President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate public relations strategies regarding the North Vietnamese offensive and potential violations of previous agreements. The discussion addressed the political implications of the ITT case and the management of 1972 campaign finances, specifically concerning donor disclosures and John Mitchell’s role in campaign control. Furthermore, the President reviewed plans for an upcoming speech to the National Catholic Education Association and assessed the broader implications of Vietnam policy on U.S. foreign credibility.
On April 4, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:01 pm to 6:18 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 702-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 702-10
Date: April 4, 1972
Time: 6:01 pm - 6:18 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.
The President's meeting with Russell A. Kirk
-Book
Vietnam
-Weather
-Reports
-Air strikes
-Initiation
-Effectiveness
-Public support
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ] crossing
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 6:03 pm.
-Washington Star headlines
-Offensive
-Wire service leaks
-Department of Defense
-Department of State
-White House
-Violation of 1954 and 1968 agreements
-Uniqueness
-Public relations efforts
Ziegler left at 6:03 pm.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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-ITT [International Telephone and Telegraph]
-Money
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 25s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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Speeches
-Henry A. Kissinger invitation
-Frank Stanton
-Station owners
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] affiliates
-Program rights
-Local news
-Editorials
-Support for the President
-Approval
Mitchell
-Control of campaign
-ITT case
-Diversion
1972 campaign
-Finances
-Mitchell's concerns
-Congressional guidelines
-John W. Gardner
-List of contributors
-Release
-Mailings
-Handling
-List of contributors
-Release
-The President's posture
-Major issues
-Vietnam
Vietnam
-Kissinger
-Negotiations
-Bombing
-Stakes of war
-Consequences of defeat
-Viability of US foreign policy
-Credibility
Education
-Forthcoming speech to the National Catholic Education Association [NCEA]
-Speech draft
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Delivery to the President
-The President's review
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Contents
-John Cardinal Krol
-Conversation with Charles W. Colson
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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ITT case
-Haldeman’s discussion with Mitchell
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 13s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
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The President's schedule
-Trip to Philadelphia
-Krol
-Reception
The President and Haldeman left at 6:18 pm.No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.