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Conversation: 476-011

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Start Date: 9-Apr-1971 10:33 AM

End Date: 9-Apr-1971 11:05 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)McCracken, Paul W.White House operatorZiegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:46:17

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:17:34

476-011.mp3

NARA Description:

On April 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Paul W. McCracken, White House operator, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:33 am to 11:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 476-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 476-11

Date: April 9, 1971
Time: 10:33 am - 11:05 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Paul W. McCracken

     Greetings

     President’s speech on Southeast Asia, April 7, 1971
          -Kevin Taylor
          -Lyndon B. Johnson
                -Posthumous awards
          -East Room
          -Ceremony with Sergeant Karl Taylor family
          -Kevin Taylor
                -Brother Karl (“Skipper”) Taylor, Jr.
                -”Skipper”
          -Sergeant K. Taylor
          -Shirley Taylor
                -Television appearance
                -Support for President
                -Sons to Annapolis

     McCracken’s role and plans
         -University of Michigan
         -Personal considerations
         -Change in position
         -Analogy
                                        21

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 9/08)



          -Vietnam
          -Cambodia and Laos

Economy
    -Policies
          -Prospects
          -Vietnam
    -McCracken’s possible departure
          -Possible interpretations
                -Change in economic plan
          -Need for steadfastness
          -Future re-evaluation
          -Wrong signal
          -President’s conversation with Arthur F. Burns
          -Confidence
    -Unemployment
          -Figures
    -Consumer spending
          -Optimism
          -Michigan
          -New York department store sales
                -Apparel
                -Home furnishings
          -Automobiles
    -Leadership
          -Changes
          -McCracken
          -John B. Connally
          -James D. Hodgson
          -Maurice H. Stans
          -Need for unity
    -Washington Post story, April 9, 1971
          -McCracken’s possible resignation
    -Administration’s economic policy
          -McCracken’s plans
                -University
          -Need for steadfastness
          -Possible response to stories
    -Administration’s economic policy
          -Labor
                                         22

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 9/08)



     -Stock market
           -Rise
           -Gold
           -Speculation
           -Margin
     -McCracken’s possible resignation
           -Ronald L. Ziegler
           -Plans                                                Conv. No. 476-11 (cont.)
     -Council of Economic Advisers [CEA]
           -Present composition
           -Replacement for Hendrik S. Houthakker
                 -Dr. James R. Schlesinger
           -Schlesinger
                 -Confirmation by Congress
           -Ezra Solomon
           -George P. Shultz
           -George J. Stigler
           -Solomon
                 -Reputation
                 -California
                 -West
           -Schlesinger
           -Solomon
           -Schlesinger
     -Congress
           -Carl B. Albert
     -Staffing for CEA
           -Schlesinger
           -Solomon
                 -Background
                 -Western focus, California
                 -Stanford University
                 -Heritage
                 -Liberia
                       -[Samuel Z. Westerfield, Jr.]
                 -Instructions to Solomon
                 -Possible appointment
                 -Qualifications
                       -International economics

Peter G. Peterson
      -Briefing at Council of International Economic Policy [CIEP]
                                          23

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 9/08)



      -President’s conversation with Shultz
      -Manner of presentation
      -Need for expressions of opinions
      -Pace
      -Scope
      -Possible briefing to Congressional leadership

International balance of payments                          Conv. No. 476-11 (cont.)
      -Complexity
      -US policy

CEA
      -Solomon’s possible appointment
           -Background
           -President’s first choice
           -Possible meeting with President
           -Age

Economy
    -California
          -Unemployment
    -Pacific Northwest
    -Southern California
          -Growth
          -Unemployment
          -Population
          -Work force
    -California
          -Task force
    -Tax incentives for research and development
          -Possibilities
          -Wilbur D. Mills
          -Tax reform
          -Scientists and engineers
          -Executive Order
          -Tax bill
          -Mills
    -Unemployment
          -Significance
          -Recent rates
          -Type
          -Teenagers
                                       24

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                               Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 9/08)



          -Average worker
               -Condition
          -General state of economy
          -Temporary unemployment

McCracken’s meetings with businessmen
    -Nathan Cummings
         -Background                                          Conv. No. 476-11 (cont.)
         -Support for President
         -Arts committee position
               -List of names
               -President’s meeting with Leonard Garment
         -Ted Cummings
               -Art collection
         -Labor costs
         -Attitude of business community
               -Pollution
               -Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC]
               -Gavin McVay [sp?]
               -Henry Crown
               -Pollution
               -Anti-trust
               -EEOC
    -EEOC
         -Letter [Vicente T. Ximenes to McCracken, April 15, 1971]
               -Minorities
               -Ximenes
    -Environmentalists
         -Peter M. Flanigan
         -Connally
         -McCracken
         -Flanigan
         -Charles W. Colson
         -Stans
         -Task force
         -Flanigan, Connally, and Stans
         -Colson
               -Responsibilities
         -President’s support for business community
         -Edmund S. Muskie
         -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
                                               25

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                            (rev. 9/08)



          -Anti-trust
               -Richard W. McLaren
               -John D. deButts
                      -American Telephone & Telegraph [AT&T]
               -Blacks

[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:33 am and
11:01 am]                                                            Conv. No. 476-11 (cont.)

[Conversation No. 476-11A]

[See Conversation No. 1-58]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Future press briefing for Ziegler

     Economy
         -Prospects
         -Retail sales
              -Rise
              -Spring

[The President talked with Ziegler between 11:01 am and 11:02 am]

[Conversation No. 476-11B]

[See Conversation No. 1-59]

[End of telephone conversation]

     Ziegler

     Steven Parker
          -Speech writing
          -Michigan

McCracken left at 11:05 am
                                               26

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 9/08)