Conversation 486-008

TapeTape 486StartThursday, April 22, 1971 at 4:35 PMEndThursday, April 22, 1971 at 4:52 PMTape start time05:27:13Tape end time05:27:31ParticipantsUnited States Secret Service agentsRecording deviceOval Office

On April 22, 1971, United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:35 pm and 4:52 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 486-008 of the White House Tapes.

Instruction to Kissinger
           -Forthcoming telephone call to William P. Rogers

     Vietnam
          -Veterans
               -News

     President's People's Republic of China [PRC] Initiative
           -Credit
           -State Department
                 -Reaction

     Kissinger's Schedule
          -Berlin

     PRC Initiative
         -Melvin R. Laird
         -Rogers
         -State Department
                -United Nations [UN] representation issue
                -Lack of initiative or knowledge
         -Communications with PRC
                -Nicolae Ceausescu
                -Mohammad Yahya Khan

     Berlin Negotiations
          -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
               -Technical Issue
               -Timing

     PRC Initiative
         -President’s initiative
                -Publicity
                -John A. Scali

                     -Press
               -State Department
               -Background
               -Tactics

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[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]
[486-001-w001]
[Duration: 13s]

     People’s Republic of China [PRC] initiative
          -The President’s initiative
               -Indian ambassador
               -The President’s trip to Bucharest
               -Nicolae Ceausescu
               -The President’s previous conversation with Indira Gandhi
                     -Condominiums

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     PRC [People’s Republic of China] Initiative
         -The President’s initiative
              -State Department
                    -Briefing paper
              -Condominium
              -Rogers
              -Ceausescu
         -Message from Peking
              -Yahya Khan
                    -Chou En-lai
                    -Taiwan
              -State Department
              -National Security Council [NSC]
              -Kissinger's Role
              -Robert Pierpoint
              -Marvin L. Kalb

                        -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
                  -State Department
                        -Credit
                        -Laos

[Transcript #1: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives andConv.
                                                                            Records
                                                                                 No. 486-8 (cont.)
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman was present at an unknown time after 9:41 am

     Scali
             -President's role
             -John Foster Dulles

     PRC initiative
         -Kissinger
         -State Department
         -Defense Department
         -President’s initiative
         -Scali
         -Rogers
                -Haldeman’s possible telephone call
         -CBS
         -State Department
                -Rogers
                -UN representation
                -Rogers
                -Llewellyn E. ("Tommy") Thompson
                      -Letter
                            -Opposition to initiative
                            -Position publication
                            -Union of Soviet Socialist Republic [USSR]
                -Rogers
                -Foreign Service
                -Thompson
                      -Letter
                            -Possible publication
                -Kissinger's role

                 -Scali’s role
                       -Publicity
                 -Kissinger
                 -President's role

                 -Kissinger's role
                       -John Osborne
                       -Donald Oberdorfer, Jr.
                       -Hugh S. Sidey
                       -President's Initiatives

[Transcript #2: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

     President’s speech at Republican Governors Conference, Williamsburg, Virginia, April 19,
          -Welfare theme

     Welfare
          -Workers

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[486-001-w003]
[Duration: 1m 14s]

       Welfare
              -The President's family
                     -Harold Nixon
                             -Health
                                     -Tuberculosis
                                     -Arizona

                       -Hannah Milhous Nixon
                              -Medical costs
                       -Tuberculosis
                              -Remedies
                       -Hannah Milhous Nixon
                              -Menial labor and child care
                                      -Work involved
                                      -The President’s comparison to welfare mothers
                              -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
               -Paula (Stern) Kissinger
                       -Work

**********************************************************************

     Welfare
          -Welfare mothers
               -Work
          -Children

     Demonstrations
         -Television

[Transcript #3: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

     Administration policies
         -PRC initiative
               -Importance
         -Graham B. Steenhoven
               -Appearance on television, April 21, 1971
                     -Style
                     -Questions
                     -Background

     PRC initiative
         -Calls to Kissinger

          -Importance
          -Elections

**********************************************************************

[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-023. Segment declassified on 04/30/2019. Archivist: Conv.
                                                                     MAS]No. 486-8 (cont.)
[National Security]
[486-001-w004]
[Duration: 18s]

      People’s Republic of China [PRC] initiative
             -Reports
             -Vienna
             -Unknown man
                    -Dismissive of reports

**********************************************************************

     The President's schedule
          -Kissinger's forthcoming call to Laird
          -Camp Pendleton, California
               -First Marine Division
               -Laird
               -Scali
                      -Air Force One
                      -Press

     Kissinger's schedule

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/13/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[486-001-w005]
[Duration: 9s]

      Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule

              -Forthcoming vacation in May 1971
                     -Palm Springs
                            -The President’s reaction

**********************************************************************

          -Trip to Europe
                -Itinerary
                -Edward R. G. Heath
                      -Cabinet Secretary
                           -Letter to the President
                -Paris

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2019. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[486-001-w006]
[Duration: 8s]

       Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
             -Trip to Europe
                     -Paris
                             -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy

******************************************************************************

       Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
             -Trip to Europe
               -Paris
               -Arthur K. Watson
                     -Dinner

******************************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 12/05/2019. Segment cleared for

release.]
[Privacy]
[486-001-w014]
[Duration: 48s]

       Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
             -Trip to Europe
                             -The President’s previous visit to Europe
                                    -Roy Howard
                                    -The French
                             -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
                                    -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s observation
                     -Italy
                             -Humbert II
                                    -Daughter

******************************************************************************

       Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
             -Trip to Europe
               -Timing
               -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin

[Transcript #4: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

     The President's foreign policy initiatives
          -Cambodia
          -Laos
          -North Vietnam
          -PRC
          -USSR

     The President's schedule
          -Meeting with Republican Congressional leaders
               -John W. Byrnes

Robert J. Dole and Anne Armstrong entered and Kissinger left at 10:07 am; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting

     Greetings

     Armstrong's schedule
     Photo session
          -Pictures
                -Distribution

     Introductions

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/15/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[486-001-w007]
[Duration: 3m 35s]

       The President's previous conversation with Robert J. Dole
              -Anne L. Armstrong’s work
                      -Satisfaction with work

       Republican National Committee [RNC]
             -Robert J. Dole
             -Anne L. Armstrong's role
             -The President’s previous conversation with Robert J. Dole
                    -Political organizations
                            -Importance
                                    -Loyalty
                                    -Efficiency
             -Congress
             -Senators
             -Robert J. Dole's role
                    -Unknown man from Delaware
                    -Speeches
             -Need for reorganization
                    -Leadership

                      -Anne L. Armstrong's staff
                             -Removals
                                    -Age
                                    -Retirement of staff members over the age of 65
              -[Unintelligible name] [Herman?]
                      -Reports
                      -Tenure
              -Efficiency
              -Relocating employees
                      -White House

**********************************************************************

     Federal government
          -Removals
          -Agencies
          -Discipline

     Dole's visit to New York, April 21, 1971
          -Support for the President on economy
                 -George Champion, Jr.
                 -Elmer H. Bobst

     Post-Vietnam
          -President's meeting with Senators
                -Japan and Germany

     Bobst
          -Condition

     Dole's speech
          -Noel C. Koch
                -Bullock Forum
          -Polls
          -Koch

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2019.

Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[486-001-w008]
[Duration: 55s]

       Republican National Committee [RNC]
             -Anne L. Armstrong’s role
             -Women
                    -The President’s description
             -Support for the President
             -National Federation of Republican Women
                    -Dorothy A. Kabis
             -Unity

**********************************************************************

     Vietnam
          -Difficulty
          -Outlook
          -Press
          -John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
          -Women
                -Concerns
                      -Draft
                      -Prisoners of War [POWs]

     Welfare

     The President's remarks at Republican Governors' Conference, Williamsburg, Virginia,
          April 19, 1971
          -Work
          -Personal anecdotes
          -President's position
                -Charity
                -Guaranteed income
          -Administration's program
                -Work
                      -Alternative
          -Department of Health, Education and Welfare's [HEW] position
                -Assistance

                      -Food stamps
          -President’s position
                -Welfare children
                -Poverty
                      -Self-help
                -Self-development
                -Children
                      -Swimming
                -Work
                -President's meeting with Rio Grande High School students, April 16, 1971
                      -Mexican children
                      -Work
                -Responsibility
                -Self-reliance and self-respect
                -Disabilities
                -Charity
                -Capacity for work
                -Dole's activities regarding helping the handicapped
                      -Self-help
                -Haldeman's conversation with Kissinger
                      -Work

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[486-001-w009]
[Duration: 2m 29s]

      The President’s previous conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
             -The President’s family
                    -Background
                            -Wealth
                            -Businesses owned
                    -Health of Arthur Nixon
                    -Harold Nixon
                            -Health
                                    -Tuberculosis
                                    -Bed rest

                     -Hannah Milhous Nixon
                            -Harold Nixon
                                   -Move to Prescott, Arizona
                     -Frank Nixon
                            -Job running family store
                     -Hannah Milhous Nixon’s work
                            -Taking care of tuberculosis patients

**********************************************************************

     President’s family
           -Republican Governors Conference
           -Rio Grande High School
           -Republican Governors Conference
           -Background of question
                -Menial jobs

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[486-001-w010]
[Duration: 1m 12s]

      The President’s family
             -Hannah Milhous Nixon
                    -Henry A. Kissinger’s question
                            -Work
                    -Harold Nixon
                            -Health
                    -The President’s previous trips to visit
                    -Work

**********************************************************************

     The President’s family
          -Society

[Transcript #5: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]
     The President's meeting with Rio Grande High School students
          -Patsy Ramirez
          -Work and activities
                -Earnings
                -Texan tamales
                -California tamales
                      -Cost
                -Earnings
                -Menial tasks
                -Car washes
                -Orange trees
                      -Mexicans
          -Appearance
                -Boys and girls
                      -Number
          -Principal

     The President's meetings with youth groups

     Youth
         -Work
               -Stimulation
         -Challenges
          -Problem
               -Indulgence
          -Denials
               -Automobiles
               -Trips to Europe
         -Responsibility
         -Blaming others for inadequacies

     Administration programs
         -End of Vietnam War
               -Prospects

     -Environment
     -Welfare
     -Revenue sharing
     -Health
     -Blacks and minorities
          -Poor

     -College professors
           -Draft evaders
     -Preachers
           -Quakers
           -Avoidance of draft

Problems
     -Vietnam War
     -Environment
     -Races

Children
     -Self-analysis
     -Indulgence by parents
           -Pampering
     -Discipline
     -Escapism

Nation
     -Mood
     -Supersonic Transport [SST]
     -Priorities
           -Ghettos
           -Defense
     -Analogy to individual
           -Selfishness
                 -Destiny
     -General Charles A. J. M. deGaulle
           -Policies
                 -President’s view
           -Quoted
                 -Great enterprises
     -US historical enterprises
           -Exploration of the West

               -War
               -Space
                     -Moon landing
                     -Prospects
               -Computerization
               -Exploration of unknown
          -Youth
               -Peace Corps
               -Volunteers In Service To America [VISTA]
               -Activities against government
               -Idealism
               -View of nation's role
                     -Leadership in world
          -Role of US in world
               -Historical powers
                     -British, French, Spanish

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:07 am

     The President's schedule

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:40 am

     Youth
          -Upper middle class
              -Problems
              -Parents
                    -Compassion
          -Understanding
          -Way to greatness

     Nation
          -Guaranteed income
               -Work
          -Welfare program
               -Work
          -Education for children
          -Children
               -Responsibility
          -National character and individual character
          -Rich societies

     -Soft societies

US position in world
    -Example of Japan and Germany
          -World War II
                -Development
                -Difficulties

US
     -General condition

Youth
     -College tuition loans
          -President's position
          -HEW

National character
           -Testing
           -Home
           -Mothers
           -Churches
           -Institutions in disrepair

Children and youth
     -Women’s role
           -Home
           -Communities
           -Church
           -Permissiveness
     -Self evaluation
           -Responsibility
           -Vietnam War

           -Fathers
           -Environment
           -System
           -College
     -President's education
           -College and high school career
           -Teachers

                      -Evaluation

     Nation
          -Need for optimism
          -Media
               -Radio, television, newspapers
          -Poverty
          -US foreign policy
          -American people

     Presentation of gifts
          -Cufflinks
          -Paper weight

     Need for optimism

     Dole's meeting with unknown person

Dole and Armstrong left at 10:40 am

     Armstrong
         -Compared with Patricia R. Hitt

Haldeman left at 10:41 am

This 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.

He's coming.