President Nixon met with George Shultz and Peter Peterson to discuss personnel appointments and pressing foreign economic policy, specifically regarding trade negotiations with Japan and Southeast Asia. The group deliberated on the roles of various cabinet members, including David Kennedy and William Rogers, in coordinating trade strategy and managing the State Department's economic responsibilities. They also explored broader themes of U.S. economic competitiveness, the People's Republic of China initiative, and the necessity of preventing American isolationism in the post-Vietnam War era.
On April 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, and Peter G. Peterson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:15 am to 9:34 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 481-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 481-4
Date: April 17 1971
Time: 9:15 am - 9:34 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with George P. Shultz
Dr. James R. Schlesinger
-Departure [from Office of Management and Budget]
-Department of Interior
Kenneth W. Dam
-Placement
-Evaluation
-William P. Rogers
-Talent
-Finish in law school class [University of Chicago]
Elliot L. Richardson
-Qualifications
-Harvard Law School
Welsh
-University of Chicago
-Abilities
-Writings
-”The Pricing of North Sea Gas in Britain”
-Anti-trust
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Common Market problem
-Languages
-Abilities
-Placement
-Peter G. Peterson
-International economics
-Schlesinger
-Possible role Conv. No. 481-3 (cont.)
-Abilities
-Age
Upcoming meeting
-Shultz's schedule
Peterson entered at 9:20 am
-Agenda
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 58s ]
CANADA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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-People's Republic of China [PRC] initiative
-US relations with Taiwan
Textile Negotiations
-Forthcoming meeting prior to David M. Kennedy’s trip
-Objectives
-Strategy
-State Department
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Shultz
-Textile industry
-Negotiations
-Evaluation
-US position
-Trade
-Strategy
-Southeast Asia Conv. No. 481-4 (cont.)
-Negotiating problems
-Kennedy
-Need for instructions
-Effect on negotiations
-Peterson's meeting with General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Negotiating strategy
-Trade inducements
-Instructions for Kennedy
-Trade inducements
-Kennedy's schedule
-Trip to Asia
-Philippines
-Discussions of inducements
-Attendees
-John B. Connally
-U. Alexis Johnson
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Maurice H. Stans
-Haig
-Melvin R. Laird
-Haig
-Defense Department
-Stans
-Kennedy
-Message to State Department
-Role
-Trip to Asia
-Schedule
-Attitude toward assignment
-Peterson's conversation with Johnson
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Attendees
-Kissinger
-Haig
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Kissinger
-Defense Department
-Laird
-Location
-Oval Office
-Cabinet Room
-Schedule Conv. No. 481-4 (cont.)
-President's conversation with Kissinger
US economic leadership in post-Vietnam War era
-”Peaceful competition” theme
-PRC
-Competitiveness
-Leadership
-Consequences
-Purposes
-US position
-American spirit
-Competition
-Supersonic Transport [SST]
-Steel
-Exports
-Share of market
-Compared with 1940-1950
-Japan
-Possible consequences of failure
-Isolationism
-Protectionism
-Leadership
-Foreign policy
-National defense
-Economics
State Department
-Organization of foreign economic policy
-Possible effect on negotiations
-Possible White house involvement
-Responsibilities
-Shultz
-Need to build strength
-Negotiations
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Canada
-Japan
-Commercial attaches
-Stans
-Spirit
-Rogers
-Responsibilities
-State Department effectiveness in economic Conv.
field No. 481-4 (cont.)
-Oil negotiations
-Possible conversation with Peterson and Shultz
The President, Peterson and Shultz left at 9:34 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.