President Nixon and John Ehrlichman met to coordinate political strategy for the 1972 reelection campaign, with a heavy emphasis on securing Pennsylvania through the support of Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo. The discussion covered the importance of maintaining an ethnic, law-and-order coalition in key urban centers and utilizing damaging information about Democratic opponents to bolster the President's standing. Additionally, they addressed personnel concerns, including the management of Howard Hughes-related loan controversies and the navigation of diplomatic and economic challenges like relations with China and the Soviet Union.
On January 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Wilbur D. Mills, and Abbie L. (Daigh) Mills met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:51 pm to 3:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 317-006 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 317-006
Date: January 24, 1972
Time: 1:51 pm - 3:00 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman.
Frank L. Rizzo
-Recent meeting with the President and Ehrlichman, January 24, 1972
-Meeting with the President
-Ward leaders
-Salary
-Pennsylvania budget
-Subsequent meeting with Ehrlichman
-Pennsylvania Congressmen
-Patronage
-Rizzo's control
-Relations with White House
-George P. Shultz and Leonard Garment
-Pennsylvania
[The President talked with Wilbur D. Mills between 1:52 pm and 1:56 pm.]
[Conversation No. 317-6A]
[See Conversation No. 19-42]
[The President talked with Mills's granddaughter at an unknown time.]
[The President talked with Mills at an unknown time.]
[The President talked with Abbie L. (Daigh) Mills at an unknown time.]
[The President talked with Wilbur Mills between an unknown time after 1:52 pm and 1:56 pm.]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President's previous conversation with Wilbur Mills
-Abbie Mills and Wilbur Mills's granddaughter
-Ages
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w002]
[Duration: 5m 43s]
1972 campaign
-The President’s strategy
-Populous states
-1968 election
-California, Illinois, and Ohio
-Michigan
-Illinois, Ohio, and California
-Texas
-New York and Pennsylvania
-Pennsylvania
-Polls
-John F. Kennedy's campaign in 1960
-Hubert H. Humphrey's campaign in 1968
-Hugh Scott
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Usefulness to the President winning in Pennsylvania
-Philadelphia
-Catholics and Italians
-Hugh Scott
-Liberal Republicans
-Blacks
-Compared with Cleveland and Chicago
-Blacks
-Frank L. Rizzo’s view
-The President’s strategy
-Edmund S. Muskie's statement regarding black Vice President
-The President’s analysis
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Need for weekly contacts with administration
-John D. Ehrlichman and Walter H. Annenberg
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Prevent Frank L. Rizzo from supporting
-Charles W. Colson's possible research
-Previous statements on busing, crime, and police
-Priority
-Importance of Philadelphia
-Pennsylvania
-Texas
-Ohio, Illinois, California, and New York
-Blacks
-Liberals' views
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Possible reasons for assisting the President
-Relations with the President
*****************************************************************
Federal programs
-Funding
-Rizzo
-Low income housing
-George W. Romney
-Chicago
-Romney
-Robert H. Finch
Romney
-Future
-Conversation with Ehrlichman
-Church
-Public service
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w003]
[Duration: 48s]
George W. Romney
-Future aspirations
-Potential ambitions for presidency
-Potential ambitions for vice presidency
-National and state
-Senate
-Gubernatorial
-Potential ambitions for vice presidency
1972 campaign
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Walter H. Annenberg's influence
-John D. Ehrlichman's talk with Walter H. Annenberg, January 21
-Walter H. Annenberg
*****************************************************************
1972 campaign
-Walter H. Annenberg
-Financial contribution
-Deal with White House
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w004]
[Duration: 2m 12s]
1972 campaign
-Walter H. Annenberg
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Perception
-Previous race against W. Thacher Longstreth
-Philadelphia Republicans
-Fear of Walter H. Annenberg
-Voting pattern
-Jewish and black vote
-Harry S. Dent's analysis
-Pennsylvania
-Charles W. Colson's relations with labor leaders
-Bottle workers and builders
-Italians
-Pittsburgh
-The President’s chances of winning in 1972
-Illinois
-Richard B. Ogilvie
-Charles H. Percy
-Leslie C. Arends's views
-Leslie C. Arends
-Problems regarding redistricting
*****************************************************************
Frank T. Bow
-Political plans
-Meeting with the President
-Age
National economy
-Unemployment
-December 1971 figures
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Political staff
-By region and state
-South
-Texas
-Florida
-West
-California
-News summary
-Oregon
-Washington
-Colorado
-North Dakota
-East
-Connecticut
-New Jersey
-New York
-Pennsylvania
-Midwest
-Ohio
-Illinois
-Michigan
-California project
-Ohio and Illinois
-Pennsylvania
-Rizzo
-William J. Green
-Philadelphia
-[Milton J. Shapp]
-New York
-New York City
-Compared with California
-Nelson A. Rockefeller's welfare program
-Federal money
-California
-Federal money
-Ohio
-John J. Gilligan
-Illinois
-Ohio
-US Senate and House
-Gilligan
-Political prospects
-Illinois
-Richard B. Ogilvie
-Richard J. Daley
-California
-November 1971 figures
-Shifting patterns
-California
-New York
-Connecticut
-Texas, Florida, Illinois
-Demography
-Black teens, Puerto Ricans and minority women
-New York City
-Married heads of households
-Ehrlichman's possible discussions
-Charles W. Colson, John N. Mitchell and Haldeman
-Texas and Florida
-South
-Atlanta
-Blacks
-Menial labor
-North
-Women
-Unions
Rizzo
-Instruction for Ehrlichman
-Domestic Council
-Rizzo's constituency in other cities
Busing
-Edward L. Morgan's memorandum
-Richmond case
-Judge [Robert R. Merhige, Jr.]
-Lyndon B. Johnson appointee
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Administration position
-State of the Union address
-Local control of local schools
-Constitutional amendment or legislative proposal
-Democratic National Convention
-Result
-Political polarization
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w005]
[Duration: 8s]
Frank L. Rizzo
-Black vote in previous election
-The President’s analysis
*****************************************************************
Rizzo
-Blacks' views
-Philadelphia police
-Meeting with the President
-Photograph
-Announcement to Philadelphia press
-Federal money
-Hugh Scott's administrative assistant
-1972 election
-Ehrlichman's possible conversation with Scott
-Congressional seats
-Annenberg's influence
-Campaign financing
Annenberg
-Nomination as Ambassador to Great Britain
-Withdrawal
-Father
-Religion
-British Ambassador John Freeman
-Conversations with Ehrlichman
-Rizzo
Rizzo
-Recent meeting with the President
-Ehrlichman’s forthcoming call to Annenberg
-Pittsburgh
-Labor leaders
-Colson
Rockefeller
-Call to Ehrlichman, January 22, 1972
-State of the Union Address
-Value Added Tax [VAT]
-Federal funding for transportation
-VAT
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s briefing of executive committee of
governors
-Agnew’s Cabinet briefing
VAT
-Sales tax
-Ehrlichman's possible conversation with the Vice President
-Administration line
-Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations [ACIR]
-Democrats
-Options
-Agnew
-States
-Calvin L. Rampton's views
-Tax rebates
-Agnew’s views
-Rockefeller
Agnew
-Possible conversation with Ehrlichman
Legal services
-Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO]
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Congressional action
-Board of Directors
-[Lois G. Forer]
-Rizzo
-Appointment by Shapp
-Legal suit against Philadelphia
-Police court
-Board of Directors
-The President's appointment
-Government control
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Egil G. (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.’s and Richard H. Nordahl's views
-Public view
-Possible veto
Kissinger
-Military security files
-Allegation
-Haldeman
-Kissinger's conversation with Melvin R. Laird
-Laird's possible action
-Possible White House action
-Jack N. Anderson
-Ehrlichman
-Laird
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/04/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w006]
[Duration: 1m 40s]
F. Donald Nixon
-The President's schedule
-Edward C. Nixon and Donald A. Nixon
-John D. Ehrlichman and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s previous talks
-Murray M. Chotiner
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Work with F. Donald Nixon
-Frank Waters’ forthcoming meeting with John D. Ehrlichman
-Loan from Howard Hughes
-Chronology
-Possible press conference
-The President’s reaction
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/04/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w015]
[Duration: 28s]
F. Donald Nixon
-Loan from Howard Hughes
-Frank Waters
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-The President’s 1962 statement
-The President’s dealings with Howard Hughes
*****************************************************************
Howard Hughes
-Book hoax
-Payment of $625,000 to "Helga Hughes" [Edith Irving] by McGraw-Hill
-Switzerland
-Lawrence F. O'Brien, Jr.
-Humphrey's son-in-law
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Loan to the President's family
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/04/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w007]
[Duration: 1m 14s]
Howard Hughes
-Loan to the President’s family
-Francis A. Nixon and Hannah (Milhous) Nixon
-F. Donald Nixon
-The President’s opinion
-Satisfaction of loan through sale of property
-The President's conversation with Hannah (Milhous) Nixon
-Service station
-Edward C. Nixon
-F. Donald Nixon
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w008]
[Duration: 2m 2s]
Howard Hughes
-Loan to the President’s family
-Potential impact on 1972 campaign
1972 campaign
-Media coverage
-Compared with previous presidential elections
-Edmund S. Muskie’s prospects
-The President’s analysis
-Florida
-Wisconsin
-Pennsylvania
-California
-California
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Eugene L. Wyman
-Alan Cranston
*****************************************************************
1972 election
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Possible financing by administration
-California
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w009]
[Duration: 1m 54s]
1972 campaign
-Compared with 1968 campaign
-The President’s opinion
-George W. Romney
-January 1968
-New Hampshire primary
-Departure from 1968 presidential campaign
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Candidacy
-The President’s opinion
-Comparison to Hubert H. Humphrey
-Intelligence and charisma
-John D. Ehrlichman's opinion
*****************************************************************
Yeoman Charles E. Radford
-Possible revelation of information
-Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Comments to acquaintances
-Conversations with Anderson
-Radford's conversations with [Forename unknown] Cole [sp?]
Watergate
-Wiretaps
-Anderson
-Unknown woman at State Department
-Unknown man
-Background
-Eugene J. Carroll, Jr. [?]
-Relations with Radford
-Expansion
-Unknown woman at State Department
-Sensitivity of position
-Unknown man
-Reports
-Ehrlichman's perusal
-David R. Young, Jr.
-Kissinger
-Unknown man's conversation with Carroll [?]
-Radford's transfer
-Unknown yeoman
-Transfer
-Reason
-White House action
-Clearance
-Access to documents
Responses to administration's opponents
-Attacks
Richmond busing case
-Newspapers' reaction
-The President’s State of the Union address
-Linwood Holton's views
The President's State of the Union Address
-Tone
-Delivery
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[317-006-w012]
[Duration: 1m 26s]
1972 campaign
-The President's stance
-Patrick J. Buchanan's view
-Need for the President to be combative
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.'s view
-John D. Ehrlichman’s view
-Run as incumbent vs candidate
-Vietnam
-Potential impact on 1972 campaign
-The President's trips
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] summit
-Potential impact on 1972 campaign
*****************************************************************
US foreign policy
-The President's role
-Kissinger
-1972 election
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Soviet Union
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-India-Pakistan relations
-PRC
-Analogy to Great Britain's role in nineteenth century
-PRC
-Press coverage
-PRC, Japan, Soviet Union
-PRC
-Soviet Union
-Détente
-Japan
-Visit By Andrei A. Gromyko
-Defense
-Soviets
-Trade
-The President’s forthcoming trip to PRC
-PRC
-Soviet Union
-Kissinger
-William P. Rogers
-State Department
-Soviet Union
-Polls
-1972 election
-Economy
-“Generation of peace”
Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Herbert Stein
-Paul W. McCracken
John B. Connally
-Relationship with Ehrlichman
-Relationship with Peter M. Flanigan
-Views of Peter G. Peterson
-Commerce Department
-Presidential statement
-Connally's conversation with Ehrlichman
-Relationship with Flanigan
-Compared with relationship with Peterson
-Drug enforcement
-Eugene T. Rossides
-Treasury Department
-Bureaucracy
-Justice Department
-Krogh
-Schedule
-Flanigan's role
-Use of White House staff
-Conversation with Ehrlichman
-Possible conversation with the President
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 10/03/2019. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[317-006-w014]
[Duration: 1m 45s]
John A. Volpe
-John A. Volpe, Jr.’s health
-Emotional breakdown
-Institutionalized
-James M. Beggs
-Helping out John A. Volpe’s family
-John A. Volpe, Jr.’s health
-Occurrence during gubernatorial campaign
-The President’s opinion
*****************************************************************
Unknown people
-Richardson [?]
The President's forthcoming peace plan proposal speech
-Scheduling
Ehrlichman left at 3:00 pm.
Conversation No. 317-007
Date: January 24, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:00 pm and 3:08 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Stephen B. Bull.
The President's schedule
-John B. Connally
Bull left at an unknown time before 3:08 pm.This 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.