Conversation: 575-002
Prev: 575-001 Next: 575-003Start Date: 17-Sep-1971 1:17 PM
End Date: 17-Sep-1971 2:32 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Bull, Stephen B.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Colson, Charles W.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:02:45
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:19:20
NARA Description:
On September 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:17 pm to 2:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 575-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 575-2
Date: September 17, 1971
Time: 1:17 pm - 2:32 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Congress
-Results of vote
-Marlow W. Cook's vote
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm.
Schedule
-Delay in arrival of other meeting participants
Bull left at an unknown time before 1:23 pm.
Supreme Court
-Call from John N. Mitchell to Haldeman
-Justice Hugo L. Black
-Resignation
-Call to Mitchell from the Chief Justice
-Black
-Letter to the President
-Resignation
-Notification of Court
-Time
-Announcement
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Warren E. Burger's recommendation
-Haldeman and Mitchell's recommendation
-Speculation by reporters
-William O. Douglas
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Press briefing
-Burger
-Mitchell
-Press
-Burger
-Meeting with John N. Harlan
-Health
-Bethesda Naval Hospital
-Resignation
-Possible appointees
-Richard H. Poff
-American Bar Association [ABA]
-Law practice
-Membership on Judiciary Committee
-Mitchell's recommendation
-Lawrence E. Walsh
-William French Smith
-Harlan vacancy
-Californian
-Chairmanship of Board of Regents
-Age
-Jewish
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Philadelphian [Arlen Specter?]
-Mexican-American
Bowling
-The President's meeting with World International Bowling Federation visitors
-White House bowling alley visit
-Gutter ball
-Strike
-Comeback
-Ziegler
-Photographers
-Type of pictures
-Vida Blue
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Strike
-Pictures
-Unnamed woman
-Strike
-Bowlers
-Commercial
-Gutter balls
-Strikes
Military service draft extension bill
-Vote outcome
-Response
-Administration efforts
-Gordon L. Allott
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Reaction to defeat
-Wording of statement on Vietnam War
-Phrase "Nixon's war"
-Reaction to Vietnam War
-Vietnam
-Beginning of war
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] speech
-Mansfield
-Wording of statement
-Phrase "Nixon's war"
The President's meeting with bowlers
Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm.
Charles W. Colson
Bull left at an unknown time before 1:23 pm.
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**********************************************************************
Cabinet positions
-Secretary of Agriculture
-Replacement for Clifford N. Hardin
-Haldeman's talk with Mitchell
-Louie B. Nunn
-Timing
-Lieutenant Governor
-Requirements for Secretary of Agriculture
-Farm background
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Communication, political abilities
-Nunn
Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm.
World International Bowling Federation tournament visitors
-Bowling
-Photographers
-Bowling
-Ziegler
-Number of attempts made during the President's visit to White House bowling
alley
-Edwin Luther
-Number of attempts
-Photo
-Strike
-Consistency in the President's game
-Strategies
-Press photographers and wire service
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Reactions
-Blue
-Comparison
-Actions
Press corps
-Reaction to bowling photo opportunity
-Contrast to daily routine
-Photos of the President in office setting
Bowling
-Amateur winners
-Bowling abilities
-Nervousness during White House visit
-The President's effort
Colson entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm
Bowling
-Strike comeback analogy
Vietnam
-Military service draft amendment
-Mansfield
-Wording of statement
-Use of phrase "Nixon's war"
-Phrase "Johnson's war"
-Public exposure
-Clark MacGregor
-Observation of Mansfield's speech
-Presentation
-Vote results
-Anticipated result
-Allott
-Ziegler's statement to press
-Democrat caucus on Capitol Hill
-Collecting information
-Telephone calls
-Wire services
-Conversations with Senators
-Associated Press [AP], United Press International [UPI]
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Ziegler's statement to the press
-Official comment
-William L. Safire
-Report
-Mansfield's statement
-The press
-Requesting information
-Administration's response
-Handling of Vietnam in Congress
-Senate floor
-Use of phrase "Nixon's war"
-Response
-Democrat responsibility
-Origins of war
-The President's role in negotiations for peace settlement
-Defense of the President
-Robert J. Dole
-Planned opposition to Mansfield
-MacGregor
-Strategy for response
-Mansfield's statement
-Press coverage
-Caucus
-Response to opposition
-Patrick J. Buchanan's views
-Perception of partisan, obstructionist behavior
-National security, Vietnam and economic issues
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
**********************************************************************
Press briefing
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Questions from press on vice presidential candidates
-[Charles W. Bailey, II]
-Ziegler's response
-Presidential candidate qualifications
-Black candidate
Vietnam
-The President's press conference of September 16, 1971
-Press response to answer
-Television
-Comment about Ngo Dinh Diem and Nguyen Van Thieu
-Pentagon Papers
-Henry Cabot Lodge
-Boston Globe's account
Economic policies
-Phase II
-Spokesperson for administration
-John B. Connally
-George P. Shultz
-William Proxmire
-Response
-Senators
-Suggestions to the President
Governors Conference
Schedule
-Wilbur D. Mills
-John W. Byrnes
Economic policies
-Profits
-Interest rates
-Bank profits
-Limits
-Possible meeting with bankers
-Prime rate
-Connally
-Labor union leaders
-J. Walter Thompson
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-American Bankers Association
-Comparison in the public's perception
-Issue of business competition
-Inflation, profits
-Status of banking industry
-Radio commercials
-Federal Reserve Board [FRB]
-Interest rates
-Charls E. Walker
-Concerns
-Compared to labor, business, agricultural groups, governors group
-Control of interest rates
-Prime rate
White House public relations
-Response to perceived Democrat partisan obstructionists
-Meeting between Haldeman, Colson, and Ziegler
-Strategy
-Possible speech by Spiro T. Agnew
-Possible outcome
-Agnew's image
-Speechwriter
-Partisanship issue
-Change of focus from comments on the press
National Security Industrial Association [NSIA]
-Businessmen
-Military-industrial complex
-Response
White House public relations
-Partisanship
-Administration response
-Strategy
-UPI
-Agnew
-Media
-Unknown person
-Press conference
-Oval Office press conference
-Handling
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Warfare analogy
-World War I
-World War II
-Strategy
-Effectiveness of in-office press conference
-Bailey, print media
-Lack of television footage
-Effectiveness without television
-David Brinkley
-Effectiveness
-Impact of comments from press conference
-Time element
-Newspaper, radio, and television
-Effect of message
-Reporting of press conference
-Three major television networks
-Time spent on press conference coverage
-Comparison to story on Look magazine's poll
-Immediate effect
-PRC initiative
-Draft
-Radio, local news coverage
-Prime time television
-Press conferences
-Effectiveness
-News time
-Usage by the administration
-Coverage on the President
-News time
-Prime time
-The President's use of time
-Meeting recommendations from John D. Ehrlichman
-Effectiveness of meetings
-Preparation for press conferences
-Time element involved
-Oval Office press conference
-Advantages
-Preparation
-Time element
-Amount of the President's television exposure
-Speeches
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Detroit trip
-Regional or national television broadcast of speech
-Strategy in handling the press
-Media attitude
-Ziegler's conversation with William Small
-Network’s commercial interests
-Reporting on the economy
-Regional coverage
-Manipulation
-Contact with the President
-Handling, nature
-Communicating with the American people
-Press attitudes
-Effect of different types of press conferences
-Television news reporting
-Dan Rather, Robert Pierpoint, Thomas E. Jarriel, Herbert
Kaplow
-Effect of print media
-Length of press conferences
-Presidential leadership
-Newsmakers
-Connally
-Administration officials
-William P. Rogers
-Effect
-Type of news
-Effect
-Melvin R. Laird
-Troop withdrawal
-Connally
-Public perceptions
-The President's role
-Network news
-Staff role
-Television coverage
-Key points
-Time element
-Presidential leadership
-Reporting results
-Rather
-Press conference
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Oval Office
-Rather's reporting
-Rather
-Types of question
-Projection of leadership
-The President's response to question on Edmund S. Muskie
comment about Vice Presidency
-Qualifications of candidates
-Race, gender
-Edith Efron
-Daughter
-Husband
-Co-author
-The President's image
-Television coverage
-Trips
-Airport landings
-Live coverage
-Impact
-Air Force One, the Spirit of ’76
-Moon landing
-Public impressions
-Press conferences
-Speeches
-Impact
-Type of impression of the President
-Office press conference
-Reasons
-Disciplining the Administration
-Amount of preparation
-Comparison to usual press conference
-Press reporters
-Individuals
-Attitude toward the President
-Type of stories
-Perceptions of presidential in-office press conference
-Handling by the President
-Comparison
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Muskie
-Hubert H. Humphrey
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Kennedy
-Muskie
-Press conferences
-Importance
-Office press conferences
-Impressions of the President
-Importance
-Press evaluation
-Speculation
-Question and answer session [Q&A]
-East Room setting
-Preparation
-Effect
-Members of the press
-Opponents of the administration
-Impressions
-John W. Chancellor
-News summary
-Opinion of the President expressed in speech
-Change
-Attitude
-News coverage
-Reporting on the President
-Journalism
-Issues
-Television reporters
-Questions for the President
-Jarriel
-Kaplow
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] reporters
-Speculations about the President
-Frame of mind
-Feelings
-Perceptions
-Press appearances
-Appearances on the air
-Pierpoint
-Attitude
-Type of story
-Amount of money
-Office press conference
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Time
-Location
-Announcement
-Impact
-Evening news
-Time duration
-Time of broadcast
-News time
-Network response
-Press conference
-New York network response
-Tape delay broadcast
-Regular news time
-Advantage of live broadcast
-Network coverage
-July 3, 1971; July 15, 1971; August 15, 1971 speech broadcasts
-Prime time
-Dates
-Time of day
-Previous televised news conference
-Results
-Amount of news coverage
-Television news
-Speech coverage
-American Legion
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-Live television conference
-East Room
-Time
-Type of coverage
-Amount
-Impact
-Prime time
-News time
-Timing
-Monthly
-Type of event
-Press conference
-Q&A
-Detroit trip
-Type of press coverage
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Speech
-Regional coverage
-New York
-Chicago
-College or university visit
-Types of audiences
-Enthusiasm
-The President's speeches
-Equal time issues in pre-election period
-Economics
-Vietnam War
-Presentation of the administration's policy
-Detroit
-Prime time press coverage
-Time duration
-Conflict with movie broadcast
-Change in time duration
-Press conferences
-Time duration
-Forthcoming election
-Impact
-American Association of Newspaper Editors [ASNE]
-Format of event
-Impact
-Economy
-Detroit
-Timing
-The President's speech before Congress, September 9, 1971
-The President’s speech of August 15, 1971
-Local and network coverage of speeches
-Presentation of speech
-Replay broadcast
-Network television shows
-National independent local news shows
- Detroit Economic Club speech
-Replay on television
-Local station
-CBS news
-"Today" show
-Prime time television
-East Room
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Newscasters
-Interest in the President
-Types of questions
-Detroit trip
-Panelists
-Economic questions
-Procedure for questioning
-Processing
-Air time
-Variety of questions
-Range
-Panel
-Network members
-Number
-Ziegler’s view
-Q&A
-Format
-Effectiveness for the President
-Various forms of reporting
-Q&A
-The President as Vice President
-The President's speeches
-Questions
-Talk shows
-Popularity
-National telethon
-Answering mail
-Television
-Prime time
-Need
-Audience
-Number
-Effectiveness
-Television
-Audience
-Number of people
-Effectiveness
-Q&A
-Time of day
-Number of people
-Effectiveness
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Format
-Development
-Cabinet Room
-Meeting with the President
-Labor leaders
-Business
-Agricultural leaders
-Governors
-Press conference
-Chicago
-Cleveland
-Cincinnati
-Impact
-Time of coverage
-Prime time
-Time zone
-Chicago
-Noon
-Afternoon
-Prime time
-Regional areas
-Network programming
-Live coverage
-Prime time
-National compared to local coverage
-Individuals asking questions
-Henry A. Kissinger's press contacts
-George Putnam
-Columnists
-Local networks
-Major cities
-Jerry Dumfy
-Robert G. Abernathy
-Cincinnati
-Cleveland
-Detroit
-Regional event coverage
-Impact
-Audience impact
-Regional coverage
-Network coverage
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Time of day
-Press conference
-Network live broadcast
-Types of coverage
-Monthly scheduling
-Chicago
-Effectiveness of administration spokesmen
-Connally
-Agnew
-Use of time
-Oval Office meetings
-Gifts
-Impact
-Meetings with businessman
-Effectiveness
-Press coverage of Oval Office meetings
-Follow-up
-Handling of the President's meetings
-Association executives group
-Time spent on meeting
-Effectiveness
-Number of people
-Elliot L. Richardson's health issues meeting
-Effectiveness
-The President's use of time
-Thinking
Preparation for office press conference
-The President's administration
-Staff
-Meetings with groups
-Necessary meetings
-Meetings with staff members and relatives
-Usefulness
-Richardson’s health issues meeting
-The President's meeting with bowlers
-Impact
-Effectiveness
-Projected versus actual amount of press coverage
-Television coverage
-Prime time
-Use by the administration
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Equal time
-Impact
-The President's appearance
-Impact
-Three major television networks
-Prime time
-Coverage
-Ziegler's feedback from the press
-News conference
-East Room
-Time differences in the United States
-Cincinnati
-Time
-Ohio
-Cleveland
-Chicago
-Time
-Denver
-Press conferences
-East Room
-Time differences in eastern and western regions of US
-Amount of coverage
-Local
-Regional
-News show
-Press conferences
-John F. Kennedy's handling of press conferences
-Time
-Number
-Time of day
-Press relations
-Number
-Frequency
-Relationship with the press
-Focus
-Prime time
-Equal time
-Three major networks
-Political broadcasts
-One network
-Audience
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)
-Application of equal time provision after political conventions
-Legal requirements
-The President's time
-Prime time
-Possibility of overexposure
-Ideal time for television coverage
-Benefits for the administration
-Impact
-Use of technology
-Radio
-Radio coverage
-Impact
-Time duration of statement
Ziegler and Colson left at 2:32 pm.
Trip to Thurmont, Maryland
-Helicopter ride
-Time
-Drive
-Time
-Weather
-Thunderstorms
The President and Haldeman left at 2:32 pm.