Conversation: 337-009
Prev: 337-008 Next: 337-010Start Date: Wednesday, May 10, 1972 2:05 PM
End Date: Wednesday, May 10, 1972 4:06 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; White House operator; [Unknown person(s)]; Colson, Charles W.; Laird, Melvin R.Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:43:13
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:49:10
NARA Description:
On May 10, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, unknown person(s), Charles W. Colson, and Melvin R. Laird met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:05 am to 12:06 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 337-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 337-9
Date: May 10, 1972
Time: 10:05 am-12:06 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Vietnam
-Melvin R. Laird
-Meeting with Haldeman
-Henry A. Kissinger
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Support for the President's policies
-Meeting with Haldeman and Charles W. Colson
-Marvin L. Kalb's party
-The President’s view
-Level of support
-Colson
-Coordination of public appearances
-Responsibility
-Blockade
-Public support
-Levels
-Washington Post and New York Times
-Publicity
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Polls
-Press conference
-President's reelection
-Compared with Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Polls
-Level of support
-Questions
-Results
-George H. Gallup poll
-Questions
-Samples
-Hawks
-Laird
-Reports
-Subcabinet meeting
-Press conference
-Tone
-Polls
-Louis P. Harris poll
-Results
-Publicity
-President's polls
-Questions
-Results
-Publicity
-Results
-Compared to People's Republic of China [PRC] trip
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Publicity
-Timing
-Sindlinger
-Questions
-Peace offer
-Significance of results
-Publicity
-Questions
-Results
-Questions
-Peace offer
-Results
-Publicity
-Support for the President
-Media play
-White House News Summary
-Senate action
-John W. McCormack's statement
-Washington Post
-George Meany's statement
-Leonard Woodcock
-President's polls
-Effect on public opinion
-Compared with President's previous speech
-Military action
-Approval rating
-Compared with PRC trip rating
The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger at an unknown time between 10:10 and 10:19 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9A]
Vietnam
-Poll results
Meeting with President
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam
-Blockade and mining
-Support for President's actions
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-President's polls
-Publicity
The President talked with the White House operator at 10:19 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9B]
[See Conversation No. 24-60]
[End of telephone conversation]
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:19 and 10:21 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9C]
Vietnam
-Blockade and mining
-Support for President's actions
-President's polls
-Publicity
-Emphasis
-Opinion Research Corporation [ORC]
-Sindlinger
-ORC
[End of telephone conversation]
-A press conference
-Hugh Scott and Robert P. Griffin
-ORC
-Colson
-Lawrence M. Higby
-Buchanan
-ORC use of material
-Scott's press conference
-ORC
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 10:19 am.
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:19 and
10:21 am.
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
[Conversation No. 337-9D]
[See Conversation No. 24-61]
[End of telephone conversation]
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 10:21 am.
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Appearance at Capitol Hill Club
-Television coverage
Kissinger entered at 10:21 am.
-Kissinger's evaluation
-John B. Connally
-Attack on Democrats
-Timing
-Laird and Richardson
The President talked with Colson between 10:21 and 10:22 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9E]
[See Conversation No. 24-62]
[End of telephone conversation]
-Connally
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Meeting with Haldeman
-Possible speaking appearance
-Forthcoming trip to South Vietnam and Thailand
-Air strikes
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-B-52s
-An Loc, Saigon
-Effect
Colson entered at 10:23 am.
-Blockade
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Support for President's actions
-ORC poll
-Haldeman
-Questions
-Responses
-Publicity
-Sindlinger poll
-ORC
-Questions
-Responses
-Sindlinger's call to Colson
-Other results
-Approval of President's actions
-Changes
-Compared with PRC trip rating
-President's actions in Vietnam
-Change in rating
-President's previous speech on Vietnam
-Compared with PRC trip rating
-Percent of "peace at any price" supporters
-“Hawks”
-Laird
-A press story
-Previous call to Kissinger
-Source
-William P. Rogers
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Connally
-Statement by Ronald L. Ziegler
-Unanimity of National Security Council [NSC] decision
-Air strikes
-Ellsworth F. Bunker's cable
-Number of sorties
-Abrams
-An Loc
-Message to Bunker from Kissinger
-An Loc
-Message to Kissinger from Bunker
-Effect of President's speech
-South Vietnamese morale
-Abrams
-President's decision
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Bunker’s view
-Support for President's actions
-Polls
-Publicity
-Dissemination
-Media
-Vietnam veterans
-Los Angeles Times
-General Infantry [GIs] in Vietnam
-Morale
-Press reports
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Prisoners of war [POWs] wives
-Press reports
-Opposition
-Democrats
-A California Marxist
-POW wives
-Possible meeting with President
-Arrangements
-Donald Rodgers (?)
-Possible meeting with Kissinger
-Possible meeting with the President
-Timing
-Conditions
-Sindlinger poll results
-Dates
-Sindlinger's operation
-Emotional response
-Interviews
-Democrat support
-Midwest
-David E. Bradshaw
-Comparison to Cambodian action
-Labor leaders
-Hard hats
-Peter J. Brennan
-An unknown person
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Hard hats
-Brennan
-Response to anti-war protests
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Meany's statement
-Woodcock
-Importance
-Jay Lovestone
-I[lworth] W. Abel
-Unions
-Nebraska primary
-George S. McGovern
-J. James Exon
-Support for the President
-Omaha
-Hubert H. Humphrey vote
-McGovern victory
-Significance
-Humphrey
-McGovern's effort
Vietnam
-Support for the President's actions
-Publicity
-Sindlinger's press conference
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kissinger's morale
-Washington Post editorial
-Marvin L. Kalb's party
-US power
-The President’s view
Kissinger left at 10:40 pm.
Kissinger
-The President’s view
President's demeanor
-Chou En-lai
Duke Law School reunion
-Classmates
-Age
-Appearance
-Described
-Classmates
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Political affiliation
-Great Depression effects
-President's remarks
-David Cavers
-Classmates
-Political views
-Harvard
-Duke
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:40 and 11:40 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9F]
Vietnam
-Support for the President
-ORC poll
-Dissemination
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam
-Support for the President
-ORC poll
-Publicity
-Use by White House
-Press conference
-Use
-Calls to Congressmen
-Clark MacGregor
-Doves
-Publicity
-Method
-Possible Kissinger briefing for columnists
-Laird
-A press report
-Reassurance
-Call from Colson
-President’s instructions
Colson talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:40 and 11:40 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9G]
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
[See Conversation No. 24-63]
The President conferred with Haldeman.
Colson talked with Melvin R. Laird at an unknown time between 10:40 and 11:40 am.
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Support for the President
-Laird
-A press story
-Connally
-Connally
-Possible press conference
-Criticism of Democrats
-Forum for criticism
-Support for President
-The President’s view
-Laird
-Interview format
-Networks and wire services
-Impact on morale
-White House
-Release of poll
-Democrats
-Caucus
-Barry M. Goldwater, Jr. speech
-Agnew speech
-Publicity
-Ohio State
-Demonstrators
-Number
-Violence
-Publicity
-Ziegler
-Wire stories
-Telegrams
-Volume
-Blockages at Western Union
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Expression of support
-Letters
-Telephone calls
-Telephone calls to senators
-Undecided senators
-Volunteers of help
-Demonstrations
-Petitions
-Unions
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 9s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
**********************************************************************
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Support
-Herbert G. Klein
-Robert H. Finch
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-"Hawks"
-Commentators
-George Bunche (?)
-Mobilization
-Telephone calls
-Commentators
-Poll results
-Los Angeles
-Chicago
-Texas
-Philadelphia
-Right wing
-Mobilization
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Democrats
-"Hawks"
-Telegrams
-Rhetoric
-Counter to Democrats
-North Vietnam offensive
-Opposition
-Democratic candidates
-Washington Post story
-Media reports
-Criticism
-Biases
-Administration criticism
-Test for 1972 campaign
-"Dove" Democrats
-Supporters
-John McCormack
-Publicity
-President's critics
-John G. Dow
-Laird
-A press story
-Response
-William P. Rogers
-Call to Colson
-Public statements
-Frank F. Church
-North Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Poll results
-Sindlinger
-Poll results
-Circulation to President's supporters
-Vaughn (?) Collins
-Washington Post story
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Buchanan
-Public release
-Media coverage
-Administration response
-Support
-Scope
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Intensity
-Media reports
-Boston
-Government employees
-Response to demonstrators
-Media reports
-Kalb
-Popularity
-President's critics
-White House countermeasures
-White House staff beliefs
-Media
-Howard K. Smith
-Previous conversation with Colson
-Harry Reasoner
-Retraction
-Kalb, Dan Rather, CBS
-Countermeasures
-Press bus incident
-Robert D. Novak, Rowland Evans
-Commentary
-Channel 5
-Countermeasures
-President's travels
-Washington press corps
-Methods
-Haldeman’s view
-The President’s view
-Washington press corps
-Negative publicity
-"Georgetown set"
-Support
-Novak column
-Circulation
-Copyright
-Congressional Record
-Gordon L. Allot
-George D. Aiken
-Administration efforts
-Michael J. Mansfield
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 53s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
**********************************************************************
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Support
-Scott and Griffin
-Laird
-Connally
-Richardson
-President's previous speech
-Richardson’s view
-Cabinet
-George W. Romney
-John A. Volpe
-President's speech
-Richardson's impression
-Support
-Publicity
-ORC poll
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:40 and 11:40 am.
[Conversation No. 337-9I]
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Polls
-Scott and Griffin
-ORC results
-Release
[End of telephone conversation]
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
Polls
-ORC
-Influence of Administration
-Sindlinger
-ORC
-Harris
-ORC
-Credibility
-Questions
-Press releases
-Sindlinger
-Harris
-Gallup
-Questions
-Results on President's Vietnam action
-ORC poll
-Public support for President's policies
-Release of results
-Buchanan
-Scott and Griffin
Buchanan
-Haldeman’s view
-Colson’s view
Vietnam
-Support for the President
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Statements of support
-Release
-Rockefeller
-Labor meeting speech
-James L. Buckley, Brennan
-Strength of statement
-Staff
-The President’s view
-Kissinger’s view
-President's statements
-Timing
-Press conference
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Soviet Summit, Vietnam
-Timing
-Support
-Meetings with President and supporters
-Meeting with POW wives
-Timing
-American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-Agnew's statements
-Timing
-Press conference
-Report to the President
-Press conference
-Demonstrations
-Size and character
-Albuquerque
-Violence
-Press reports
-Freeway traffic
-Berkeley
-City employee day off
-Blocking traffic
-Madison
-Size
-Michigan State
-Effect
-Santa Barbara
-Blocking of airport runway, traffic
-Arrests
-Urbana, Illinois
-Armory
-University of Maryland
-National Peace Action Coalition
-Rally in Washington, DC
-Size
-Significance
-Appearance of demonstrators
-Counterreaction
-Boston example
-Congressional galleries
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] reports
-Media reports
-Violence
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-New York
-Columbia University
-Wisconsin
-Columbia University
-New York police
-Hard hats
-Jews
-Communist conspiracy
-Thomas W. (“Teddy”) Gleason
-Coordination
-FBI and Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Links to Hanoi
-President's speech
-Section on student opposition
-Kissinger
-Deletion
-President's attitude toward enemies
-Polls
-Gallup results
-Harris results
-Release
-Harris poll
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 4m ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
**********************************************************************
Vietnam
-Blockade support
-Cabinet
-Speeches and briefings
-Rogers
-Encouragement from Colson
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 46s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
**********************************************************************
Colson left at 11:40 am.
President's schedule
-Public appearances
-Frequency
-Meeting with Soviet Trade Minister
-Meeting with Wilbur D. Mills, Ray C. Bliss
-Florida trip
-Meeting with Soviet Trade Minister
-Timing
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
**********************************************************************
-Meeting with Mills
-Day
-Time
-Meeting with Connally
-Public appearances
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-FBI
-L. Patrick Gray, III
-Nomination
Richard G. Kleindienst
-Senate confirmation hearings
-Delay
-Reasons
-Vietnam
-Likelihood of confirmation
Connally
-Resignation
-Announcement date
-Meeting with Haldeman
-Timing of announcement
-Soviet summit
-George P. Shultz
-Knowledge of resignation
-Relationship with Connally
-Caspar W. Weinberger
-Information on resignation
-Resignation
-Timing
-Soviet Summit
-Possible cancellation
-Kissinger’s view
-Delay
-Help to administration
-Rogers
General Services Administration [GSA] administrator
Federal Reserve Board [FRB]
-Andrew Brimmer
-Removal
-Possible ambassadorship
-Arthur F. Burns
-Connally
-Burns
-Quadriad
-Shultz’s view
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Milton Friedman
-Economic views
-Changes
-Interest rates, monetary aggregates
-Conflict with board
-Votes
-Compared with William McChesney Martin, Jr.
-Control of board
-Businessmen
-Economists
-Bankers
-[Forename unknown] Carter
-Effectiveness
-Shultz
-Quadriad meeting
-Stock market
-Recent drop
-Cambodia
-Jews
Legal Services Corporation
-Agnew letter
Family's official schedule
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Public appearance in Boston
-Cancellation
President's schedule
-Florida trip
-Manolo Sanchez
-Crowds at Homestead
-Support for the President
Democrats
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Harvard
Vietnam
-Blockade
-South Vietnam performance
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-01)
Conv. No. 337-9 (cont.)
-Morale
-Withdrawal
-POWs
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m52s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
**********************************************************************
Vietnam
-Polls
Haldeman left at 12:06 pm.