Conversation No. 568-4

Date: September 9, 1971
Time: 3:03 pm - 3:34 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Raymond P. Shafer, Jerome H. Jaffe, and Egil G. (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.; the
White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Greetings

     The economy
          -The President's September 9, 1971 speech to Congress

     Photograph
                                           3

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/06)
                                                               Conv. No. 568-4 (cont.)


     -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins

The President's September 9, 1971 speech
     -Congress
          -Democrats

Krogh and Jaffe
    -Trip around the world
          -Discussion
                -Michael R. Sonnenriech [Executive Director]

Purposes of meeting
     -Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse
           -Status
     -Submission of report
     -Politics

Marijuana Commission reports
     -Marijuana
     -Drug abuse
     -Marijuana
          -March 1972
     -Public hearings
          -Formal, informal
     -Marijuana
          -Public use
                -Demographics

Marijuana Commission
     -Establishment
     -Handling of responsibilities
     -Congress
     -George P. Shultz
          -Handling of funding for commission
     -Morale of commission
     -Formation
          -Reaction of administration opponents
          -Press reaction to selection of members
                -Age, political outlook
          -Sonnenreich
                -Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs [BNDD] background
                                             4

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                        Conv. No. 568-4 (cont.)



An unknown person [Manolo Sanchez?] entered at an unknown time after 3:03 pm.

     Refreshment

The unknown person [Sanchez?] left at an unknown time before 3:34 pm.

     Marijuana Commission
          -Sonnenreich
               -Election by Commission
          -Shafer
               -Background as former prosecutor


     Commissions
        -Difficulty
              -[William W.] Scranton Commission

     Marijuana
          -Jaffe
          -Legalization
          -Penalties for use
                -Effect of jailing offenders
                      -Contact with hardened criminals
                -Arlen Specter
                -Probation
                      -Legislation in Illinois
                -Smoking cigarettes compared to smoking marijuana
          -Introductory effect for further use of drugs

     Marijuana Commission
          -Recent reputation of national commissions
          -Shafer's acceptance of job
               -Scranton’s experience
                      -John N. Mitchell
               -The President's role
          -Commission members
          -Focus, issues under study
               -Legalization of marijuana
          -The President's statements
          -Commission’s mandate
                                    5

                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                           Tape Subject Log
                             (rev. 10/06)
                                                     Conv. No. 568-4 (cont.)


      -National survey
-Funding
      -Congressional authorization
-Research work
      -George H. Gallup
      -Princeton University
            -Research Associates poll
      -Marijuana
            -Public attitudes
            -Extent of use
                   -Statistic
                   -Vietnam War
-Use of drugs
      -Responsibility
      -Heroin
      -Addiction
-Maurice H. Seevers
-Perceptions of public health interest
-Marijuana
      -Pharmacology
      -Demythologizing
            -Youth
-Presidential support
-Impact of fight against drug abuse
      -Families
      -Comparison with economic action's effect
      -Other issues
            -Vietnam War
      -Political issue
      -The President's public stance
      -Legalization issue
-Composition
-Perceptions of Commission
      -Stance
            -Marijuana, other drugs
            -Penalties
                   -Uniformity
                         -Present variations
                              -Texas
                                    -6 year term
                              -North Dakota
                                           6

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 568-4 (cont.)


                                           -99 year maximum term
                          -Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970
              -Seevers, Dana L. Farnsworth, Henry Brill
              -Morale
              -Requested meeting with the President
              -Contact with Krogh, Jaffe
                    -Sonnenreich
        -Differing views on marijuana
              -Education
        -Forthcoming Commission report
              -Effect
                    -Profile
                    -Scranton Commission
        -Various organizations with interest and responsibilities in field of drug abuse
              -Commission
              -White House group headed by Jaffe
              -Department of Justice
              -Department of Health, Education, Welfare [HEW]
              -J. Edgar Hoover
              -Perceptions
                    -Contrast of emotional and intellectual approach
        -Long range health and social impact of Commission’s action
        -Role and responsibilities
              -Compared to Jaffe’s office
        -Handling of drug abuse
              -Trip abroad
                    -Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain
                          -British use of methadone treatment
              -Marijuana
              -Anecdote
                    -Growing marijuana plants
        -Smoking, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, films
              -Greta Garbo
              - I am Curious [Yellow] film
        -Public awareness

Gifts
        -Golf
             -Shafer’s game
        -Golf ball
             -Cufflinks
                                              7

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 568-4 (cont.)



     Marianne H. Means
          -Newspaper column
               -Shafer and Judgeship
          -Previous administration

     Commission's work

Krogh and Jaffe left at 3:32 pm.

     Appointment
         -Mitchell
         -Hugh Scott
         -Philadelphia
         -Unknown person's appointment
               -Milton J. Shapp
         -Scott

     Appointment of judges
         -Blacks
         -Sequence of events
              -Mitchell
              -Ohio

     American youth
         -Campus groups
         -Robert H. Finch
         -Donald H. Rumsfeld

     Marijuana Commission
          -Shafer's forthcoming statement to press
               -President’s convictions

Shafer left at 3:34 pm.