Conversation 725-035

TapeTape 725StartTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 4:58 PMEndTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 5:05 PMTape start time04:17:57Tape end time04:23:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); MacGregor, Clark; Hoopes, David C.; Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon met with Clark MacGregor to discuss congressional reactions to the Vietnam War, specifically focusing on opposition to the blockade of Haiphong harbor and concerns regarding Senate negotiations with the National Liberation Front. They reviewed recent Harris Poll data indicating public support for the President’s policies despite negative media coverage and critical Senate maneuvers. The conversation also touched upon the assassination attempt on George Wallace, the management of the Black Lung bill, and upcoming changes in the Treasury Department.

Vietnam WarCongressional relationsPublic opinion pollingGeorge WallaceForeign policySenate negotiations

Audio

NARA Description

On May 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Clark MacGregor, David C. Hoopes, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:58 pm and 5:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 725-035 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 725-35

Date: May 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:58 pm and 5:05 pm.
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Clark MacGregor; this recording began at an
unknown time while the meeting was in progress.

      Congress
         -Pressures on delegations
         -Polls
               -Louis P. Harris poll
                    -Copy from MacGregor to Senators
                    -Results on Haiphong harbor mining
         -Robert A. Taft, Jr.

                                        (rev. Jan-02)

                -Meeting with MacGregor
          -Final vote
          -Lowell P. Weicker
                -Meeting with Henry A. Kissinger
          -Press reports
                -White House news summary
                -Tone
          -Foreign policy
                -Ability
                -Specter of Senate negotiations with Madame Nguyen Thi
                 Binh
                -Michael J. Mansfield
                      -Proposed U.S. agreement with National Liberation
                        Front [NLF]
                      -North Vietnam takeover of Cambodia, Laos, and
                        South Vietnam
          -Today's vote
                -Lack of understanding
                      -Weicker
          -Frank F. Church amendment vote
          -Today's vote
                -Breakdown
                -Action by President

David Hoopes entered at 5:03 pm.

      President's schedule
          -Meeting with unknown person(s)
                -Invitation
                      -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
          -Possible meeting with Senator Robert C. Byrd
                -Black lung bill
                      -Recommendations on possible veto
                      -MacGregor’s view

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 5:03 pm.

          -Ray C. Bliss
          -Boat trip with John Cardinal Krol
               -Other
               -Time

Bull left at an unknown time before 5:05 pm.

                                         (rev. Jan-02)

      John B. Connally
          -Resignation as Secretary of Treasury
          -George P. Shultz

      George C. Wallace
         -Shooting
               -President's actions
                     -Contrasted with Hubert H. Humphrey's actions
                     -Call to Cornelia Wallace
                     -Increased Secret Service protection
                           -Edward M. Kennedy
                           -Shirley Chisholm
                           -Others
                     -Offer of Presidential suite at Bethesda Naval
                       Hospital
                     -Call to Mrs. Wallace
                           -Evaluated
                     -Contrasted with Humphrey
                     -Meeting with doctor

      Vietnam
          -President's decision to blockade
                      -The President’s view
                      -Support

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 5:03 pm.

      Material for President's signature
         -Hoopes

      Vietnam
          -North Vietnam
               -Reason for cease-fire proposal

MacGregor, Hoopes, and Bull left at 5:05 pm.

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.

This morning, the pressure they got in terms of personal business from delegations in the United States was absolutely unbelievable.

And I said, well, it was a pressure to tell the press, but what about the people?

Good God, the polls and so forth, you know that.

That isn't the way, that isn't the attitude of the country.

They're just hearing the rants.

I gave each of the senators that I was worried about a copy of the Harris Poll in case he missed it.

I will.

No.

Well, here's what we're hearing about, Mr. President.

There's been a whole series of feature stories.

I haven't read a time in this week.

I haven't read a news summary of what time in the news we get to say it.

And the bureaucratic problem about the Senate's spineless and its, you know...

They should make a foreign policy.

Well, how can they?

How can the Senate negotiate with Matt and Bill?

Yes.

I ask you to put in a gentleman's side of this.

He asked for the United States to enter into an agreement with the NLF.

For what?

Well, Mr. President, I hate to be perplexed because it did not get out of the point of being absolutely ridiculous.

By then, we would have appealed to the minister to call for an agreement for a verified ceasefire between the United States forces and the NLF.

which leaves the North Vietnamese with a chance to romp over Cambodia and Laos and South Vietnam, see?

Which makes no sense at all.

The NLF ain't fighting now, you know.

They're done.

It's straight as well for me, Mr. President.

Thank you for going through the audience.

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