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Conversation 465-011

TapeTape 465StartWednesday, March 10, 1971 at 1:37 PMEndWednesday, March 10, 1971 at 1:40 PMTape start time03:40:18Tape end time03:43:38ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed a strategy to address a news report by Daniel Schorr concerning James C. Fletcher’s views on the Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) system. Nixon instructed Ziegler to ensure Fletcher publicly clarified that the President’s Science Advisory Committee never opposed the ABM, that Fletcher had not discussed the matter with the President, and that Fletcher fully supported the administration's policy. The President emphasized a firm stance in managing these public communications to protect his defense initiatives.

Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM)James C. FletcherPresident’s Science Advisory CommitteeMedia relationsDaniel L. Schorr
AudioNARA Description

On March 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:37 pm to 1:40 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 465-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 465-11

Date: March 10, 1971
Time: 1:37 pm - 1:40 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler

     [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
         -Press release on class standing at Naval Officers Candidate School

     James C. Fletcher
          -Conversation with Ziegler
          -Daniel L. Schorr story
          -Conversation with Ziegler
               -Position on Anti-ballistic Missiles [ABM]
                     -President’s Science Advisory Committee
          -Retraction
               -Meeting with President
               -Position on ABM
                     -Support for Administration policy

     President’s Science Advisory Committee
          -Position on ABM
          -Influence

     Fletcher story
          -President’s position

Ziegler left at 1:40 pm
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yes, I thought I'd put that out, you know, like tomorrow as a bill, but I just said, I don't know, 216, I think.
But I wouldn't put the number, if nobody was 17, 216, and I raised the other guy to about 10%.
I talked to Dr. Fletcher.
Yes, sir.
I told him I gave him three points to make, and I think he will make them.
You've got to make them better.
You know, this door thing, I want to do it again.
where he says that Dr. Fletcher, when he talked to you, was a member of the President's Science Advisory Committee.
I said, as a member of that committee, did you ever express a view negative to the ABM?
He said, absolutely not.
It was never expressed by the committee?
It was never expressed by the committee.
Oh, I heard a lot of them discuss the ABM.
Right.
He said we never discussed it.
That's one point.
And then the other point that he will make is he's never discussed it with you.
Then the third point, I said, sir, I think you probably want to indicate that you support the ABM system.
He said, well, what I intend to say is, number one, I have not been involved in any discussions on it.
I don't know that much about it, but I support the president's decision on the ABM safeguard system.
I would never let them bring it up, see, because I would never let them get involved in an actual security matter or anything like this.
And they went up and went on the line to make me up.
See if they were even intending to bring it up, considering
Ms. Fletcher said they never did?
Yes, he can't be remembered.
He never sewed in his damn yacht.
Never opened his yacht.
And I would never put him in a job.
I have taken a heart, and that's the one that has the heart line on it.
I won't give him one inch.
as well as the little flat ones.
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