Conversation: 452-014
Prev: 452-013 Next: 452-015Start Date: Friday, February 19, 1971 6:09 PM
End Date: Friday, February 19, 1971 6:39 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Holt, Cooper; Rainwater, Herbert R. (Chief); Johnson, Donald E.; Colson, Charles W.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:58:54
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:29:13
NARA Description:
On February 19, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Cooper Holt, Chief Herbert R. Rainwater, Donald E. Johnson, Charles W. Colson, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:09 pm and 1:39 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 452-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 452-14
Date: February 19, 1971
Time: 1:09 pm - unknown before 1:39 pm
Location: Oval Office Conv. No. 452-12 (cont.)
The President met with Cooper Holt, Herbert R. (“Chief”) Rainwater, Donald E. Johnson,
Charles W. Colson, and General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Trip to California
Vietnam War
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-Support for administration’s policies
-Laos
-South Vietnamese position
-VFW leader’s trip to Southeast Asia
-United States’ Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Administration’s actions
-Raid on alleged POW camp
-Information on camp
-VFW leader’s trip to Southeast Asia
-Report
-VFW leader’s view
-Negotiations to end war
-Laos and Cambodia
-Release of POWs
-Withdrawal of United States’ troops
-Administration policy
-Vietnamization
-President’s statement
-President’s policy
-United States’ options
-Public discussion
-Military action in Cambodia
-VFW leader’s view
-Effect on United States’ casualties
-Efforts to end the war
-VFW leader’s views
-Paris peace talks
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President’s position
-United States’ military action
-Bombing
-United States’ POWs
-Protests and critics of war
-Laos and Cambodia
-George S. McGovern’s comments
-Domino theory Conv. No. 452-14 (cont.)
-Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Indonesia
-Philippines
-McGovern’s remarks
-VFW’s press releases
-Protesters
The President’s schedule
-VFW convention
-American Legion convention
-Date and location
-The President’s possible appearance
VFW
-Composition of organization
-Membership
-Veterans
-Racial composition
-Blacks
-Inclusion
-Desegregation
-President’s view
-Inclusion
-Efforts
Composition of armed forces
-Melvin R. Laird
-Views of military service
-Conscientious objectors
-Quakers’ view of war
-President’s World War II service
-Hannah Milhous Nixon
-Comparison to World War II
-Differences
-President’s view
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Effectiveness of draft
-Recruitment efforts
-Attitudes on service by draftees
-Changes since World War II
-Public attitudes
POWs
-Possible legislation Conv. No. 452-14 (cont.)
-Retirement
-Physical condition
-Care upon return
-Brigadier General Daniel (“Chappie”) James, Jr.
VFW dinners
-The Vice President
-National convention
-President’s schedule
Veterans
-Jobs for veterans
-Unemployment
-Administration efforts
-Training
-Department of Veterans’ Affairs responsibility
-Johnson
-Blacks
-Qualifications for skilled jobs
-Training
-Department of Labor statistics
-Compilation
-Status
-Comparison to disadvantaged United States’ citizens
-Minority hiring
-President’s policy
-Classification of veterans
-Vietnam veterans
-Department of Labor
-George Meany, James D. Hodgson, and George P. Shultz
-Hospital facility
-Samuel W. Yorty and [Name unintelligible]
-California earthquake
-Resolution on jobs for veterans
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Creation of jobs for categories
-President’s position
-Preferences
-Classifications
-President’s policy
Holt and Rainwater left at 1:38 pm
Conv. No. 452-14 (cont.)
Johnson’s efforts
Legislation
-Jobs for veterans
-White House statement
-Public relations
-California
-Johnson
Colson, Haig, and Johnson left at an unknown time before 1:39 pm