Conversation: 667-001
Prev: 666-011 Next: 667-002Start Date: Tuesday, February 8, 1972 3:25 PM
End Date: Tuesday, February 8, 1972 5:20 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Bull, Stephen B.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Kissinger, Henry A.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:01:49
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:57:20
NARA Description:
On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:25 am to 12:20 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 667-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 667-1
Date: February 8, 1972
Time: 10:25 am - 12:20 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Alexander P. Butterfield.
Environmental program message, February 8, 1972
-President’s signature
-Pens as gifts
-Upcoming photograph opportunity
-John C. Whitaker
-Pens
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 11:00 am.
The President’s schedule
-Congressional leaders and cabinet meeting
-William P. Rogers
-John B. Connally
-Hugh Scott
-Connally
-Scott
-Rogers
-Effectiveness
-Reaction
-Scott
-Rhetoric
-Duration
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Compromise
-Earl L. Butz
-Dock strike
Butz
-Helping the President
-Farming
-Butz’s position
-Support of farmers
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Compared to Butz
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Food prices
-Wholesale and retail
-Beef
-Hamburger
The President’s schedule
-Connally
-Robert S. McNamara
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Attendance at upcoming meeting
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Flanigan
The President’s speech, February 7, 1972
-New York Times
-The President’s view
-Drafting
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Audience for speech
Speech writing
-Price
-Douglas L. Hallett
-University of Nebraska speech
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-News coverage
-University of Nebraska speech
-Audience for February 7, 1972 speech
-The President’s work on Vietnam peace proposal speech, January 25, 1972
-Kissinger draft
-Length
-Style
-Cheer lines
-Frequency of speeches
-Price
-William L. Safire
-Style of speeches
-Improvements
Connally
-Memorandum to the President about Value-added tax [VAT]
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Flanigan and Haldeman
-John D. Ehrlichman’s reply
-Memorandum
-Treasury Department
Instructions for Haldeman to meet with Connally and Kissinger
-Connally
-Scheduling
-White House
-President’s instructions on handling
-Letters
-Ehrlichman
-George P. Shultz
-Kissinger
-Flanigan
-Schedule
-Ability to accomplish work
-Meetings with ambassadors
-Congressmen
-William P. Pannell
-Example
-Ambasador from Mauritania
-Ehrlichman
-Handling
-Kissinger
-Letters to Rogers and Melvin R. Laird
-Telephone
-Letters
-Discretion
-Copy of Ehrlichman memorandum to Haldeman
-Possible talk with Ehrlichman
The President’s schedule
-Center for Voluntary Action
-Dinner
-Awards
-Awardees
-Eunice (Kennedy) Shriver
-Presentation
-Bipartisan leaders meeting
-Butterfield
-Ronald L. Ziegler
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Armed Services Committee
-Foreign Relations Committee
-Appropriations Committee
-Foreign policy draft
-Safire
-Length
-Speeches
-February 7, 1972
-Quality
-Meeting
-Political interests involved
Connally
-Involvement with the 1990 Conference
-Maurice H. Stans
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:25 am.
-1990 Conference program
-Call from Connally’s office
Bull left at an unknown time before 11:00 am.
-Economics
Speeches
-Possible alternative
-Writers
-Price
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-PRC
-The President’s preparation
-Amount of time
-Writers
-Computers
-Speechwriting
-Amount of work involved
-Understanding
Connally
-Activism
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Bull [?] entered and left at an unknown time before 11:00 am.
-Panels
-Luncheons
-James D. Hodgson
-Lunch
-Scheduling
-Attendance
Speeches
-Scheduling
-Suggestions from Haldeman
-Dictation
-Drafts
-Critiques
-Amount of time
-Price
-Outline
-Draft
-State of the Union address
-Talking points
-Reading
-State of the Union
-Reading
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Harry S. Truman
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Speechwriters
-Television
-Radio
-Comparisons to the President
-The President
-New York Times
Bull entered at an unknown time after between 10:25 am.
Request that Ziegler come to the Oval Office
Bull left at an unknown time before 11:00 am.
Speeches
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Planning
-Text
-Preparation
-Cameras
-Prepared text
-Importance
Ziegler entered at 11:00 am.
-February 7, 1972 speech
-Press coverage
-Television
-Advanced text
-Benefits
-Live coverage
-Preferred times
Scheduling
-Preferences
-Time of day
-Television
-Advantages and disadvantages
-Radio
-Newspapers
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] and the Today show
-Radio
-Possible impact
Scott
-Post leadership briefing
-Dock strike
-Losses in 1972
-Vietnam
-Foreign policy
-Alternatives
-President’s 1960 platform statement
-Statistics
-Vietnam
-Casualties
-Age
-Rogers
-Loyalty
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Ziegler’s schedule
-Environmental message
-William D. Ruckelshaus and Russell E. Train
Messages
-Suggestions from the President
-Length of time
-Number of words
-Desired length
-Teleprompter
-Dinners
-Messages
-Dinners
-Length
Speeches
-Speechwriting
-Idiom
-State of the Union address
-February 7, 1972 speech
-PRC
-Price
-Speechwriting compared with advertising
-Intricacies
-Scott
-Gerald R. Ford
-Speechwriting style
-Safire [?]
-L. Richard Guylay memorandum
-Scott
Haldeman’s statement on Today show
-Main story on the major networks
Leaders meeting
-Kissinger
-Previous conversation with Ziegler
-Manila conference, 1966
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Negotiations
-Unilateral declaration
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Senators
-Columnists
-Haldeman’s statement
-Reaction by leaders
Haldeman’s statement
-Robert D. Novak
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Vietnam policy
-Ziegler’s view
-Democrats
-Polls
-Reaction of Nancy Ziegler’s mother
-McCarthyism
-“Average” radio listener
The President’s background
Harry S. Dent
-President’s relationship with the press
-South
Leaders meeting
-Press briefing
Media relations
-National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]
-Muskie story
-Timing
-Press
-Conferences
-Today show
-Haldeman’s comments
-Haldeman’s comments
-Reporters
-Press corps
-Opposition to the President
-Allen S. Drury
-Washington Star
-Differences discussed
-Strategy
-Fairness from the administration
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Methods used by the press
-1960
-Herbert G. Klein’s view
-Media bias
-Press confrences
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-John F. Kennedy
-Number of press conferences
-Cabinet meeting
-Role of Press secretary
-Questions and answers
-Ziegler
-Timing
-Location
Leaders meeting
-Jack F. Kemp
-William A. Steiger
-William E. Brock, III
-Steiger
-Brock
Haldeman’s statement
-Response from Democrats
-Unknown person
-Cameras
-Rogers
-Statements
-Impressions on country
-News
-Critics
-Vietnam
-Communism
-Joseph C. Kraft
-South Vietnam
-George S. McGovern
-Communism
-Possible ceasefire
-Ziegler’s view
Vietnam
-Democrats
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu
-Prisoners of War [POW’s]
-Strategy
-Negotiations
-Communists
-South Vietnam
-Thieu
-Haldeman’s statement
-Presidential responsibilities
-Criticism of the President
-Support for the President
-Ceasefire
-Public opinion
-Thieu
-Muskie
-Statement
-Joseph W. Alsop
-Settlement
-Public sentiment
-Election
-Presidential responsibilities
-Public reaction
-Media coverage
-Criticism
Ziegler left at 11:32 am.
Dent
Media relations
-Connally
-National mood
-Muskie
-Possible program
Issues
-President’s schedule
-Ability to take on new challenges
-PRC
-Moscow
-Upcoming visits
-Vietnam war
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Unemployment
-Rate
-Desired rate
-Budgets
-Economy
-California
-Unemployment rate
-Robert H. Finch
-Haldeman
-Schedule
Connally
-Talk with Ehrlichman
-Ehrlichman’s location
-Schedule
-Experience as governor
The President’s schedule
-Ambassadors
-Vice President
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Abilities
-Compared to Kissinger
-Leaders meeting
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Haldeman
Rogers
-Defense of the President
-Compared to Kissinger
-Ziegler’s view
Kissinger
-Press briefings
-Television
-Knowledge
-John A. Scali
-The President’s speech
-Press conference
-Kissinger’s approach
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-1972 election
-Rogers’s statement
-Substance
-The President
-Rogers
-Media
-Superficiality
Political leaders
-Congress
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Belief in simplification
-Effectiveness
-Kissinger’s effectiveness
-Knowledge
-1969
-Spokesman
-Briefings
-Rogers
-Scali
- Effectiveness as a briefer
-Ehrlichman
-White House spokesman
-Cabinet officers
-Competition
-Rogers
-Laird
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Peace proposal
-Kissinger’s trips to Paris
-Rogers
-Dobrynin
-Chou en-Lai
-Dialogue
-Chinese
-Kissinger’s intelligence
-Chou en-Lai
-Relationship with Kissinger
Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:32 am.
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Inquiry about request for Butterfield’s presence
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 11:55 am.
Media relations
-Briefing system
-Changes
-White House staff
-Cabinet
-Kissinger
-British Broadcasting Company [BBC]
-Special
-Eve of PRC trip
-British press
-Potential stories
-Barbara Walters
-Interview
-Today show
-BBC
-Possible advantages
-Congress
-American networks
-Interview
-Return from PRC
-Poor Richard’s Club
-Philadelphia
-Audience
-Influence
Kissinger entered at 11:55 am.
PRC trip
-Briefing book
-Chinese
-Chou En-Lai
-Previous conversation with Kissinger
-Position
Haldeman left at 11:56 am.
-Reading material for the President
-Kissinger
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Memoranda
-Briefing book
-The President’s schedule
-PRC position
-The President’s position
-Recommendations
-Chou En-Lai
-Kissinger
-Briefing book
South Asia
-Robert S. McNamara
-Kissinger’s location
-India and Pakistan
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with Connally and Rogers
-Humanitarian relief
-Pakistan
-Bangladesh
-Briefing paper
-India
-Possible US aid
-Trip
-Purpose
-India
-Haldeman
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Robert F. Kennedy’s son
-Joan Kennedy
-Upcoming visit
-Reception
-Kissinger
-Upcoming lunch with Indian ambassador [Lakshmi Kant Jha]
-Timing
-Aid
-Edward Kennedy’s upcoming visit to India
-India
-Congressional votes
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
******************************************************************************
Leaders meeting
-Scott
-Speech
-The President’s speech
-Manila Conference,1966
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Negotiations
-Unilateral statement
-President’s role
Democrats
-George S. McGovern
-Scott’s opinion
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Possible reaction
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 7s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
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Algeria
-Gen. Charles A.J.M. De Gaulle
-Radicals
-France
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-US
-Timing
-Number of years
-Opposition on right
Vietnam
-South Vietnam
-Communists
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Dinner attendance at British embassy
-Arthur Goldberg statement
-Muskie
-Democrats
-Stewart J.O. Alsop
-Muskie
-North Vietnamese
-News summary
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Possible deal
-Upcoming presidential election
-Dobrynin
-Talk with Kissinger
-EC-121 shootdown [April 1969]
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Offensive
-Effect
-Negotiations
-Negotiations
-Bombing
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Timing
-Military affairs
-Possible stories from Pentagon
-Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
Reorganization
-Second term tasks
-State Department
-Defense Department personnel
-Moorer
-Previous conversation with the President
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Arthur W. Radford
-Moorer
-Gen. William C. Westmoreland retirement
-Timing
-Haig
-Kissinger’s recommendation to the President
-Vice Chief of Staff
-Qualifications
-Kenneth E. Belieu
-Upcoming conversation with Kissinger
-Loyalty
-PRC and USSR trips
-Moorer retirement
-Chairman of JCS
-Haig’s possible future
Vietnam
-Bombing
-Targets
-Military thinking
-Military art
-World Wars I and II
-Winston L. Churchill
-Korean War
-Civilian efforts
-Korean War
-Gen. Douglas MacArthur
-Inchon landings
-Japan
-Wake Island
-Yalu River
-Bombing
-Status
-Weather
-Targets
-Sorties
-Carriers
-B-52s, A1s, F4s
-Timing
-South Vietnam
-North Vietnam attacks on South Vietnam
-Timing
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-PRC trip
-US advantages
-Expectations
-Communication
-Lam Son operation
-Kissinger’s opinion
-Air power
-B-52s
-US
-Experience in warfare
-Logistics
-MacArthur
-Strategy
-Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
-Tactics
-German commanders
-Comparisons
-World War I
-France
-Casualties
-First Battle of the Marne
-Verdun
-[Battle of the Somme]
-Austria
-Italy
-Balkans
-MacArthur
-Patton
-Bombing
-Article
-US Military
-Compared to German military
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Bombing
-North Vietnam
-Mining
-Bombing
-Withdrawal
-Leonid I. Brezhnev letter
Kissinger left at 12:20 pm.
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)