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Conversation: 534-012

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Start Date: 1-Jul-1971 1:38 PM

End Date: 1-Jul-1971 2:05 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Butterfield, Alexander P.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:52:09

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 05:14:27

534a.mp3

534b.mp3

534c.mp3

NARA Description:

On July 1, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:38 pm and 2:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 534-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 534-12

Date: July 1, 1971
Time: Unknown between 1:38 pm and 2:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield at an unknown time after 1:38 pm

     The President's schedule
          -Camp David meeting
          -John K. Andrews, Jr. speech draft for July 3, 1971

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm; Butterfield left at an
unknown time before 2:05 pm

     Declassification project in response to Pentagon Papers case
          -Haldeman's conversation with Richard V. Allen
                                              36

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



                -Recommendations

     July 3, 1971 speech draft
           -Sentiments
           -Andrews
                -Draft compared to William L. Safire's effort
           -1969 Bicentennial Commission remarks

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm

     Request for copy of 1969 remarks

Bull left at an unknown time before 2:05 pm


     Pentagon Papers case
          -Declassification project head
               -Allen's recommendations
                     -United States Information Agency [USIA] deputy general counsel
                           -Background
               -Charles W. Colson's recommendation
                     -E. Howard Hunt, Jr.
                           -Allen's lack of knowledge
                           -Knowledge within intelligence community
                     -Possibility of assignment of head of project to work under Colson
                           -Tom C. Huston
                                 -Approach to work
                           -Scope of project
                                 -Need for commander
                                       -Allen
                                       -Colson
               -Hunt
                     -Outside consultancy
                     -USIA employee
               -Conspiracy orientation in outlook
                     -Dual nature of project
               -Resistance by Departments of State and Defense to declassification effort
                     -Joint Chiefs of Staff opposition
                     -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
                     -World War II, Korea, Cuban missile crisis documents
               -Alternatives
               -Steering committee
                                        37

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)



                -Allen’s suggestions
                -Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman
                -John N. Mitchell
                -John G. Tower
                      -Other roles
          -Frank H. Ichord's possible role
                -Congressional Committee hearings on conspiracy
                      -Hiss case                                 Conv. No. 534-12 (cont.)
     -Conspiracy investigation
          -Mitchell's views
                -Effectiveness as Attorney General
                      -Richard G. Kleindienst
     -Declassification
          -Tonkin Gulf, Dominican crisis, Cuban missile crisis, Berlin crisis of 1961, Bay
                of Pigs, U-2 shootdown, Berlin crisis of 1958, Lebanon, Korea, Berlin
                blockade, Berlin wall
                -Focus on incidents
                      -Results and benefits
                -Public announcement
                -Ehrlichman
                      -Hunt

Unemployment
    -George P. Shultz's analysis of drop
          -James D. Hodgson
          -Effect of technical factors
    -Public perceptions of economic conditions
    -Attempts to keep below six per cent
    -Statistics
          -Arthur F. Burns' memorandum
                -Recommendation of new economic policy
                -Burns

Pentagon Papers case
     -Leaks
          -Efforts to combat links
               -Allen's perceptions
                      -Fred J. Russell
                      -Congress
                           -John E. Hunt
                                 -Background
                           -Samuel L. Devine
                                             38

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)



                           -Russell
                                 -Controllability
          -Further consideration of Hunt
               -Colson
               -Haldeman’s meeting
          -Possible Presidential statement
               -John D. Ehrlichman’s conversation with William P. Rogers
               -Patrick Buchanan's recommendations                 Conv. No. 534-12 (cont.)
               -Call to John B. Connally

     The President's schedule
          -Departure for Executive Office Building office
               -Drop-by in Roosevelt Room
                      -Property Review Board meeting
                           -F. Edward Hebert, Leslie C. Arends, Kenneth J. Gray, Samuel S.
                                 Stratton

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 1:38 pm

     Gift presentation items for Congressmen, wives

     Arrangements

The President and Haldeman left at 2:05 pm