President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman debriefed the President's appearance before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, focusing on the effectiveness of his responses regarding Vietnam, J. Edgar Hoover, and foreign relations with the People's Republic of China. The discussion also addressed the technical presentation of the event, including the use of a rostrum and the impact of the President's speaking style. Additionally, the participants coordinated preparations for an upcoming meeting involving Henry Kissinger and John A. Scali to further discuss diplomatic outreach to China.
On April 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:56 am to 9:13 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 481-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 481-3
Date: April 17, 1971
Time: 8:56 am - 9:13 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 39s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 8:58 am
The President's meeting with the American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE], April
16, 1971
-Television
-Questions to the President
-Vietnam
-Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr.
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Vietnam and Calley
-Compared with the President's press conference
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:10 am
-Opening question
-Suggested response
-President's responses
-Radio reception
-John N. Mitchell's call to the President
-Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo
-J. Edgar Hoover
-President's responses to questions
-Hoover
-Calley
-Prisoner of War [POW] issue
-Vietnam
-Emmett Dedmon
-Withdrawal
-Residual forces
-Melvin R. Laird
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Withdrawal
-Timing
-Election date
-Communist takeover issue
-Radio audience
-Numbers
-Television broadcast
-Questions Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
-Calley
-Vietnam
-PRC
-Cuba
-Hoover
-Surveillance
-Youth
-Otis Chandler
-Al Capp
-Surveillance
-Police state
-John F. Kennedy administration
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
-Hoover
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Frank Cormier
-"Making news"
-Unknown quip
-Economic indicators
-Retail sales
-Television
-Rostrum
-Use
-Naked microphone
-J. F. Kennedy
-President's style
-J. F. Kennedy's style
-Use of notes
-Naked microphone
-Use
-Questions
-Number
-Length
-President's answers
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-[Dwight] David, II and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Easter discussion
-Possible visit to the PRC
-Personalizing answers
-PRC
-Ping-pong
-Henry A. Kissinger
Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
Haldeman's forthcoming meeting with Kissinger and John A. Scali
-President's possible presence
-Kissinger and Scali
-Relationship
-Frequency of meetings
-PRC
-Scali
-Access to President
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Briefing
-Role
Bull entered at 9:10 am
The President's schedule
-Meeting with George P. Shultz
Peter G. Peterson's memorandum to the President
-Approval
Bull left at 9:12 am
Vietnam
-Withdrawal
-Kissinger's views
-Scali
The President's schedule
-Forthcoming welcome to First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, April
30, 1971
Vietnam
-Possible statement by President
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Withdrawal
-Ping-pong team
Haldeman's forthcoming conversation with Kissinger and Scali
President's schedule
-Meetings
-President, Haldeman, Kissinger and Scali
Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
Haldeman left at 9:13 amThis 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.