Conversation: 561-008
Prev:  561-007 Next: 561-009Start Date: 11-Aug-1971 11:53 AM
End Date: 11-Aug-1971 12:51 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:48:58
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:47:59
NARA Description:
On August 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:53 am to 12:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 561-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 561-8 Date: August 11, 1971 Time: 11:53 am - 12:51 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with John D. Ehrlichman. Kent State University -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, jr. -Meeting with Ehrlichman, August 11, 1971 -Possible calls to William Saxbe and Robert Taft, Jr. -John N. Mitchell -Clark MacGregor Declassification order -Possible story -World War II -Korea -Lebanon -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Cuba -John F. Kennedy -Group recommendation -Exemptions -Intelligence sources -On-going negotiations 26 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-7 (cont.) -Foreign relations -Ehrlichman's possible backgrounder -Press -New classification system -Off-the-record sessions -Classified material -Action of certain newspapers -Classification authority -Limitation -Classified material -Distribution -Public's right to know -National security -On-going negotiations -President's forthcoming trip to People's Republic of China [PRC] -[New York Times] story -Administration’s reaction -Leaks -Reaction of foreign government -Leaks -Pentagon Papers -State Department story -Unknown ambassador -Henry A. Kissinger -PRC concern -Administration's prosecution of New York Times -On-going negotiations -Other governments' concerns -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -PRC -Chou En-lai's interview with James B. (“Scotty”) Reston -Chou En-lai's conversations with Kissinger -Effect on US foreign policy negotiations -President's conversations with foreign leaders -Josef Broz Tito -Nicolae Ceausescu -Secrecy -Agreements compared to negotiations -[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson -Col. Edward M. House's comments -Attorney-client privilege 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) -Labor negotiations -Steel and rail strikes -[New York Times case] -President’s action -Purpose -President’s negotiating position -Pentagon Papers -Historical information -Limitation on classification authority -Copying of classified documents -Xerox machine -Presidential initiatives -Need to know -Backgrounding with classified documents -Leak -Effect on Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -New York Times -Effect on negotiations -Investigation -Reporters’ efforts -Polygraph -William Beecher's call to unknown man -President's forthcoming trip to PRC -Administration’s openness -National security information -Protection -Press -Pages declassified -Handling of President's papers -Kissinger -Distribution -Need to know -Debriefing -Copying -Xeroxing -Pentagon Papers Leak -Unknown State Department official's conversation with Beecher -Possible administration reaction -Suspension 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) -Transfer -Aid to Liberia -Ehrlichman's possible conversation with William P. Rogers -SALT -Polygraph examination -Beecher’s story -Declassification -Cuba Busing -Edward L. Morgan's schedule -Mayor of Dallas, Texas -Mitchell -Corpus Christi -Austin, Texas -Ronald L. Ziegler's press briefing -Federal law -Compliance -South Carolina -Reaction to Elliot L. Richardson's letter to Carl B. Albert -Requirement -Citizens' Committee response -George P. Shultz Ziegler entered at 12:18 pm. -Ziegler's previous press briefing -President's position -Consequences of failure to support -Federal bureaucracy -Local plans -Dual school system -Morgan's schedule -Ziegler's previous press briefing -President's directive -President's meeting with Mitchell and Richardson -Richardson's letter to Albert -Possible inquiries -Content -Ziegler's previous press briefing -President's position 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) -Racial balance -Dual school system -Desegregation -Moral aspect -George C. Wallace's statement -Ziegler's previous press briefing -John V. Lindsay -George Meany -Jim Naughton -Republican Party -Range of philosophies -John B. Connally Lindsay -Ziegler's conversation with Mitchell -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Location -Venezuela -Ranch Ziegler left at 12:23 pm. Pentagon Papers case -Krogh -Daniel Ellsberg -Strange bias -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] -Locksmiths -Grand jury -Grand Jury -Timing -Ellsberg arraignment -Federal investigators -Defense Department -FBI -J. Edgar Hoover -Press -Ehrlichman's conversation with Mitchell, August 6, 1971 -Report by Krogh's man 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) Hoover -Tenure in office -Mitchell's views -Possible conversation with President -[Thomas] Hale Boggs -Possible successor -L. Patrick Gray -Relationships -[First name unknown] Brennan, William C. Sullivan -Possible successor -Gray -Conversation with President after 1968 election -1972 campaign -Ellsberg investigation -The President’s forthcoming conversation with Mitchell Public service jobs -President's instructions concerning discretionary money -Illinois -New Jersey -California -Formula Martin C. (“Marty”) Anderson -Possible role with administration -Haldeman's conversation with President -Special consultant -Domestic Council -Size of staff -Budget -Congressional relations -Point of view Administration's positions -Revenue-sharing -Welfare reform -House Resolution [H R] 1 -Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO] -President's schedule Unknown man's letter to President 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) -Availability of jobs in San Diego -Ehrlichman's response -Publicity -Effect Hand guns -"Saturday night specials" -President's conversation with head of National Rifle Association [NRA] -Possible legislation -Krogh Pentagon Papers Kent State University -Support of unknown senators Pentagon Papers -Possible administration action -Press coverage -Timing -Ehrlichman's possible conversation with Kissinger President's schedule -Possible press conference -International monetary situation National security -Intelligence 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [National Security] [Duration: 1m 46s ] INTELLIGENCE END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ********************************************************************** -Rogers -News leak -Possible National Security Council [NSC] procedures -Congress -Laird -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson -Beecher's Story -Jackson -Jackson -Ehrlichman's conversation with Laird -SALT -State and Defense Departments -Possible NSC procedures -Ehrlichman's possible conversation with Kissinger -National Security Study Memorandum [NSSM] -William H. Rehnquist's committee -Classification guidelines -President's procedures -Need to know -Debriefing -Copying Property Review Board -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon -Arnold R. Weber -Possible successor 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) -Donald H. Rumsfeld Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO] -President's possible veto -President’s view -Administration's policy -Legislation -Albert H. Quie -Views -Samuel L. Devine -Mexican-American deputy director Ehrlichman's visit to Denver, August 10, 1971 -Schedule Rogers C. B. Morton -Meeting with John A. Love -Colorado -Department of Interior -Location Department of Agriculture -Location -Kansas, Nebraska -Clifford M. Hardin -Congress -Clarence D. Palmby -Possible new secretary Interior Department -Morton -Walter J. Hickel -Activities -Television appearance President's forthcoming meeting with Shultz 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) Administration's programs -OEO -Revenue-sharing -Welfare reform -Pollution -Consumers -Education -President's schedule -National economy -President's forthcoming program -Cost -Political aspect -Revenue sharing -Welfare reform Welfare reform -Question and answer session -Ehrlichman’s response -Possible Congressional action -Compromise -House bill -Experimentation National economy -President's forthcoming program -Federal pay raise -Shultz -Federal employee concerns -Possible wage and price freeze -Possible speech Ehrlichman’s forthcoming press briefing Pentagon Papers -Press coverage -Ellsberg -Ellsberg's schedule -National Students Conference -Location -Denver -Attendees 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 561-8 (cont.) -George S. McGovern -Birch E. Bayh, Jr. -Edmund S. Muskie -Earth Day Ehrlichman left at 12:51 pm.