Conversation 468-007

TapeTape 468StartTuesday, March 16, 1971 at 10:02 AMEndTuesday, March 16, 1971 at 10:31 AMTape start time00:41:50Tape end time01:10:47ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob");  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan);  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOval Office

On March 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander P. Butterfield, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:02 am to 10:31 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 468-007 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 468-7

Date: March 16, 1971
Time: 10:02 am - 10:31 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

     President’s schedule
          -John B. Connally
          -Robert J. Dole
                -Time
           -John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz
                -Possible meeting with the President
          -Connally

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 10:04 am

     Vietnam
          -Troop withdrawals
               -Briefing by Department of Defense [DOD]

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 10:04 am

     President’s schedule
          -Connally
                -Time
                -Cabinet meeting
           -Dole
           -Connally

Butterfield left at 10:04 am

     Vietnam
          -Troop withdrawals
               -Briefing by DOD
                     -Melvin R. Laird
                           -Possible statement
                     -Henry A. Kissinger
                     -President’s previous statements
               -Forthcoming Presidential statement

Ziegler left at 10:06 am

     President’s schedule
          -Robert H. Finch
                -Youth
          -Priorities

          -Connally
          -Dole
          -Connally
               -Call
          -Dole
               -Cabinet meeting
          -Connally and Dole

Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am

          -Connally
               -Schedule
                    -Rolls-Royce meeting
              -Time of meeting

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:27 am

                -Schedule
          -Dole
                -Other attendees
          -Connally
                -Time
          -Ehrlichman and Shultz
          -Dole
          -A delayed meeting

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/25/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[468-007-w001]
[Duration: 26s]

     President’s schedule
           -Dinner
                -Guests

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     Haldeman’s conversation with William F. (“Billy”) Graham
          -Graham’s schedule
               -Lexington, Kentucky
               -Lyndon B. Johnson Library dedication
          -Johnson’s health
               -Funeral
Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am

     President’s schedule
          -Connally
          -Dole

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:27 am

                -Length of meeting
                -Time
          -Ehrlichman and Shultz
          -Dole

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/25/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[468-007-w002]
[Duration: 3m 4s]

     President’s schedule
           -Robert J. Dole
                -President’s opinion
                      -John A. Volpe
                      -John N. Mitchell
                      -Republican National Committee [RNC]
                      -John N. Mitchell
                      -John A. Volpe
           -Access to President
                -Robert J. Dole
                -John D. Ehrlichman
                -John N. Mitchell

               -John A. Volpe
                     -Massachusetts
               -John N. Mitchell
               -Politics

    Opinion Research Corporation [ORC] poll
         -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy vs. other Democratic presidential candidates
         -President vs. Democratic presidential candidates
         -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
         -Coverage

******************************************************************************

    Stock market
         -March 16, 1971 Dow-Jones average

    Haldeman’s White House staff meetings
         -President’s image
               -Connally’s suggestion

    Public relations
         -The President’s image
                -Coverage
                -Need for White House effort
         -President’s accomplishments
                -Domestic policy
                -Foreign affairs
                     -Cambodia
                     -Laos
                     -November 3, 1969
         -President’s opponents
                -Current situation
                -Possible White House action
                     -Laos
                     -Timing
                            -Cambodia and Laos
                            -President’s forthcoming statement
                            -Summer 1971
                -Stewart J. O. Alsop’s column
                     -Vietnam

                            -The President’s policy
          -A memorandum concerning staff
          -Charles W. Colson
          -Ziegler’s office
          -Herbert G. Klein’s office

     Personnel
               -Possible position as US Trade Representative
               -Shultz
               -Peter M. Flanigan
               -Peter G. Peterson
               -Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Shultz
               -Staff
               -Office of Economic Opportunity
                     -Future
                     -President’s position
               -Trade representative job

     President’s schedule
          -John N. Mitchell
                -Frequency of meetings
          -Ehrlichman and Shultz
                -Frequency of meetings
          -Kissinger
                -Frequency of meetings
          -Access to President
                -Cabinet members
                -Mitchell
                -Connally
                      -Arthur F. Burns
                -Ehrlichman and Shultz
                -Kissinger

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/25/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[468-007-w003]
[Duration: 1m 3s]

     President’s schedule
          -Robert J. Dole and [Unintelligible names]
                -John N. Mitchell
                -President’s appraisal of Robert J. Dole
                -John N. Mitchell
                -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
******************************************************************************

     Press
             -White House action
                   -Timing
                   -Enemies
                   -Colson’s responsibility
                        -Networks
                        -Polls
             -President and Agnew’s appearances
                   -Timing
                        -Laos operation (Lam Son)
                        -Cambodia operation
                        -November 3, 1969
             -Future events

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/25/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[468-007-w004]
[Duration: 2m 3s]

     Telephone
          -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
          -Jack Drown and Helene (Colesie) Drown
          -John D. Ehrlichman
                -Herbert W. Kalmbach
                      -Willingness to help
          -President's trip to California

     Robert H. Finch
         -California trip, March 17, 1971
         -Jack Drown
         -“Sons of Saint Patrick” dinner
         -Jack Drown

          -Helene (Colesie) Drown's schedule
                -Camp David
          -Jack Drown's schedule
                -Effect on President's schedule
                     -Avoid Helene (Colesie) Drown
                -Robert H. Finch

******************************************************************************

     Public relations
          -President’s image
                 -”Confidence factor”

Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am

     Greetings

The President left at an unknown time before 10:27 am

     Irish

Haldeman left at 10:27 am

The President entered at an unknown time after 10:27 am

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/25/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[468-007-w005]
[Duration: 3m 18s]

     Request

     [Pause 1m 9s]

     March 16, 1971 party
         -Tricia Nixon Cox
               -John M. (“Jack”) Lynch and President
               -Announcement of Tricia Nixon Cox's engagement
                     -Photo
               -Howard E. Cox, Jr. and Anne C. B. (Finch) Cox
                     -Photo
               -Julie Nixon Eisenhower
               -President and John M. (“Jack”) Lynch
                     -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon and Mairin (O’Connor) Lynch
               -Julie Nixon Eisenhower and [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II

     Request

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An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:27 am

     President’s schedule
          -John M. (“Jack”) Lynch arrival ceremony

The President, et al. left at 10:31 am

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.

specific.
I want to make sure that he can't get in .
That's okay, we can shift it.
Earl, this is Dean Schultz.
I've been seeing you for a few minutes today.
Can you check my travel plans?
I talked to Oldham yesterday.
I'll run it this way.
Joe, that's a cognitive exam.
It's important to agree on that.
On the trip with Donald, he will be asked about that this morning.
And he calls Secretary Conway to see if he didn't see it, or if he can't make a report next morning.
Yes, Senator.
Check that out.
Check Conway and see if he can come forward if he can't come forward.
I feel that he will be pressed on that in the standing room.
Apparently, Senator Laird said this morning
that the level would continue at the present level, and the taxes will be applied at the level of the $50,000 by the end of next year.
Talking to Henry, it's his view, and I'm going to encourage him to use that to tell the Secretary, that the Secretary should say nothing.
He should just indicate that the President has indicated that an opportunity will be made.
Nothing more.
And it will be, as far as the levels, the President has already indicated that it will be an opportunity.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
It's important.
I mean, it's important, but it isn't urgent.
You can call me in five when Dole, when he's down, when he'll let Dole get his thing out to the captain.
He's already called.
I'd rather have Conley since he's here in the cabin.
Stay here.
I can't do this.
Dole, I'll go here to the captain.
This is, uh, Secretary Cotter.
Can't stay here for a fortified meeting.
His meeting on the airline is at 4.30 p.m. Rolls-Royce, Madison.
You have an hour.
We rushed.
Either that or I'll have to do it.
That's all that's really needed, but I don't mind reading.
He's got to be here at 430.
He's got to go over there and he's got to prepare for the meeting.
Yeah, I'm going to crush him.
I agree with you.
You've got to see Bill.
Wait.
No, I'll be able to see him when I bring him to bed.
The first time he asked, it had been finished.
I don't think he's getting it in yet.
Or we should go to the 30th, 430, and skip that 5 o'clock meeting later on, and then Chelsea will get you for a minute after the building and then we'll put off that meeting.
He completely agreed with the thought of his not going to Lexington and going to the OBJ.
He said, in fact, you ought to know, and he did not want anyone else to notice, that Lyndon Johnson is not at all well.
He's very concerned that he's not going to live to May 22nd.
That's the thing he's really trying to hang on for.
He's talking with Billy about protecting his funeral home after the war.
And his last prayer for the Americans was a relief.
He's completely gone.
He's got a few words to repeat.
He's got a few words to repeat.
He's got a few words to repeat.
That's right.
I don't think it goes pretty good.
Oh, I know.
Let's just learn how to work a check, you know, because I don't want to have it.
That was nine points yesterday.
Yeah.
That's good.
I think your meetings now are, this is a very good time to make a meeting with your staff.
You can follow up on a common thing, follow up directly on the issue with your other hand.
I think we have an appearance of this.
This is kind of interesting.
It feels like, in terms of the image thing, that
But nothing really has come true.
It's not really his point.
We have a mirror with nothing on it.
That's, yeah.
And so that means that we really haven't succeeded in getting anything true.
Of course, it's a rather abysmal figure if that's the case.
If he feels that way, I mean, who's not a friend?
That's the question I'm asking.
What does that have to do with anything?
It's a pragmatic approach.
And we've been quite good at it.
We're just doing well.
Even though we do better.
And we've done it on a lot of fields.
And I think we have a domestic delivery.
Everything we've done has been a little certain.
I've never heard from Cambodia than just fighting it out there and talking about it on your honesty track.
Oh, we must, I must admit that there was a, we have to, we can also be under attack, but it helps to be under attack.
Part of our problem now, in this period, is that we're really not under attack.
We're just under, we're under erosion.
And we can escalate it to under attack.
And it might, it would probably work for the short term.
That's the other side.
Sure.
You'd have to do it.
If you did, we could go to a really tough challenge on laws for support.
It's not the time to do it.
But you know, you know what I mean?
That's the thing.
No, we don't need that.
No, we're going to play along.
And we've now done everything.
And from now on, starting in April, going on through the summer, we're just going to have people.
And then, as we go on then, we can bust them a few times.
We've got a hell of a lot.
We've got a lot to talk about.
Well, I mean, so presumably you've taken your lump sum to 8,000 and all that.
Well, of course so.
I think we have.
I think actually it's bound to be moving up on an uneven pace.
And there's Stuart Alsop's thesis this week.
It's very unusual that you've moved way out on two limbs and invited your critics to saw both of them on.
Which is the water ending, and I'm definitely not a local thing.
That's the point.
But he says that he puts it in good context.
He says that undoubtedly you know more than the basis of that knowledge.
any progress we've been expecting all this time.
This is now March the 16th.
The last 60 days to get the staff turned around so they understand some of these things.
I think Colson has always understood.
There's been questions beyond that.
I think we've got it in with a lot of others.
We do it all in the client office, etc.
We still need the rum cell that Ernest produced.
That's a dead loser.
Well, I think you know, we all know it.
Yeah.
He doesn't, he doesn't, he doesn't do it well.
It's a strange reactionary.
So I'm glad that we'll get into that.
Yeah, I agree.
Yeah.
Don't worry about all that rum stuff.
Let's draw a bar and screw it around and say it's got to have a big staff and all that crap.
You remember, even though we owe him, right now we're trying to dismantle that office.
He's going to go over there as the trade representative and not just like it was.
I want to be sure to see my wife, and I should see Metro at least once a week, and my father-in-law.
Like, for example, I see how they're hurrying in shows every day, and sometimes there isn't enough room for them.
See, if I knew more of the course of Henry to get there at this point, Henry's getting a lot better.
You know what I mean?
You know, let's go with John.
I don't get that.
You know what I mean?
My point is, let's not bother.
Let's be here with the cabinet guys that I really ought to see get in.
All right?
I want to catch her automatically and then I'll work him in.
Damn right.
I didn't sort of wait for you to tie it down.
I was fine.
I simply got to see.
And even if there's no reason, John Mitchell is worth seeing once a week.
I go over to politics and get him a look.
All right?
And I've got to see Conley for other reasons.
I've got to keep him.
All right?
and the ensemble gets started at Burns, see?
So we can just probably try a weekly session, that's right, and check half an hour.
And, I don't know who else you could... Clang, you need to see that.
Okay?
And hurry up, you can tell us whenever they want.
And of course, you can do it whenever you want.
That's about it.
The controversy with the press, with our enemies and so forth, should occur.
I think the press meeting should go on right now, and I must say, a close cooperation against the city office, the networks, the pollsters and the rest.
But as far as my point, my man, also for that matter, that should come about after we've finished ours.
You know, it'll be a bit better on the strategy level to get from here down to what we need.
We did, but we didn't get both of them.
Well, we came on harder than we came out there.
We came set up with guns, and around the third, we kicked and we were weaker.
We had to.
We had to then, you know, reverse the situation.
That's all right.
That was the point there.
There was no other way.
There was nothing.
But now, we know there's some things coming that are better.
Yeah.
this business of what they call a confidence factor that we were speaking about, is a pretty much related to it.
Lots of Irish people in there.
Right.
Everybody claims to be going around the damn world.