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Conversation 725-004

TapeTape 725StartTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 8:03 AMEndTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 8:11 AMTape start time00:11:03Tape end time00:15:18ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum to H.R. Haldeman expressing dissatisfaction regarding the lack of credit given to Maurice Stans for his pivotal role in Soviet trade negotiations. Nixon argued that Stans, a loyalist who handled the difficult management work, was being overlooked in favor of Peter Peterson and Peter Flanigan. Consequently, he instructed Haldeman to reprimand Peterson and Flanigan for this oversight and mandated that actions be taken to ensure Stans receives formal recognition for his contributions.

Soviet tradeMaurice StansPeter G. PetersonPeter M. FlaniganExecutive personnel managementDiplomatic credit
AudioNARA Description

On May 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:03 am and 8:11 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 725-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 725-4

Date: May 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:03 am and 8:11 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

      Memorandum concerning meeting with Donald McI. Kendall
         -Soviet trade
                     -Peter G. Peterson
                     -Peter M. Flanigan
                     -Maurice H. Stans
                           -Knowledge of negotiations compared with Peterson
                             and Flanigan
                           -The President’s view
                           -Job
                                 -Peterson
                     -White House staff
                     -Credit for negotiations
                           -Peterson
                           -Stans
                           -Flanigan
                                 -Briefing on Soviet trip
                           -Peterson and Flanigan
                           -Stans
                     -Instructions for Haldeman
                           -Peterson
                           -Flanigan
         -Henry A. Kissinger
                     -Memorandum copy
                     -Recognition of Stans
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

In the first place, this is rather stupid because Stanton started the negotiations and knows more about it than most of these.
And they're starting to answer back more about the situation than either of these.
Peterson or Pete Plantinga will learn.
But beyond that, Stans, who is a Loyalist, in the highest degree has been deeply hurt by the fact that
simply because he took up the management's job that neither of the other two would have taken, or David Peterson would never have taken.
No one here in the White House has bothered to
Talked to him about a subject in which he is deeply interested in trade.
Peterson has gotten all the credit for the trade negotiations.
And a lot of this credit, of course, should go to the state of this trade.
Flanagan is going along in the crib, and of course, we'll do the briefing there, and we'll put him in the show.
I don't mind Flanagan and Peterson.
uh, getting their shares ready.
But certainly some way we've got to find a way that stands as far as recognized for the heroic role and the very loyal role he played throughout and working on these negotiations.
Very good.
I want you to bring in both Lani and Peterson and dress them down for this oversight.
Very good.
a copy to history, which would be an open copy.
And then, P.S., I want Cameron to find a way in Moscow or in some other way to see that Stansberg is recognized as a state nurse in some other way.
Wait, here we go.
And it's dated.
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