Conversation: 508-013
Prev: 508-012 Next: 508-014Start Date: Wednesday, June 2, 1971 1:45 PM
End Date: Wednesday, June 2, 1971 4:04 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Woods, Rose Mary; Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:30:42
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:34:59
NARA Description:
On June 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Rose Mary Woods, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:45 am to 12:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 508-013 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 508-13
Date: June 2, 1971
Time: 9:45 am - 12:04 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
Explorer Scouts
Anastasio Somoza Debayle’s visit
-Department of State
-Briefing book
-Maurice H. Stans, Henry A. Kissinger
-Arrangements
State Department’s bureaucracy
Medal of Freedom
United States civil service
-Sick leave, annual leave
-Haldeman and the President’s experiences
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
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Rose Mary Woods entered at an unknown time after 9:45 am
The President’s dictation
-Peter G. Peterson
-Malfunctioning equipment
Woods left at an unknown time before 10:13 am
White House correspondence unit
-Noble Melencamp
-Dianne Humes, Raymond K. Price, Jr.
President’s schedule
-Robert H. Finch
-Trip
White House correspondence
-Price
-Melencamp
-William J. Hopkins role
-Commitment of resources and volume of correspondence
Kissinger entered at 10:13 am
Vietnam War
-Military operations
-Snoul
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] withdrawal
-North Vietnamese attack
-Casualties
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-Press
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Melvin R. Laird
-Associated Press reporter
-John A. Scali
-White House response
Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 21s ]
PAKISTAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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US-North Vietnamese negotiations
-Kissinger’s cable to Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Timing
-Status
-South Vietnamese elections
Kissinger’s foreign trips
-Visit with British
-Korea
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 3s ]
PAKISTAN Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
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US ambassadors
-Support for the President
-John S. Farland
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-Berlin deadlock
-Bunker
-Dr. David K. E. Bruce
-Farland
Vietnam
-Press coverage of President
-Rowland Evans and Robert D. Novak
-Zbigniew Brzezinski’s suggestion
-Timing of negotiation
-Democratic National Convention
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-North Vietnam bombing halt
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Democrats
President’s foreign policy
-Successful Vietnam War negotiations
-Summit meetings
-South Vietnam
-End to American involvement
-Effect
-State Department Activities
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-Press
-Academia
-Council on Foreign Relations
-John J. McCloy
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-US relations with the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] relations
-US-North Vietnamese negotiations Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s opinion
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[National Security]
[Duration: 58s ]
PRC
INDIA-PAKISTAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
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-Negotiations with North Vietnam
-Bombing
Vietnam
-Morale in North Vietnam
-Supplies
-Lam Son operation
-Medical Problems
-World War I
-US relations with USSR and PRC
-Joseph C. Kraft
-Commentary on President’s press conference
-Public opinion
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
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-Hanoi propaganda efforts
-President
-Johnson
-Peace Initiatives
-President’s peace initiative
-Quaker background
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-President’s World War II duty Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-President’s family’s reaction
President’s foreign policy
-Saturday Review of Literature
-Editorial praising President’s foreign policy
-Norman Cousins
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] announcement
-Public opinion
-US relations with USSR, PRC
-Necessity of foreign policy successes
-Trip to PRC
-Timing
-Vietnam
-Us-USSR relations
-SALT
-President’s possible trip to PRC
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
Kissinger’s health and age
The President left at an unknown time after 10:13 am
US foreign policy
-President’s role
-SALT
US relations with PRC
Kissinger left at 10:32 am
The President entered at an unknown time after 10:32 am
Kissinger’s foreign trips
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
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Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:32 am
Briefing book
-Oval Office
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am
President’s schedule
-Possible PRC trip Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:32 am
Briefing book
-The Residence
-Manolo Sanchez
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:55 am
President’s previous press conference
-President’s schedule
-Commentator’s conclusions
-South Vietnam’s forthcoming election
-General Nguyen Van Thieu
President’s schedule
-Dinner for Somoza
-Willy Brandt’s forthcoming US visit
President’s previous press conference
-Buchanan
-Herbert G. Klein, Ronald L. Ziegler, Scali, and Buchanan
-Handling of press
-New York Times, Washington Post
-May Day demonstrators
-Basic foreign policy issues
-Drugs
-Demonstrations
-SALT
-PRC
-Middle East
-International Labor Organization [ILO]
-Kissinger
-President’s conversations with George Meany
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
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-William P. Rogers
-Novak’s comment
-Politics
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr.
-May Day demonstrators
-John D. Ehrlichman’s view Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Walter E. Washington
-Ehrlichman’s reaction
-Scali
May Day demonstrations
-Press
-Illegal arrest issue
-Processing of people arrested
-President’s previous press conference
-George P. Shultz’s opinion
President’s public image
President’s previous press conference
-Types of questions
-Ziegler
-Clark R. Mollenhoff
-Questions on domestic affairs
-Busing
-Housing
-Race relations
-Buchanan’s preparation
-Foreign policy versus domestic policy
-William H. Carruthers
-Mark I. Goode
-Rostrum
-Presidential Seal
-Camera angles
Possible telephone poll
-Timing
-Questions
-China
-Approval
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
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-Vice President approval
-Trial heats
-Press conference
-SALT
-May Day demonstrations
-President’s support of police
-Wording
-Legalization of marijuana Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
President’s previous press conference
-Domestic issues
-Revenue sharing
-Government reorganization
-Welfare reform
-Drugs
-May Day demonstrators
-Reporter’s questions
-White House response
-Buchanan
-Letter writing
-Jerald F. (“Jerry”) terHorst
President’s forthcoming press conference
-Domestic issues
-Trip to Arkansas
-Timing
-Announcement
-Physical arrangements
-Press coverage
-Ziegler
-Story on housing
-Views of Shultz and John N. Mitchell
Press coverage of administration
-SALT
-President’s foreign policy
-PRC
-Kissinger
-May Day demonstrators
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
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Vietnam
-Vietnam veterans’ organizations
-Unknown man
-John F. Kerry
-Comments on Vietnam war crimes
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:32 am
Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
Haig’s schedule
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:55 am
Vietnam
-Vietnam veterans
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-Unknown man’s comments
Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:32 am
Haig’s schedule
-Son
Kissinger’s schedule
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:55 am
Vietnam
-Unknown man’s comments
-Comments regarding May Day demonstrations
-Charles W. Colson’s role
-Television network coverage
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Herbert R. (“Chief”) Rainwater’s request for television time
-Unnamed veteran’s forthcoming actions
-Kerry
-Melville Stephens
Kissinger entered at 10:55 am
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
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General John W. Donaldson
-Allegation of Vietnam war crimes
-Laird
-Stanley R. Resor
-Timing and location of actions
-General William C. Westmoreland
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Time magazine story Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Possible squelching of criminal charges
-Department of the Army
-Westmoreland
-Resor
-Role of Secretary of Defense
President’s previous press conference
-May Day demonstrators
-Ehrlichman
-President’s conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Law and order
-National economy
-Law and order
-Possible speech by President
-William L. Safire
Colgate University
-Visit by Rogers
-College football
-Andy Kirk
-Game against Duke University
-Walt Slade
-University president
-Actions of valedictorian
-Kissinger’s actions at Johns Hopkins University
-Rogers’ reaction
-Rogers’ comments regarding commencement
-West Point
West Point
-Commencement exercises
-Television coverage
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Rogers
-Comments regarding young people
US relations with PRC
-President’s previous press conference
-United Nations [UN]
-Chiang Kai-shek
-Possible announcement Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Rogers’ role
-Forthcoming meeting with General Nguyen Van Thieu
President’s previous press conference
-Impression on American people
-Questions on foreign policy
-President’s Vietnam policies
President’s Vietnam policies
-Kraft’s comments
-President’s forthcoming news conference
-Planted questions on Vietnam
President’s previous press conference
-Question on morality of Vietnam bombing
-President’s background
-Garnett D. (“Jack”) Horner
-Horner’s question
-Repatriation of POWs
-Korean War
-Vietnam War
-Question of morality of bombing
-President’s visits to Germany
-Essen, Berlin, and Dresden
-Morality of war
-Adolf Hitler’s goals
-US bombing Vietnam
-Vietnamese Communists
-Treatment of Catholics after 1954
-Bishop of Da Nang
-Howard K. Smith
US war efforts
-Strategic concepts
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
US bombing of North Vietnam
-US relations with USSR and PRC
-Future strategy
-Possible reaction by American people
Morality of war
-US Civil War
-General William T. Sherman Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-March to the sea
-Abraham Lincoln
-Cost of disunion
-US bombing targets
-Laos
-North Vietnamese
-Atrocities in 1954
-Communist atrocities in South Vietnam
-Japanese killed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki
-Harry S Truman
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Possible 1945 invasion of Japan
-American casualties
-Hitler
-North Vietnamese
-May Day demonstrators
-Previous press conference
-President’s response
Vietnam
-Military action in Laos and Cambodia
-Kissinger’s conversation with Scali
-Television networks’ reporting
-Casualty figures
President’s accomplishments
-Firings
-Permissiveness
-Welfare “loafers”
-Foreign policy
-Bombing of Vietnam
-SALT
-Vietnam negotiations
-President’s record
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Mood of nation
-Liberals
President’s domestic program
-Ehrlichman
-President’s philosophy
-Environment
-Food stamps Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Consumerism
-Revenue sharing
-John V. Lindsay
-Cuts in property taxes
Liberals
-Views regarding President
-Desire for power
-Ehrlichman
Poll
-National issues
-Haldeman’s conversation with Thomas W. Benham
-Environment
-Concerns
-Air and water
-Consumerism
-Effect of news media
-Welfare
-Distribution
-Domestic Council
-Environment
-Haldeman’s possible consultation with Ehrlichman
-President’s role
Ziegler entered at 11:24 am
PRC
-Study on UN membership
-Completion date
-Timing of decision
-Announcement
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
May Day arrests
-Ziegler’s possible response
-Release of individuals
President’s previous press conference
-Ziegler, Scali, Klein
-Washington press corps
-Questions Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Foreign policy
-International monetary policy
-Revenue sharing
-Manpower
-Public service jobs
May Day demonstrators
-Ziegler’s possible comments
-Previous press conference
-President’s answer
-Legality of arrests
-Ziegler’s possible comments
-Release of demonstrators
-Views of White House press corps
-President’s view
-Kennedy
-President’s approval of police actions
-Orderly government
-Constitutionality
-Liberals
-Press response
-Ziegler’s possible comments
-Public support for President
President’s previous press conference
-President’s foreign policy
-SALT
-PRC
-Telephone polls on Vietnam
Ziegler’s possible comments
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
-Negotiations
-NATO
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-USSR
-Warsaw Pact countries
-Timing
-Rogers
-US relations with PRC
-Timing and form
-President’s travel plans
-Midway Island Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Possible meeting
-Vietnam
-Southeast Asia
May Day demonstrators
-Media’s views
-Actions
-President’s views
-Unknown man’s conversation with Ehrlichman
-Civil Rights marches
-Selma, Alabama
Washington press corps
-Smith
-Son’s experience in Vietnam
-Members of Congress
-William B. Saxbe
-Son’s experience in Vietnam
-Sons’ lack of experience in Vietnam
-[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Military service
-Fears
-President’s previous press conference
-Wire Service reporters
-J. William Theis
-Jack Dwyer [?]
-[First name unknown] Gannett
-Draftees to Vietnam
-Behavior at Kissinger’s press briefing
-Sarah McClendon
-Marianne H. Means
-Ford Rowan
-WTOP
-Question on Vietnam
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-terHorst
-Theis
-Peter Lisagor
-Herbert E. Kaplow
-Philosophy
-Dan Rather
-Motivation
-POW families Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-Johnson’s bombing
-President’s responses
-Morality of war
-North Vietnamese
-World War II
Bombing of Germany in World War II
-Morality of war
-President’s Quaker background
-US Soldiers
-Actions
-Compared to American Indian Wars
-Morality
-Hitler
Morality of war
-Bombing of Vietnam
-Aftermath of North Vietnamese Takeover
-Reports of Communist Atrocities
-Deportation of Czechs
-World War II
-Rowan’s possible opinion
-Fascism versus Communism
President’s previous press conference
-May Day demonstrators
-Domestic questions
-Aluminum
-Steel
-ILO
-Ziegler’s previous briefing
-Reporter’s question
-President’s response
-Meany
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Arrangements
Ziegler left at 11:48 am
Possible summit meeting with USSR
-MBFR
-Announcements
-Rogers, Laird Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
-SALT
Hedley W. Donovan’s call to Kissinger, June 1
-Possible briefing by Kissinger
-Time’s advertisers
-James R. Shepley
-Possible briefing by Kissinger
-Peter M. Flanigan’s possible actions
-Shultz’s experience
-Purpose
-Possible briefing by Kissinger
-Michael Coles
-Cousins
-Purpose
Kissinger’s possible meeting with New York Times editorial board
-Time magazine
-John W. Gardner
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Somoza dinner
Ziegler entered at 11:52 am
Ziegler’s forthcoming press briefing
-President’s press conferences
-Politics
-Candidate’s press conferences
-Politics
Ziegler left at 11:55 am
President’s schedule
-Somoza dinner
-Haig
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-Stans
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[National Security]
[Duration: 14s ] Conv. No. 508-13 (cont.)
FOREIGN RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
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-Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Salvador Allende Gossens
Kissinger left at 11:56 am
Haldeman’s conversation with Benham
-Polling information
-Vietnam War and American people
-President’s standing as military strategist
-Goals of administration
-Domestic Council
-Vietnam War
-Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Ehrlichman
-President’s personal characteristics
-Theme of administration
-Law and order
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Vietnam War
-National economy
-Possible impact of foreign policy achievements
-Kissinger
-SALT
-PRC
-President’s previous press conference
Haldeman left at 12:04 pm
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
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