Conversation: 483-004
Prev: 483-003 Next: 483-005Start Date: 20-Apr-1971 9:46 AM
End Date: 20-Apr-1971 11:15 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Ziegler, Ronald L.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:10:42
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:30:20
NARA Description:
On April 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:46 am to 11:15 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 483-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 483-4
Date: April 20, 1971
Time: 9:46 am - 11:15 am
Location: Oval Office Conv. No. 483-2 (cont.)
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman; the recording begins at an unknown time while
the conversation is in progress.
The President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors
-Possible remarks
-Press interviews
The President's press interviews
-Remarks
-Staff preparations
-Des Moines
-Future preparations
The President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors
-Welcome
-Remarks
-Television cameras
-Agriculture
-Importance
-Press coverage
-Speech
-Advantages
-Upcoming meeting with International Red Cross committee
-Upcoming meeting with US Jaycees officials
-Resolution
-Presentation
-Story
William P. Rogers
-Press conference
-Timing
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Announcement
-William H. Sullivan
-Testimony
-Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr.
-Timing
-Administration's possible position
-Testimony regarding war powers
-Schedule
-Trip to Israel and Egypt
-Publicity
-Press conference
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Middle East
-Press conference
-Timing
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg, April 19, 1971
-Reporters
-Kissinger
-Schedule
-Meeting with Israeli official
-Deputy Prime Minister
-Suez Canal
-Reporters
-New York Times
-Los Angeles Times
-Washington Post
-St. Louis Post-Dispatch
-Los Angeles Times
-Conversation with reporters
-Timing
-Williamsburg Lodge
-Duration
-Aides
-Victor Gold
-Roy Goodearle
-Peter Malatesta
-Malatesta
-John A. Scali's view
-Administration's policy regarding People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Calculated leak versus discondant policy
-Conservatives
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Possible confusion
-Policy regarding PRC
-Agnew’s lack of information
-Gold's call to Herbert G. Klein, April 19, 1971
-Haldeman's conversation with Klein
-Los Angeles Times
Lighting of buildings around White House Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Constitution Hall
-Red Cross
-Pan American Union
-Corcoran Gallery
Corcoran Gallery
-Red exterior design
-Leonard Garment
-Modern art
-Abstracts
-Modern art
-Kissinger's paintings
-Corcoran
-Exterior design
-Los Angeles County museum
-Metal structures in court yard
-Corcoran structure
Lighting of buildings around White House
-Constitution Hall
-Red Cross
-Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR]
-Pan American Union
-DAR
-Finances
-National Symphony
-Kennedy Center
-Fees
-Prospects
-Capitol police
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon's views
Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg
-Haldeman's possible conversation with Scali
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Scali's view regarding the President's PRC initiative
-Effect on Vietnam critics
-Asia
-Peace
-Circumstances
-Reporters
-Congressional campaign
-PRC reference Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Discussion on press
-Gold
-Judgement
-Associated Press [AP] reporter's [John Roderick] story on PRC ping- pong team
PRC
-Agnew's view
-Ping-pong team
-Use of second string team
-Art
-Food
-Use of second string team
The President's schedule
-Harry S. Dent
-Robert H. Finch
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Privacy]
[Duration: 41s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
******************************************************************************
Personnel
UN staff
-[Charles W. Yost]
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-George H.W. Bush
-Removal
Stock market
-Publicity
-Rise
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Associated Press [AP] reporter [Dave Burke] Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-View towards administration
-Washington Post
-New York Times
-Washington Post compared with New York Times
-[Burke]
-Instructions for Klein
-Ethnic background
-Unknown AP reporter in Laos
-Klein
-Lyndon K. ("Mort") Allin
-[Burke]
Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg
-Scali's analysis
Stock market
-Rise
-Value of stocks traded
The President's previous meeting with Republican Congressional leadership
-Attendees
-George P. Shultz
-Topics
-Draft
-Agency for International Development [AID]
-Topics for future meetings
-Clark MacGregor
The President's schedule, April 21, 1971
-Bipartisan leaders meeting
-AID
-State Department
AID
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Rudolph A. Peterson
-Peter G. Peterson
-Public relations aspects
United Nations [UN] commission report
-Henry Cabot Lodge
-Release
-Timing Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Publicity
-President's meeting with Lodge and committee
-President's position
-Lodge
-State Department
-Lodge
-Possible reassignment to Southeast Asia
-Report
-President's position
President's schedule
-Israel
-Kissinger
UN commission report
-Release
-President's position
President's schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger
Haldeman talked with Kissinger at an unknown time between 9:46 am and 10:13 am.
[Conversation No. 483-4A]
Request that Kissinger join him
[End of telephone conversation]
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:46 am.
Kissinger's schedule
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
The President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors
-Press
-Upcoming meeting with International Red Cross officials
-Photo
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:13 am.
Agnew's press interview in Williamsburg Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Judgement
-Remarks regarding PRC
-Reporters
-Circumstances
Kissinger entered at 10:13 am.
Rogers
-Conversation with the President
-Trip to Middle East
-Invitation
-Timing
-Itinerary
-Europe
-Middle East
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[National Security]
[Duration: 15s ]
MIDDLE EAST
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
**********************************************************************
-Trip to Middle East
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3s ]
Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
******************************************************************************
-Conversation with the President, April 19, 1971
-Itinerary
-Israel
-Jordan
-Egypt
-Administration's Position
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
[National Security]
[Duration: 3s ]
MIDDLE EAST
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
******************************************************************************
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Invitations
-Suez negotiations
Israeli-Egyptian conflict
-Suez negotiations
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Sisco
-US policy
-Sisco
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Suez negotiations
-Possible Israeli position
-Kissinger's initiatives
-Egyptian reaction Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Possible deadlock
-Administration's initiative
-State Department
-President's conversation with Rogers
-Suez negotiations
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Israelis
-Rogers plan
Rogers
-Itinerary
-Israel
-Reception
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Dobrynin
-Andrei Gromyko
-Possible Summit
-National Security Council [NSC] meeting
Sisco
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18
[National Security]
[Duration: 14s ]
MIDDLE EAST
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
Rogers
-Possible visit to USSR
-Gromyko
-Dobrynin Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-President's position
-Dobrynin
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
[National Security]
[Duration: 4s ]
USSR
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
******************************************************************************
-Suez negotiations
-Prospects
-Israel
-Kissinger
-US policy
USSR
-Possible summit meeting
US-Israeli relations
Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg, April 19, 1971
-Story recounted
-Unknown reporter
-Time of meeting
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Topics
-Press
-Campaign
-Duration
-Remarks on PRC
-Possible effects
-Administration's position
-Scali's memorandum Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Calculated leak versus discordant policy
-Vietnam
-Conservatives
-Possible confusion
-Possible administration reaction
-Haldeman's conversation with Klein
-Klein's view regarding Kissinger's role
-Difficulties
-Possible statement by Ronald L. Ziegler
-Press
-Stories
-Reporters
-Drinks
-Possible scenario
-Agnew and Gold
-Agnew, Goodearle, and Malatesta
-Press
-Off-the-record remarks
-Kissinger's possible briefing
-Vice President and foreign policy views
-NSC
-Agnew's possible statement to press
-Ziegler's possible statement
Ziegler entered at 10:25 am.
The President's PRC initiative
-Ziegler's conversation with Agnew at previous Republican leadership meeting
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Comments
-Gerald R. Ford
-Ford
-Ziegler’s background
-Press
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President's position
-Ziegler's statement at press conference
-Agnew’s support of US policy
-Expressions of news in NSC meetings
-Agnew’s role
-Policy regarding PRC
-Ziegler’s conversation with Agnew
-Agnew's position Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Possible PRC reaction
-The right
-US Public opinion
-Liberals
Ziegler's activities
-Press briefing
-Republican leadership meeting
-Ford
-Hugh Scott
-McCloskey
-Joseph McCarthy
-Economy
The President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors
Agnew
-Foreign policy views
-President's position
-Ziegler's possible press statement
PRC initiative
-Opposition tactics
-Agnew
Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg
-Ziegler's conversation with Gold
-Remarks regarding PRC
-Circumstances
-Gold
Ziegler left at 10:32 am.
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
President's PRC initiative
-Agnew Briefing
-Haig
-Agnew's views
-Judgement
-USSR
-Chiang Kai-Shek
-Taiwan Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-USSR
-Agnew
-Foreign Visits
-Taiwan
-Korea
-Taiwan
-William F. Knowland
-Chaing Kai-Shek
-President's policy
-Agnew
-Recognition of PRC
-Admission of PRC to UN
-Trade
-Taiwan
-Henry Kearns
-Conversation with Chiang Ching-Kuo
-News story
-Hubert H. Humphrey
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 20
[National Security]
[Duration: 7s ]
PRC
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 20
******************************************************************************
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-US bureaucracy
-Possible discussions with PRC
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
-Kissinger's possible initiatives
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield possible visit to PRC
-Nicolae Ceausescu
-Walters Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Senators
-Mansfield
-Ceausescu
-Kissinger's forthcoming activities
-North Vietnamese
-Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger
-PRC
-Walters
-US/PRC discussions
-Contact with President
-Warsaw
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 21
[National Security]
[Duration: 10s ]
PRC
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 21
******************************************************************************
-Jean Sainteny
-Georges Pompidou
-Walters
-PRC emissaries
-State Department
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Kissinger's possible initiatives
-Possible contact
-Agnew
-Development/preparation
-President's meeting with American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE], April 16,
1971
Agnew's press interview Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Publicity
-Knowledge of foreign policy
-Possible impact on Agnew
McCloskey
-Testimony
-Timing
-Scali
-MacGregor
-Sullivan
-Testimony
-Rogers's upcoming press conference
-Laos and Vietnam
-Administration's position
-Rogers
-Schedule
Rogers
-Middle East visit
-Israeli/Egyptian conflict
-Press conference
-Laos and Vietnam
Kissinger left at 10:40 am.
Kissinger's schedule
-Laos
-Scali
Monday night dinners
-Haldeman, Kissinger, John D. Ehrlichman, and Shultz
-Informal discussions
-Time
-Peter G. Peterson
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Shultz
-Loyalty
-Peterson
-Staff attendance
-MacGregor
-Ziegler
-Peterson
-Area Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Location
-Shultz, Ehrlichman, and Kissinger
-Morning staff meetings
-Kissinger
Rogers
-Middle East visit
-Conversation with the President
-Invitations
-Kissinger's view
-Prospects
-Kissinger's view
-Israel
-Credit
-Visit to USSR
-Middle East visit
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-Itinerary
-Israel and Egypt
-Jordan
-Saudi Arabia
-Turkey
-Central Treaty Organization [CENTO]
-State Department
-PRC
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman, and Shultz
-White House
-Kissinger
-Visit to USSR
-1970 European trip
-Publicity
-Visit to USSR
-Summit
-Edmund S. Muskie
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Dobrynin
Middle East
-Kissinger's reaction
-Possible motivation
-Credit
-NSC
-Rogers Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
President’s schedule
-Meeting with Republican Congressional leadership
Scott
-Defense of McCloskey
McCloskey
-Ford
-Peter H. Dominick
-William B. Saxbe
-Dominick
-MacGregor
White House Youth Conference, Estes Park, April 16, 1971
-Weather
-News story
-President's resignation
-Weather
-President's possible attendance
The President's appearance at DAR, April 19, 1971
-Support for the President
-DAR women
-Appearance
-Presidential appearance
The President's speeches
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Anecdotes
-Personal and other
-Importance
-William L. Safire
-Upcoming speech
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-US Chamber of Commerce, April 26, 1971
The President's address at DAR
-Anecdote
-American flag
-Prose
-Story
Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
Stories
-Importance
-Type
-Historical
-Biblical
-Biographical
-Speech writers
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-Price
-Safire
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Unknown
President's address at DAR and at Republican governor’s conference
-Extemporaneous remarks
Kissinger
-Work habits
Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg
-Remarks regarding NSC meeting
-Attendance at NSC meetings
-Remarks regarding NSC meeting
-Press story
-PRC policy
-Opening
-Two China policy
-Press story
-Quoted
Agnew
-Position within administration
-Behavior
-Beliefs
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Press
-PRC policy
The President's forthcoming meeting with US Jaycees officials
-Handshakes
-Presentation of resolution
-Remarks
-1970 convention Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
Agnew
-Staff
The President as Vice President
-Staff
-Robert L. King
-Robert Ladd
-Christian A. Herter
Agnew
-Staff
-Malatesta
-Goodearle
-Relationship with the Vice President
-Problem
The President's speeches
-Preparation
-Study
-Ideas
-Jaycees
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
-Whitney M. Young, Jr.
-DAR
-Republican Governors' Conference
-Young
-Television coverage
-Nature of event
-Chamber of Commerce
-DAR
-Governors
-Mileage
-DAR
-Demagoguery
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President's appearance
-Length of speech
-Emotion
-Ziegler
-Klein
-Press reaction
-Governors
-Television coverage Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Welfare reform
-Guaranteed annual wage
-Ehrlichman and Shultz
-President's position
-Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
-Busing
-Integration
-Credibility
-President's position on issues
-Buchanan's intuitions
-Integration
-Busing
-Abortion
-Guaranteed annual income
-Abortion
-Ziegler
Ziegler entered at 11:03 am.
Supreme Court decision on school busing
-Garment
-Findings
-Charlotte-Mecklenburg case
-De jure/de facto segregation
-Pasadena case
-Los Angeles County case
-Garment
-Robert C. Mardian
-Ziegler's conversation with Richard A. Moore
-Justice Department
-Ziegler's possible comment
-Administration's position
-Parameters
-Review by departments
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Issue
-Parameters
-De jure/de facto aspects
-De facto segregation
-Local options
-Court's intention
The President's schedule Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors
-Story
-Statement
-Cameras
-Pool
-Cameras
-Wire story
Ziegler left at 11:07 am.
-Press
-Meetings with groups
-Wire coverage
-Upcoming meeting with Jaycees
-Wire
-Press
-Photo pool and reporters
Supreme Court decision on school busing
-Charlotte-Mecklenburg case
-Constitutional amendment
-Freedom of choice
Agnew
-Qualities
-Haldeman's conversations with John B. Connally
-Pace
-Connally’s possible involvement
The President's schedule, April 22, 1971
-Meeting with Connally
Agnew's press interview at Williamsburg
-Statement about NSC
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Compared with George W. Romney and John A. Volpe
-Maurice H. Stans
-Wage and price controls
-Vice President's responsibilities
-Support for President
Rogers
-Possible visit to USSR Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-Prospects
-Gromyko
-President's position
UN commission report
Loyalty of administration members
-Holdovers within government
-Resolution of doubts
Clifford M. Hardin
-Job offer at Purdue
-Possible acceptance
-President’s possible action
Reassignments of Cabinet posts
-Hardin
-Secretary of Agriculture
-Stans
-Secretary of Commerce
-Hardin
-Agriculture
-Rogers C.B. Morton
-Interior
-Volpe
-Romney
-Hardin
The President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with agricultural editors
-Greeting
Supreme Court decision on school busing
-Wire story
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Constitution
-Desegregation
-Racial composition
-White/black ratio system
-Charlotte-Mecklenburg district
-Opinions
-Earl Warren
-1954 court case on segregation Conv. No. 483-4 (cont.)
-North Carolina anti-busing law
-Constitutionality
-Implementation of desegregation plans
-De jure plans
-Involuntary busing
-Blacks
-Administration's position
-North Carolina anti-busing law
Haldeman left at 11:15 am.