Conversation: 639-025
Prev: 639-024 Next: 639-026Start Date: Saturday, December 18, 1971 10:03 PM
End Date: Saturday, December 18, 1971 11:35 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Schecter, Jerrold L.; Sidey, Hugh S.; Donovan, Hedley W.; Grunwald, Henry A.; White House photographerRecording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:22:17
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:54:12
NARA Description:
On December 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Jerrold L. Schecter, Hugh S. Sidey, Hedley W. Donovan, Henry A. Grunwald, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:03 pm to 6:35 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 639-025 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 639-25
Date: December 19, 1971
Time: 5:03 pm - 6:35 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Jerrold L. Schecter, Hugh S. Sidey, Hedley W. Donovan, and Henry A.
Grunwald; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.
General conversation
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
The President’s term
-Appraisal
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-War
-January 1969
-US economy
Vietnam
-US role
Middle East
New York City
Vietnam
1969
-Historical context
People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Communication with US
Vietnam
US world role
-Protector
Domestic issues
-Economic policy
-Inflation
-Housing
-Future price rises
-Comparison to 1971
-Jobs
-Inflation
-Monetary policy
-Meeting with Europeans
-Convertibility of the dollar [?]
-Environment
-Drugs
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
-Revenue sharing
-Welfare
-Work requirements
-Health
-Government reorganization
Decisions made by the President
-PRC overture
-Importance
-Economic policy
-Inflation
-Jobs
-International monetary crisis
-US role
-Free market economy
-American economy
-Probable outlook
-Phase II
-Predictions for 1972 economy
-Controls
-Confidence
-Inflation
-Wage-price controls
-Support of US citizens
-Importance
-Success of controls
-Inflation
-Decontrol
-American people
-Commitment to control inflation
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]-US relations
-Upcoming summit
-Berlin
-Seabeds
-Biological and accidental war
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-South Asia
-Middle East
-President’s upcoming trip to PRC
-South Asia
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
-India-Pakistan conflict
-Ceasefire
-Areas of agreement between US and USSR
-Berlin
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Arms control
India-Pakistan conflict
-India operations in East Pakistan and West Pakistan
-Strategy
-Reports
-[Unintelligible]
-US role
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 3m 38s ]
INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**********************************************************************
PRC
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Brezhnev
US foreign policy
-Thought and care exercised
-PRC trip
-Purpose
-USSR trip
-Purpose
-Long-term
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
Upcoming election
-Foreign and domestic policy
-Fulfillment of objectives
-Congress
-Democratic majority
-President's plans
-Opposition candidates
-Involvement in issues
-PRC
-USSR
-Vietnam
-Successful conclusion
-Domestic programs
-Revenue sharing
-Welfare reform
-Tax reform
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Expression of support
-Praise for Agnew
-Democrats' nominee
-President’s opinion
-Past elections
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Majority president
-John F. Kennedy
-Democrats' nominee
-Potential candidates
-Issues
-Vietnam
-Economy
-Cities
-Youth
-Race relations
-Vietnam
Vietnam
-End of war
-Understanding
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
-Historical view
-Possible outcome
-USSR
-PRC
US-USSR relations
-Middle East
-Israel
-Oil
-Africa
-South Asia
-Cambodia
-Laos
-PRC
-Summit meeting
-Need for peace
-Differences
US-PRC relations
-Possible future of relations
-Vietnam
-Korea
-Japan
-Power
-PRC
Need for charismatic leader
-Types of leaders
-Characteristics
-Need for experience
President's administration
-Type of leadership
-President's style
-Need for confidence in leadership
-PRC and USSR announcements
-The President’s August 15, 1971 speech
-PRC announcement
-Theodore (“Teddy”) Roosevelt
-Vitality and style
-Mood of US citizens
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
-Expectations of US citizens
-Vietnam
-World leadership position
-President’s opinion
-Recent past
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Vietnam
-Drugs
-Violence in cities
-US economy
-Effect of end of Vietnam war
PRC
USSR
Economic policy
Revenue sharing
Government reorganization
Expectations for coming year
-Pride in US foreign policy
-Middle East
-Importance of US leadership role
-US position in the world
-Domestic issues
-Housing
-Busing
-Boston
-Segregation
-“Quiet revolution”
US world role
-Historic precedence
-Expression of confidence
-Peace possibilities
-World War II
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-John F. Kennedy
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
-“Seize the moment” philosophy
US relations with USSR and PRC
-Strategy
-Importance of PRC
-Nuclear war
-Global effects
-Horrors
-Prospects for confrontation
-Japan
-Need for leadership
-Competition
-Cooperation
-[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson
-UN
-Times of peace
-US and European power
-Britain
-France
-Germany
-USSR
-PRC
-Potential power
-Japan
-Latin America
-Brazil
-Africa
-Potential power
-South Asia
-Need for balance of power
-Europe, Japan
Presidency
-Power
-Motives
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Maturity of political figures
-Bureaucracy
-Press
-Enjoyment of the job
-Relations with Congress
34
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 639-25 (cont.)
-Opportunity for leadership
-World peace
-Progress
Christmas decorations
-Number
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon [?]
[General conversation]
-Walter H. Annenberg's gift
-“Star of the President”
President's schedule
-Bermuda
Gifts
-Money clips
[General conversation]
Schecter, et al. left at 6:35 pm.