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Conversation: 642-003

Prev:  642-002 Next: 642-004

Start Date: 3-Jan-1972 8:15 AM

End Date: 3-Jan-1972 8:45 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")[Unknown person(s)]

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:34:42

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:10:09

642a.mp3

642b.mp3

642c.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:15 am and 8:45 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 642-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 642-3

Date: January 3, 1972
Time: 8:15 am - unknown before 8:45 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     The President's schedule
          -Peter G. Peterson
          -John N. Mitchell
          -William P. Rogers
                -Peterson resignation
                -John A. Scali
          -Peter M. Flanigan
          -Peterson
                                         5

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 642-3 (cont.)


     -John B. Connally
          -Paul A. Volcker
          -Forthcoming call from Haldeman
                -Clark MacGregor
                -Pending legislation
                     -The President's possible actions

Pending legislation
     -Political considerations

The President’s schedule
     -Peterson meeting
           -Mitchell

The President's previous interview with Dan Rather, January 2, 1972
     -Reactions
          -The President’s forthcoming efforts
          -Jack B. Krueger, editor of Dallas News
                 -Conversation with Haldeman
                 -Rather
                 -Effect on the President's reelection
          -The President's previous conversation with Manolo Sanchez
     -Question on Vietnam and the President's reelection
          -The President's answer
                 -Haldeman’s view
     -Questions
          -Rather's delivery
     -Reactions
          -International Chief of Operating Engineers
                 -Questions
                      -The President's response
                      -Economy
                             -Rather

Rogers
    -Conversations with the President and Haldeman
        -Reaction to the President's interview with Rather
                                          6

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 642-3 (cont.)


Press conferences
      -Compared with the President's interview with Rather
           -Rather
           -Questions on race relations and "Ms." issues
                 -Sarah McLendon
                 -Press conference format
           -Follow-ups
                 -Reporters

The President's interview with Rather
     -Reactions
           -Robert H. Bork
           -Sidney Hook
                 -Impression of rehearsal
     -Compared with the President’s interview with Howard K. Smith
           -Rogers’s view
           -Rather's attempt to show political motivations in the President
     -Political questions
           -Rather’s motives
           -The President's responses
     -Political effect
           -Smith
     -Calls
           -White House operator
     -Rather
           -The President's handling
           -Performance
                 -Compared to press conference format
           -Question on women's liberation
           -Closing remarks
     -Questions on Vietnam
           -Bombing
           -Prisoners of war [POWs]
           -Troop withdrawals
                 -1968 troop levels
     -Unemployment question
                                          7

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 642-3 (cont.)


          -Figures
                -Dwight D. Eisenhower
                     -Democrats
     -Rogers's view
          -Interviews of other administration officials

Rogers
    -Forthcoming interview with Smith
    -Compared with Henry A. Kissinger
    -Views regarding Cabinet as spokesmen

The President's interview with Rather
     -Question of the President's personality and performance
          -Polls
          -The President's response
                 -Polls
                 -Rhetoric

The President's schedule
     -Political implications
           -Decisions
           -Peterson
           -American Hospital Association officials
           -Importance of events
           -Press conferences
                 -The President's performance
                 -Equal time for Democrats
                       -Validity

The President's interview with Rather
     -Reactions
          -Rather's performance
     -Question on economy
     -Reactions
     -Compared with speech format

Speeches
     -The President's preparation
     -Speechwriters
          -State of the Union speech
          -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
                                              8

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                                       Conv. No. 642-3 (cont.)


               -Workload

     Possible press conference
          -Question on Vietnam troop withdrawal
          -India-Pakistan issue

     The President’s schedule
          -New Hampshire

     Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
          -The President's response during interview to question concerning second term


*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 50s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************


     The President's interview with Rather
          -Points covered
               -Moscow summit
               -Peking summit
               -Vietnam
               -Economic plan
               -Presidential term
                      -Activities
                            -Politics
                                  -1968 bombing pause
                                       -Lyndon B. Johnson

     Robert H. Finch

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 8:15 am.
                                             9

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 642-3 (cont.)


     Delivery

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 8:45 am.

     News summary
         -Big stories that the President needs to know about
               -The President's reading of New York Times and Washington Post
               -Television stories
         -Length
         -"Week in Review"
         -Cover sheet of latest news
         -Judgment call by staff
               -The President's action and thought
         -"Week in Review"
               -Day of issuing
                     -News magazines

     Haldeman's schedule
          -Domestic Council staff, Congressional liaison staff and speechwriters
          -George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman and Kissinger
          -Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld, MacGregor, Shultz, Ehrlichman, Kissinger, Peterson
                and Flanigan
                -The President's schedule
          -Ronald L. Ziegler
          -Ehrlichman's schedule
          -Location of particular staff members

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 8:45 am.