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Conversation: 472-003

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Start Date: 23-Mar-1971 9:56 AM

End Date: 23-Mar-1971 10:15 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Scott, HughFord, Gerald R.Ziegler, Ronald L.MacGregor, Clark

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:11:24

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:27:04

472-003.mp3

NARA Description:

On March 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Clark MacGregor met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:56 am to 10:15 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 472-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 472-3

Date: March 23, 1971
Time: 9:56 am - 10:15 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Hugh Scott, Gerald R. Ford, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Clark MacGregor
[Recording begins while the conversation is in progress]

     Supersonic Transport [SST]
          -Soviet airplanes
          -Importance
          -Great Britain
          -Soviet Union
               -Export sales
                      -Japan, India
          -House and Senate action
               -House vote
                      -Ford
               -Forthcoming Senate vote
                      -Scott’s assistance
               -Hubert H. Humphrey
               -Letter to George Meany
               -Forthcoming Senate vote
               -Peter H. Dominick
                                        4

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 9/08)



          -Ford’s concerns
                -Votes
          -Dominick
          -James L. Buckley
          -Margaret Chase Smith
          -Pat [Surname unknown]
          -An unknown Senator
          -Congressman                                         Conv. No. 472-3 (cont.)
                -Ford’s statement at Republican meeting
                       -Results
                -Democrats
                       -Southern Democrats
          -Robert J. Dole’s efforts
          -Future action
     -Possible effect on jobs
     -Space shuttle
     -Exploration of Mars
     -Previous Republican leaders’ meeting
          -Ford’s view
          -US role

Vietnam
     -Laos operation (Lam Son)
          -Possible responses for press
               -President’s previous interview with Howard K. Smith
               -Defense Department briefings
               -President’s previous interview
                      -Cambodian operation
                      -US troop withdrawals
                           -Effect
                      -Vietnamization
                      -Effect of operation
               -Public opinion
          -Casualties
               -North Vietnamese, South Vietnamese
               -Effect on US troops
          -Possible response for press
               -Effect
                      -Casualties
                           -General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
                      -Future
                      -Compared with Cambodia
                                            5

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 9/08)



              -Photographs
                    -Distortions
              -Casualties
              -Photographs
                    -Coverage
                    -Abrams
              -Effect
                    -US troop withdrawals                        Conv. No. 472-3 (cont.)
                    -Vietnamization policy
                    -Casualties
                          -Compared with Cambodian operation
                    -Goals
                          -Compared with Cambodian operation
                          -Withdrawals, casualties, Vietnamization
          -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] withdrawal
              -Possible responses to press
                    -Hanoi Radio claim
                    -Abrams’ comments
                    -President’s actions
                    -Casualties
                    -Effect of action

Ford and Scott’s work
     -Ford’s schedule
          -A breakfast with the President
          -Texas trip

President’s schedule
     -Breakfast with Ford, Carl B. Albert, and [Thomas] Hale Boggs
           -Leslie C. Arends
           -Thomas P. (“Tip”) O’Neill, Jr.
           -William E. Timmons
     -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield and Robert C. Byrd
     -Robert P. Griffin and Scott
     -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
     -Griffin, Byrd
     -Mansfield
     -Forthcoming California trip
     -Meeting with Mansfield, Byrd, Griffin, and Scott
                                               6

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)



     SST
           -Forthcoming Senate vote
                -Byrd or Griffin
                -Possible outcome of vote
                -Tally
                -Dominick
                      -Possible position
                                                                        Conv. No. 472-3 (cont.)
Scott, et al. left at 10:14 am; MacGregor remained

     Milk producers
          -President’s meeting with Albert H. Quie
          -Milk price supports
                -Possible Congressional action
                -President’s position
                      -Possible statement

     Congress
         -John B. Connally
         -SST
         -Effect of polls
         -SST vote

MacGregor left at 10:15 am