Conversation: 652-005
Prev: 652-004 Next: 652-006Start Date: Thursday, January 20, 1972 6:33 PM
End Date: Thursday, January 20, 1972 7:15 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; MacGregor, Clark; Colson, Charles W.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:21:17
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:03:39
NARA Description:
On January 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Clark MacGregor, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:33 pm to 2:15 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 652-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 652-5
Date: January 20, 1972
Time: 1:33 pm - 2:15 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Stephen B. Bull and Clark MacGregor.
Charles W. Colson
-Schedule
The President’s schedule
-Taping
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Unknown technician
Bull left at an unknown time before 1:37 pm.
State of the Union Address, January 20, 1972
-MacGregor’s view
-MacGregor’s viewing on TV
-Commentary by Paul Duke and Herbert E. Kaplow
-The President’s expectations of Congress
-Welfare reform
-Revenue-sharing
-Government reorganization
-Environment
-Commentary by Hugh S. Sidey, Charles L. Bartlett and unknown black
woman
-Shirley Chisholm
-Politics
-Democrats
-1960s issues
-Demonstrations
-Campuses, cities
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] commentary
-Media commentary
-MacGregor’s secretary
-Notes
-Address compared with 1971 Address
-Language
-Tone
Charles W. Colson entered at 1:37 pm.
-Dan Rather’s commentary
-Democrat leadership
-The President’s political tone
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 1:37 pm.
-William H. Lawrence’s commentary
-Strength of speech
-1972 election
-The President’s platform
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
-Economy
-Lewis Gulick’s comments on Associated Press [AP] wire
-Bipartisanship
-Historical comparison
-Democrats
Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:37 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Taping
Bull left at an unknown time before 2:05 pm.
State of the Union Address
-John F. Kennedy comparison
-Vietnam
-Schools
-Local control
-Reception by audience
-Hubert H. Humphrey and Edmund S. Muskie
-Applause
-CBS
-Daniel L. Schorr’s analysis
-West Coast dock strike
-Reception by audience
-Congress
-Humphrey’s and Muskie’s reception
-Edward M. Kennedy’s reception
-CBS commentary
-The President’s ad-lib
-Future media coverage
-The President’s schedule
-Tom McCall
-Daniel J. Evans
-The President’s statement from Florida, January 21, 1972
-Calls to Ronald W. Reagan and others
-Reactions to speech
-Publicity
-William E. Brock, III’s views
-Challenge to Congress
-Hugh Scott’s views
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
-Michael J. Mansfield’s views
-Tax measures
-Political strategy
-Kaplow’s commentary
-Neil H. McElroy Commission on school finance
-Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations [ACIR]
-The President’s concern and initiative
-Muskie’s reaction to the President’s reference
-Humphrey
-Muskie’s role on committee
-Attendance at meetings
-National interest
-Tone
-Conclusion
-Contrast with Edward Kennedy’s National Press Club speech, January 17,
1972
-State of nation
-Compared to Edward Kennedy’s and Muskie’s statements
-Confidence in government
-Congressional reaction
-Wright Patman
-Forthcoming Gross National Product [GNP] figures
-Gerald R. Ford
-1972 election
-Margaret C. Smith
-George D. Aiken
-Smith
-Appearance
-Age
-Reelection
-Compared with Aiken
-Republican Congressional leaders
-Mood
Scott
-Commentaries from Pennsylvania newspapers
-Delivery to MacGregor
-1972 election
-Pennsylvania
-Political work
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
Congressional breakfast, January 19, 1972
-William E. Timmons and MacGregor
-Scott
-Ford
-Robert P. Griffin
-Leslie C. Arends
-The President’s submitted State of the Union Address
-Recommendations
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.’s incorporation into address
-Republican Congressional leaders
-Mood
Congress
-Recess
-State of the Union Address
-Election year
State of the Union Address
-Approach avoided
-The President’s treatment of Congress
-Roger H. Mudd’s comment
-Political impact
-Political impact
-Statesmanship
-Length
-Compared to previous addresses
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Price’s view
-Specific passage
-Response to the nation’s critics
-Impact
-State of nation
-Credit for the Administration
-Vietnam
-Casualties
-Troop withdrawals
-Congressional recess
-Griffin’s view of submitted address
-Lincoln Day speeches
-Use by Congressmen
-National defense issue
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
-Response
-Republicans
-Gale W. McGee
-John C. Stennis
-John N. Ashbrook
-Barry M. Goldwater
-J. William Fulbright’s reaction
-John V. Brennan’s observation
-Muskie
-Humphrey
-John Sherman Cooper’s views of Fulbright
-Partisanship
-Cooper’s reaction at meetings of Senate Foreign Relations Committee
-Welfare reform
-Work
-Lincoln Day speeches
-Reagan
-Family assistance issue
-Reaction received by Colson
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Welfare reform
-Trial program
-Conservative response
Congress
-The Administration’s possible political strategy
-Democrats
-Partisanship
-Allegations by MacGregor’s office
-Duration
-Attendance at sessions
-Passage of the President’s legislation
-Official daily reminder by Republicans
-Number of presidential initiatives
-Scheduling
-Public view
-Polls
-Passage of the President’s legislation
-State of the Union reference
-Proposals
-Budget
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
-Bipartisanship
-Timetable for conciliation
-June 1972
-Democratic National Convention
-The President’s trip to Soviet Union
-Official daily reminders by Republicans
-Samuel L. Devine
-Robert J. Dole
-Humor
-Scheduling
-Democrat reaction
-Sensitivity
-Dock strike
-Possible hearings
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Republican leaders
-MacGregor’s coordination with Haldeman
-Scheduling
MacGregor and Colson left at 2:05 pm.
State of the Union Address
-Tone
-Delivery
-Reception
-Kennedys
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 2:05 pm.
Refreshments
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 2:15 pm.
White House staff
-Richard A. Moore
-Sidey
-William L. Safire
-Moore
-Ability
-Compared with Safire
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
State of the Union Address
-Length
-Written compared to spoken message
-Delivery on prime time television
-Compared with delivery before Congress
-Written compared to spoken message
-Public and Congress
-Ceremony
-Number of attendees
-Congress, Cabinet and Supreme Court
-TV viewing
Henry A. Kissinger’s briefing
-The President’s previous phone call to Kissinger
-Humor
-Substance
State of the Union Address
-Press and media
-Reaction
-Bi-partisanship
Vietnam
-The President’s forthcoming speech on peace plan, January 25, 1972
-Possible impact
-Secret negotiations
-Ending war
-Congressional involvement
-Talks with North Vietnam and Vietcong
-Secret talks
-Publicity
Kissinger
-Resignation
-Effect
-William P. Rogers
The President’s schedule
-Forthcoming taping session
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 652-5 (cont.)
The President and Haldeman left at 2:15 pm.