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Conversation 460-002

TapeTape 460StartFriday, February 26, 1971 at 10:29 AMEndFriday, February 26, 1971 at 10:36 AMTape start time00:03:08Tape end time00:08:24ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Stephen Bull to discuss media management strategies and political messaging regarding federal welfare reform. The participants reviewed the network television coverage of the President's recent film clips, specifically analyzing how to better leverage media exposure to shape public perception. Additionally, they coordinated efforts to influence John Burns's public stance on federal control of welfare and managed the President’s upcoming meeting schedule.

Welfare ReformMedia RelationsPublic RelationsFederal ControlTelevision NewsPolitical Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On February 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:29 am to 10:36 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 460-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 460-2

Date: February 26, 1971
Time: 10:29 am - 10:36 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler

     Welfare
          -John A. Burns
          -Federal control
               -Press stories
               -Burns
                     -Forthcoming conversation with Ziegler

     Media
         -Film of 2/25
              -Use by networks

     The President’s schedule
          -National Security Council meeting
               -Ziegler’s attendance

     Public relations
          -Wilbur D. Mills
          -Film clips
                 -William L. Safire
                 -Use by networks

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:29 am

     The President’s schedule
          -Henry A. Kissinger
          -Melvin R. Laird

     Media
         -Film of 2/25
              -Use by networks
              -Advantages

Ziegler left at 10:36 am
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Excuse me.
Yeah.
I'm going to call the chair.
I was talking to John Burris on this.
Because anyhow, we should hand him a question on the federal takeover on it.
You know, the stories on the federal takeover of .
Burns is, I think, trying to attempt to say that he even knows, indicating that he was four before, and trying to pull away from that federal takeover.
He can't.
I don't get the situation.
I did.
where he's saying that he's not- No, that's why I'm going to call him.
All right.
I'm going to ask you that question.
It's definitely mine.
It's not going to be asked.
How does he want you to handle it, mister?
Very good.
Okay.
We think he does.
It's not with the film of yesterday.
As you know, that was introduced in the report.
And I thought if you had no objections, I'd sit at the end of the meeting and get a little motion and then we'll sign it.
I think the important thing was to get the mills in.
I'm going to deal with that, but I'll come back after the fire.
They used the...
They didn't use much of the lips of the mills.
I told Satchar, I said, you know, I said, you can always figure a minute, and most of the time, usually a minute and a half, is 0 to 7.
So I did 7, and I did 9, and I did 10.
Well, this is kind of, they did not use all, all the ADC strokes that you said.
Yeah, yeah.
I'll see.
I'm ready.
I'll let it.
It's there.
It's there.
The people there at the meeting, they're still listening.
I've already canceled the meeting afterwards, so he doesn't need to speak about that.
If there's nothing else, I'll see you tomorrow.
I think ABC wrote something about what the advantage of doing that .
Oh, yes, sir.
CBS used the intro that you read, and then another copy, another take, NBC, a combination of two takes.
But what the advantage of doing what you did yesterday was that it
well then to under our control with you speaking to the to the way that they had they always looked different assumptions and they had a tool to of course so i think that was an advantage on that occasion
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