Conversation: 502-019
Prev: 502-018 Next: 502-020Start Date: Thursday, May 20, 1971 6:09 PM
End Date: Thursday, May 20, 1971 6:46 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Rogers, William P.; Colson, Charles W.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:28:36
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:49:36
NARA Description:
On May 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, William P. Rogers, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:09 pm and 2:46 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 502-019 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 502-19
Date: May 20, 1971
Time: Unknown between 2:09 pm and 2:46 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President dictated a memorandum to William P. Rogers.
Memorandum
-Rough draft
-Secret
-Middle East
Charles W. Colson entered at 2:16 pm.
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] agreement announcement
-Implications
-Administration's position
-President's political position
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Soviets
-”Doves” Conv. No. 502-19 (cont.)
-Political opportunities
-Hubert H. Humphrey's comments on February 1, 1971
-Antiballistic missile [ABM], Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry
Vehicles [MIRV]
-SALT negotiations
-Edmund S. Muskie's comments on SALT
-Humphrey
-Democratic candidates position on SALT and ABM
-Political implications
-Humphrey
-Senators
-Supporters
-Critics
-President's credibility
-John A. Scali, press
-John W. Chancellor's commentary, May 20, 1971
-President's political position
-Muskie
-Humphrey
-SALT negotiations
-Critics and commentators
-Public opinion
-Mystique
-Length of announcement
-President's stature
-Arms
-PRC
-Public image of the President
-Peace
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Humphrey's comments
-”Doves”
-J. William Fulbright
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Public affairs
-President's cabinet meeting on May 20, 1971
-Casualties in South Vietnam
-Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1941 freedom speech
-War production
-State of the country
-Political impact
Conv. No. 502-19 (cont.)
SALT agreement announcement
-Moscow
-Text of the SALT agreement
-Treaty
-ABM
-Mood of the country
-Muskie's statement
-Humphrey
-Muskie
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-ABM
-Offensive weapons
-Colson's call to Thomas J. McIntyre
-Vote on ABM
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 4m 34s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
**********************************************************************
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
-John Sherman Cooper
-George D. Aiken
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
ABM
-Opponents
-Political future
-Barry M. Goldwater's support
-Call from Clark MacGregor
-Colson’s earlier call to Jay Lovestone
Colson left at 2:46 pm. Conv. No. 502-19 (cont.)