legalization
-Elliot L. Richardson’s role
-New agency
-Responsibility
-President, Ehrlichman, HEW
-Department of Defense [DOD]
-Melvin R. Laird
-Responsibility at Assistant Secretary level
-Kissinger, Laird
-President’s forthcoming actions
-HEW’s role
-Military
-Enforcement
-Mitchell’s role
-Need for action
-Methadone programs
-NIMH
-DOD
-Dishonorable discharges
-PCDs
-Effects
-Veterans’ Administration [VA]
-Possible meeting of Laird and service secretaries
-Secretaries
-Robert C. Seamans, Jr.
-John H. Chafee
-Seamans
-Robert S. McNamara
-Chafee
-Rogers
-John B. Connally
-Prevailing attitudes
-John E. (“Jack”) Ingersoll’s report
-Embassies
-Rogers
-Laird
-Needs
-Direction
-Kissinger and Ehrlichman
-Segregation
-DOD, Supreme Court
******************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-016. Segment declassified on 06/19/2018. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 1s]
Foreign liaison
-J. Edgar Hoover’s action
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Possible programs
-The President’s travels abroad in the 1960’s
-Personal experiences
-Legal attaches
-Foreign service personnel
-John D. Ehrlichman’s travels
-A man in Hong Kong
-The President’s opinion
-Congress
******************************************************************************
******************************************************************************
[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 09/11/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[253-023-w005]
[Duration: 42s]
Foreign liaison
-The President’s naval service
******************************************************************************
Hoover, et al. left at 5:20 pmThis 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.