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Conversation: 514-018

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Start Date: 8-Jun-1971 4:35 PM

End Date: 8-Jun-1971 5:12 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Colson, Charles W.Bull, Stephen B.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:39:00

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 05:12:47

514a.mp3

514b.mp3

514c.mp3

NARA Description:

On June 8, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Stephen B. Bull, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:35 pm to 5:12 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 514-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 514-18

Date: June 8, 1971
Time: 4:35 pm - 5:12 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Charles W. Colson
                                                                 Conv. No. 514-17 (cont.)
     Television media
          -Meeting with National Broadcasting Company [NBC] executives
                -Bias of reports
                      -Confirmation of biases
                            -William S. (“Bill”) White
                            -John A. Scali
                -President’s manner
                      -Impression conveyed
                            -Julian Goodman reaction
                            -Walter D. Scott
                -Economic discussion
                -Criticism of reporters
                      -Bias
                -President’s demeanor
                      -John Loeb
                      -Criticism of network reporters
                -Presentation of facts
                -Psychology of meeting
                      -Goodman/Colson meeting
                -Network executives’ reaction
          -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                -Criticism of press
                      -Loss of credibility
                      -Robert J. Dole attacks on press
          -President’s fielding of questions
                -White
                      -President’s image
          -President’s demeanor
                -Handling of “totalitarians”
                      -Nikita S. Khrushchev
                      -Nicolae Ceausescu
                      -Andrei A. Gromyko
                -Use of voice level
                -Use of honesty
                                             30

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



          -Repetition of conversation
          -Effect on Goodman
          -NBC bias
               -War reporting
                     -Compared to Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
               -Economic report
               -Comparison with CBS
               -Equal time advertising                              Conv. No. 514-18 (cont.)
                     -Federal Trade Commission [FTC] [?] investigation

An unknown person [Stephen B. Bull?] entered at an unknown time after 4:35 pm

     President’s schedule

The unknown person [Bull?] left at an unknown time before 5:12 pm

          -Public Broadcasting Service [PBS]
               -Budget problems
               -Personnel problems
               -Public relations
                     -Budget cuts
                           -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                     -Reaction of networks
                           -Martin Z. Agronsky criticism

Bull entered at unknown time after 4:35 pm

     President’s schedule
          -Briefing delay
          -Photography session
                -Ronald L. Ziegler
                -Timing

Bull left at unknown time before 5:12 pm

     Meeting with NBC executives
          -Federal Communications Commission [FCC]/FTC [?] investigation
               -Contact with Goodman
               -FCC/FTC [?] contact with White House
          -Conservationists
               -Orbach [?]
               -Creation as an issue
                                             31

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



                -Jean Jacques Rousseau
                      -Philosophy
          -Colson critique of meeting
          -Scali handling of media
                -Scali and Ziegler

     “Face The Nation”
          -Haldeman                                                Conv. No. 514-18 (cont.)
          -Soldier guests
               -Tony MacDonald
               -Questions from panel
                     -George Herman apology
                     -Bruce Morton
               -Responses
                     -Support for President
                     -Success of Vietnamization
                     -War crimes
               -Appearances
                     -”Dick Cavett Show”
                     -”Today Show”

     Networks
         -Equal time for Democrats
               -Use of air time to make partisan points
                     -Strategy
               -Response to partisan questions
               -Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr., George S. McGovern, Mark O. Hatfield
         -CBS view versus NBC view
         -Newspaper responses versus broadcast responses
         -Bias
               -Play of economy
               -Play of casualty numbers
                     -Scali role
                     -Comparison of figures

     Hatfield/McGovern Act
          -Status in Congress
                -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
                -Haldeman

The President left at unknown time before 5:00 pm
                                             32

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



Haldeman entered at 5:00 pm

     Network meeting
         -President’s performance
         -Content

The President entered at unknown time after 5:00 pm
                                                                 Conv. No. 514-18 (cont.)
          -Herbert G. Klein and Ziegler
          -President’s reaction
          -Lyndon B. Johnson
          -Biased discussion
                -Goodman’s reaction
                     -President’s image
                           -Use of television
                           -Haldeman discussion with Time
                                 -Ziegler
                           -1956 and 1968 campaigns
                           -Liberals versus President
                -Use of weapons against networks
                     -Reaction by executives
                -Reaction by executives
                     -Klein
                     -Reuven Frank
          -Executive ability to curb bias
          -Goodman view of President’s success
          -New York executives
          -Haldeman Time interview
                -Number of public relations men in White House
                     -William L. Safire
                           -Responsibilities
                     -Richard A. Moore
                           -Background
                     -Colson
                           -Background
                     -Advertising versus public relations
                     -Background of White House men
                           -Haldeman’s hiring role
                                 -J. Walter Thompson, Co.
                -Success of Nixon Administration
                     -Reason for misperception
                     -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
                                             33

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



                     -Klein
                     -Patrick J. Buchanan
                           -Background
                           -Present responsibilities
                     -Need for public relations men
                     -President’s press conference performance
               -Reaction of executives
          -Content of discussion                                    Conv. No. 514-18 (cont.)
               -Bias
                     -Training of reporters
                     -Herbert E. Kaplow
                           -Civil rights stance
                           -Other stances
          -Handling of executives
               -Agnew
               -Henry A. Kissinger
                     -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                     -Ceausescu
                     -Gromyko
               -Colson
                     -Goodman reaction

     President’s New York trip
          -Attendance
                -Ziegler’s role
                -Klein’s role

The President, Colson, and Haldeman left at 5:12 pm