Conversation No. 471-9

Date: March 24, 1971
Time: 10:45 am - 10:55 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Harry F. Byrd, Jr. and William E. Timmons
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                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 9/08)



Greetings

A filibuster
      -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield’s statement
            -Southern senators
            -William Proxmire

Supersonic Transport [SST]                                   Conv. No. 471-9 (cont.)
     -Byrd’s statements
           -Byrd’s position
                 -Fiscal concerns
           -Private sector role
     -Importance
           -President’s view
           -Space program, industry comparison
                 -Technology innovation
           -US position as a power
                 -Leadership
                 -President’s view
     -Economic and environmental considerations
           -President’s view
     -Importance
           -American competition with Soviet Union, France
           -National defense
           -US prestige
     -Byrd’s position
           -Opposition
           -Cost to government
           -Environment
           -Public statements
     -President’s view
           -Need for Senate support
                 -Byrd

Vietnam
     -Byrd’s view
     -President’s critics
     -Forthcoming troop withdrawal announcement
     -Laotian operation (Lam Son)
           -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
                -Withdrawal
           -Enemy losses
                                              21

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 9/08)



           -President’s actions
                 -Troop withdrawals
                      -Forthcoming announcement
                      -American troops
                             -Decreases
                 -Byrd’s position
                 -Effect
                 -Byrd’s statements                               Conv. No. 471-9 (cont.)
                 -Effect
                      -Middle East
                 -Support for Administration actions

     SST
           -President’s position


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 18s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Byrd and Timmons left at 10:55 am