On June 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), White House operator, Charles W. Colson, Manolo Sanchez, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:24 pm to 3:11 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 739-011 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 739-11
Date: June 21, 1972
Time: 1:24 - 3:11
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. Haldeman.
The President's earlier meeting with Nelson A. Rockefeller, James L. Buckley and John A.
Volpe
-Jacob K. Javits
(rev. Feb-02)
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/24/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w001]
[Duration: 3m 17s]
1972 campaign
-The President’s conversation with Herbert Stein
-George S. McGovern
-Tax reform
-Charitable contributions
-Exemptions and loopholes
-Welfare rights
-$1000 per person
-Amount
-Congressional Black Caucus
-Costs
*****************************************************************
Watergate
-Jack N. Anderson's commentary
-Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo
-White House reply
The President's schedule
-California
-Rebozo
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's schedule
-Chicago event
-Rebozo and Robert H. Abplanalp
-Accommodations
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/24/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w002]
[Duration: 3m 7s]
(rev. Feb-02)
1972 campaign
-Credibility of Administration
-John D. Ehrlichman’s concern
-George S. McGovern’s credibility
-Positions
-The President’s view
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s view
-As an issue
-George S. McGovern
-Edmund S. Muskie
-George S. McGovern
-Charles W. Colson
-Democratic opponents
-New York primaries
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Nelson A. Rockefeller and Barry M. Goldwater
-Integrity compared to the 1972 Democratic candidates
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Beliefs on George S. McGovern as Democratic nominee
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
-Camp David
-Timing
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Economic meeting
-Documentary film on the President
-The President's daily schedule
-Footage
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Cost of Living Council [COLC]
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Footage
-Time allotment
-Photographer from Ladies Home Journal
-The President’s view
-1968 campaign experience
-Quadriad meeting
Parochial school aid
-John D. Ehrlichman
(rev. Feb-02)
White House staff
-Writers
-Aram Bakshian
-Background
-Haldeman’s view
-William E. Brock, III
-Experience in Washington, DC
-Robert J. Dole
-Writing experience
-Rodney C. Campbell
-Hugh Morrow
-Rockefeller
-Kissinger
-Background
-Experience
-Compared to Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Winston Lord and Kissinger
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-Ronald L. Ziegler
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/19/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w003]
[Duration: 4m 48s]
Kevin P. Phillips
-Report
-Reputable candidates
Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-The President’s opinion
-1966 election [?]
Donald H. Rumsfeld
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Potential campaign chairman
Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
(rev. Feb-02)
-Inspirational abilities
Jack F. Kemp
Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-The President’s opinion
-1946 election [?]
Senate
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Potential Republican control
-Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
-J. William Fulbright
-John C. Stennis
-Potential defection to Republican Party [?]
House of Representatives
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Members
George S. McGovern
-The President’s concern
-Platform
-1960 presidential election
-Republican Party
-Chicago
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-1968 presidential election
-Republican Party
-Southern delegates
-Strom Thurmond
*****************************************************************
Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
-Staff
-Political philosophy
-William D. Ruckelshaus
Richard Wilson
-Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis
-Book on the President's meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev
(rev. Feb-02)
-Materials needed
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Cooperation by the President
-Timing of book
-The President’s view
-Haldeman’s view
The President's relations with the press
-Interviews
-Wire services
-US News and World Report
-Readers Digest
-Theodore H. White
-Methods
-The Making of a President 1960
-Effects of book on 1972 election
-Image of John F. Kennedy
-The President’s trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
Watergate break-in
-John N. Mitchell
-Charles W. Colson
-Role
-George S. McGovern
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/19/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w004]
[Duration: 6m 8s]
John N. Mitchell
-Instructions for H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Murray M. Chotiner
-Jack N. Anderson
-Expenses of the President's campaign staff
-The President’s opinion
-Murray M. Chotiner’s rule
-Avoid being ostentatious
-White House staff
-Usefulness to George S. McGovern
(rev. Feb-02)
-Jeb Stuart Magruder
-Staff
-Importance of discretion
-John N. Mitchell
-Murray M. Chotiner’s rule
-Use in 1968 election
-The President’s previous conversation in 1969 [?]
-Conduct of staff
-Drinking
-Air Force One
-Rose Mary Woods
-Teetotalers
-The President’s opinion
-Importance of optics [?]
1972 election
-Issues
-Conduct of the President’s campaign
-The President’s opinion
-Expenses
-Expectation of expenses
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
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1972 election
-Issues
-Maurice H. Stans
-Contributors
-McGovern's expenses in primaries
-Watergate
-Administration's public response
-Ehrlichman and International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT]
-Mitchell
-Clark MacGregor
-Colson
Ziegler
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:24 and 2:11pm.
[Conversation No. 739-11A]
(rev. Feb-02)
Forthcoming meeting with Ziegler
[End of telephone conversation]
The President left and re-entered at an unknown time between 1:24 and 2:11pm.
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:24 and 2:11
pm.
[Conversation No. 739-11B]
[See Conversation No. 25-105]
[End of telephone conversation]
Weather in Washington
The President talked with Colson between 2:11 and 2:15 pm.
[Conversation No. 739-11C]
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/18/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w005]
[Duration: 3m 10s]
[See Conversation 025-106]
[End of telephone conversation]
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/24/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w006]
[Duration: 1m 25s]
(rev. Feb-02)
1972 campaign
-George S. McGovern
-The President’s view
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 2:15 pm.
The President’s request
-Coffee
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:11 pm.
Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 2:15 pm.
1972 campaign
-George S. McGovern
-The President’s view
-George Meany
-Potential reaction to George S. McGovern
-Meetings
-Richard J. Daley
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Credibility
-Media coverage [?]
*****************************************************************
The President's forthcoming press conference
-Topics
-Foreign policy
-Vietnam
-Troop withdrawal
-Timing
-Domestic issues
-Vietnam
-Kissinger
-Future press conferences
-Foreign policy
-Legislation
-Vietnam
-Melvin R. Laird
-Press focus
(rev. Feb-02)
Public relations
-The President’s prime time television appearances
-Vietnam
-Busing speech
-The President’s trip to the PRC
-The President’s trip to the Soviet Union
-State of the Union
-American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations [AFL-CIO]
convention
-Coverage of trips to PRC and Soviet Union
-Network time allotment
-Prayer breakfast
-Arrival of Luis Echeverria Alvarez
-Swearing-in ceremonies
-Question and answer sessions
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-John B. Connally's Texas ranch
-Role of press
-Representation of American people
-Ziegler’s view
-Press conferences
-The President’s view
-Dan Rather interview
-State of Union
-Presidential trips
-PRC and Soviet Union
-Television coverage of the President's trips
-Comparison
-Lyndon B. Johnson trips
-Kennedy trips
-Effect of television
-Future press conference
-The President's response to questions
-Vietnam
-Political issues
-Effect of television
-The President’s view
-Possible responses
-McGovern
-Welfare reform
-The President's programs
-The President's press conference compared to Johnson’s and Kennedy's
-Press conference
(rev. Feb-02)
-Length
-Watergate break-in
-Press coverage
-Possible comments
-Pulitzer Prize
-New York Times
-Pentagon Papers comparison
-Network coverage
-The President's forthcoming press conference
-The President’s comments
-Ziegler’s view
-Mitchell
-Investigation
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/19/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[739-011-w007]
[Duration: 9m 43s]
Public relations
-John N. Mitchell
-George S. McGovern
-Press conferences
-Regularity
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Press conferences
George S. McGovern
-As potential candidate
-News media
-Supporters
-The President’s opinion
-Socialists
-Reporters' feelings
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s opinion
-Clayton Fritchie
-John F. Osborne
-New York Times reporters
-Television networks
-Joseph C. Kraft
(rev. Feb-02)
-The President’s opinion
-Israelites
Jews
-Harris poll
-Charles W. Colson
-Support for the President
-Percentages
-Arthur F. Burns's comments
-Yitzhak Rabin
-Henry A. Kissinger
-William L. Safire
-Max M. Fisher
-Taft Schreiber
-Support in 1960 and 1968 Presidential elections
-Judy Feldman
-Writing
-Ronald L. Zeigler’s opinion
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] [?]
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-The President
Media
-Television network executives
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s opinion
-Newspapers' response to George S. McGovern
-Bureau chiefs of regional papers
-Texas
-The Midwest
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s conversation with Paul L. Martin
George S. McGovern
-Economic program
-The President’s opinion
-Feelings of wealthy
-Publishers
-Television network executives
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s previous conversation with unknown people
-Movie event in California
-George S. McGovern’s policies
-Income distribution
-Feelings of wealthy
-Opponents of the President
-The President's foreign policy
(rev. Feb-02)
-The People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Joseph C. Kraft
-Murrey Marder
-Helen A. Thomas
-June 20, 1972 article
-Foreign leaders supporting the President’s re-election
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s opinion
*****************************************************************
Revenue sharing bill
-House vote
-Senate
Rockefeller
-Statement on meeting with the President
Press
-Connally
-Rockefeller
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Connally
-Questions
-The President’s treatment of press
-Kennedy
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Feelings toward the President
-Questioning in briefings and press conferences
-Coverage of the President's trips
-Reporting
-Advocacy
-The President’s view
-Strategic Arms Limitations Talks [SALT]
-Chou En-Lai
-Feelings toward the President
-Six Crises
-The President's reaction
-Laos
-Cambodia
-Demonstrations
-News summaries
(rev. Feb-02)
-Kennedy
-Eisenhower, Johnson, the President
-Concerns about press reporting
-Reporting
-Effect on Administration policy
-The President’s view
-Biases
-The President’s view
-Policies
-Johnson
-Relations with press
-Respect for the President
-Attitude toward McGovern
-Sander Vanocur
-Predilections of press
-Paul L. Martin
-Compared to Kennedy
-Jim Doyle (Washington Star)
-Marty Knowland (Boston Globe)
-Raymond W. Apple (New York Times)
-James J. Kilpatrick, Jr., Robert B. Semple, Jr., [First name unknown] Fulsom
-Wire services
-Forrest Boyd
-Peter Lisagor, Hugh S. Sidey, George Sherman
-Ziegler’s view
-Television coverage
-Martin Z. Agronsky show
-Sidey
-Ziegler’s view
-Agnew, Reagan
-Relations with the President
The President, Haldeman, and Ziegler left at 3:11 pm.