President Nixon met with Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld to discuss the potential appointment of John A. McCone, the status of anti-ballistic missile (ABM) policy, and racial discrimination within the armed forces. A primary focus of the meeting was preparing Finch and Rumsfeld for an extensive international diplomatic tour, including attendance at a World Health Organization meeting and high-level engagements regarding US policy toward the People's Republic of China, international drug control, and the POW issue. The group also coordinated on sensitive political matters, including soliciting overseas campaign contributions and managing relations with various European and Mediterranean leaders.
On April 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Robert H. Finch, and Donald H. Rumsfeld met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:15 pm to 12:40 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 480-006 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 480-6
Date: April 15, 1971
Time: 12:15 pm - 12:40 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld
Appointment of John A. McCone
-Congress
-Anti-ballistic Missiles [ABM]
-Breeder reactor
-Clinton P. Anderson
-Disarmament
-Congress
-Resignation from Common Cause
-Possible delay
-Release
-Common Cause
-ABM
-Rumsfeld’s forthcoming conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
-Disarmament committee
-William F. Knowland
-Qualifications
-Experience
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Atomic Energy Commission [AEC]
-Breeder reactor
Finch and Rumsfeld’s upcoming visit to World Health Organization [WHO] meeting
-Kissinger
-Possible invitation to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-President’s visit in 1951
-Herbert H. Lehman
-Geneva
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Paris
-Possible invitation to PRC
-Votes
-Kissinger
-US position
-Taiwan
-PRC
-Possible visit of PRC doctors
-Finch’s forthcoming conversation with Kissinger
-US policy regarding PRC
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
USSR
-US policy
-PRC
-Possible reaction
-Composition
-Health ministers
-Subjects
-Health
-Drugs
-Education
Racial discrimination in armed forces
-Congress
-Mail
-Black Caucus
-Work assignments
-Blacks
-Benefits of military service
Finch and Rumsfeld’s visit to WHO meeting
-Countries in itinerary
-England
-Morocco
-Spain
-Italy
-Romania
-Yugoslavia
-Austria
-Germany
-Switzerland
-France
-Specific subjects
-Medical education
-Prisoner relief
France
-Jacques M. P. Chaban-Delmas
-Georges J. R. Pompidou
-President’s relations with Chaban-Delmas
Morocco
-Visit of King [Moulay] Hassan II
-Scheduling
-Arab summit meeting
Great Britain
-[James] Harold Wilson
-Edward R. G. Heath
-Sir Alexander F. (“Alex”) Douglas-Home
-Tories
-Labor
-Wilson
-Heath
-Douglas-Home
-Roy Thomson Herbert
-Times of London
-[Maurice] Harold MacMillian
-R. Anthony Eden
Germany
-Willy Brandt
-Opposition
-Berlin
-West/East
-Mayor
-Evenhandedness
Italy
-Henry Cabot Lodge
-Pope Paul VI [Giovanni Battista Motini]
-Social gospel
******************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines
Conv.case
No.number
480-10 (cont.)
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-023. Segment declassified on 04/24/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[480-006-w002]
[Duration: 59s]
Italy
-Pope Paul VI [Giovanni Battista Motini]
-Potential topics of conversation
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-US concern
-Vatican’s role
-Papal concern over forthcoming Italian presidential elections
******************************************************************************
Spain
-General Francisco Franco
-Age
-Robert C. Hill
-Foreign Minister
-Political conditions
-Franco
Yugoslavia
-William Leonart
-Josip Broz Tito
-PRC
-Romania
-Nicolae Ceausescu
-Role
-Tito
Belgium
Paris
Austria
-Vienna
-Salzburg
-US relations
Germany
-East Berlin
European press
-Kissinger
-Editors
-Intellectuals
-Editors
-Paris
-England
-Germany
-Italy
-Compared with US press
International drug control
-Justice Department
-UN
-Possible US initiatives
-Amendments
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan and Russell E. Train
-Health
-[Charles B. Rangel]
-Harlem
******************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-023. Segment declassified on 04/24/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[480-006-w003]
[Duration: 2m 29s]
International drug control
-US activities
-Impact on Turkey and France
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Work
-French policies
-Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld trip
-Turkey visit
-France
-Marseilles
-US priorities
-France
-Need to talk to Jacques M. P. Chaban-Delmas
-Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Return from forthcoming trip
-Recommendations
Robert H. Finch and Donald H. Rumsfeld forthcoming trip
-Prisoner of war [POW] issue
-Need to talk to Pope Paul VI [Giovanni Battista Motini]
-Need to talk to Henry Cabot Lodge
-International drug control
-Potential communication with US ambassador
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Jacques M. P. Chaban-Delmas
******************************************************************************
Overseas political contributors
-France
-Paris
-Rogers C. B. Morton
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-England
-Duration of Finch and Rumsfeld’s trip
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-J[ean] Paul Getty
-Property
-Possible contribution
-Amount
-1970 campaign
-Contribution
-Kalmbach
-Property
-Living habits
-Possible contribution
-Paris
The President’s schedule
-Call from Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
Finch and Rumsfeld’s trip
Finch and Rumsfeld left at 12:40 pmThis 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.