Conversation 767-021

On August 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Donald E. Johnson, John F. Evans, Jr., John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull and White House photographer, Ronald L. Ziegler, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Donald McI. Kendall, Mrs. Donald McI. Kendall, Donald McI. Kendall, Jr., Kent C. Kendall, Peter M. Flanigan, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:23 pm to 1:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 767-021 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 767-21

Date: August 11, 1972
Time: 12:23 pm - 1:02 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Donald E. Johnson, John F. Evans, Jr., and John D. Ehrlichman; Stephen
B. Bull and the White House photographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Greetings

       The President's schedule
            -George W. Romney's report on Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

       Photographs
            -Arrangements

       1972 election
            -Veteran organization conventions
            -Republican National Convention
            -George S. McGovern's schedule
                   -Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] convention
                         -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
            -The President's schedule
                   -American Legion convention
            -Agnew’s forthcoming appearance at the VFW convention

                                (rev. Nov-03)

Veterans Administration [VA] administrator
     -Cost of Living Council [COLC]
     -Johnson’s appointment to the Domestic Council
           -Domestic Council compared to the National Security Council [NSC]
     -Publicity in veterans press
           -Cabinet status of VA
                  -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
                  -Atomic Energy Commission [AEC]

Veterans affairs
     -Legislation
            -Cemetery bill [National Cemeteries Act]
                  -Department of Defense
     -Possible transfer of hospital from Public Health Service [PHS] to VA
            -Galveston, Texas
     -Legislation
            -The Administration’s support
                  -Social Security
                  -Veterans
                        -Johnson’s efforts
                              -Olin E. (“Tiger”) Teague
                              -Charles M. Teague
                              -William E. Timmons
            -Education bill
                  -Senate committee
                  -Olin Teague
                  -Senate Republicans
            -Medical bill
                  -Possible cuts
            -Cemetery bill
                  -Senate
            -Veto possibility
                  -“Instant Medical School” bill
                        -Olin Teague
                        -Opposition by the Administration
                        -Temple, Texas
                              -Possible pilot project
                                     -The President’s view
                                           -Otto E. Passman
            -Olin Teague

                                 (rev. Nov-03)

                 -The President's view
                 -Support for the President on national security
                 -Work with Democrats for Nixon
                      -John B. Connally
                      -A VA hospital director
                             -Carl A. Hatch Act
     -Johnson's work
          -Schedule before election
                 -Hatch Act
                 -Travel in key states
                      -New York
                      -Pennsylvania
                      -Ohio
                      -Illinois
                      -Michigan
                      -California
                      -Texas
                      -Talks with veterans and labor organizations
                             -Subjects
                                    -Armed services
                                    -Amnesty
                                    -National defense
          -Speeches
                 -Regional talk shows
                      -National defense

Johnson's schedule
     -Speeches
            -W. Ramsey Clark
                 -Statements from Hanoi
            -McGovern
                 -Comments on J. Edgar Hoover
                 -Support for Clark
                       -Possible Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] director
            -Amnesty issue
                 -Attack on McGovern
            -Johnson’s previous speeches at state veterans conventions
                 -Support for the President
                       -May 8, 1972 decision
                             -Mining
                             -Bombing

                                  (rev. Nov-03)

                        -Amnesty issue
            -Johnson’s trips to states
                  -Previous Cabinet meeting
                  -Appearances at state veterans conventions
                  -Other appearances
                        -Chamber of Commerce events
                        -Fundraisers
                        -Television shows
            -Los Angeles trip
                  -Marine Corps League national convention
                        -Gen. Robert E. Cushman, Jr.
            -Concern for Vietnam veterans
                  -Contrasted with concern for draft evaders
            -Los Angeles trip
                  -Appearance on KNBC
                        -Meet the Press style format
            -Amnesty
                  -The President’s view
                  -World War II experience
            -Jobs for veterans
                  -Servicemen returning to civilian workforce
                  -Decrease in unemployment
                  -Government service
                        -Number of Vietnam veterans working in VA
                  -The Administration’s responsiveness to veterans
                        -Joint program between VA and former Chairman of Equitable
                        Life
                        -Administration's record
                        -Civil service

George C. Wallace
     -Physical condition
           -Possible move date
           -Facilities in the governor’s mansion
                 -Equipment
                 -Personnel
     -Forthcoming call from Johnson
           -Cornelia Wallace
                 -Message from the President
                         -Offer of Johnson’s services
           -Use of White House operator

                                          (rev. Nov-03)

                   -Johnson’s possible visit with George Wallace

       Johnson's schedule
            -Travel

       Presentation of Presidential gifts
            -Cuff links

       The President’s daughter's visit to Iowa

       Presentation of Presidential gifts
            -Johnson’s wife

Johnson and Evans left and Ziegler entered at 12:41 pm.

       The President's forthcoming meeting with Donald McI. Kendall family
            -Cabinet Room

The President left at an unknown time after 12:41 pm.

       The President's schedule
            -Previous meeting with Johnson

Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:41 pm.

       Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's schedule
            -Meeting with the Kendall family
                  -Gold dessert service
                        -The President’s trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]

The President entered and Bull left at an unknown time before 12:44 pm.

       Romney
           -Announcement to press
                -Desire to return to private life
                      -Romney’s previous meeting with the President
                             -Public service
                             -The President's request for Romney to remain
                                   -Housing
                                   -Wilkes-Barre program
                -Future plans

                                         (rev. Nov-03)

             -Post Republican National Convention plans
                   -Romney’s forthcoming visit to San Clemente
                        -Timing of departure

Ehrlichman left at 12:44 pm.

       Milton J. Shapp

       R. Sargent Shriver
             -Shriver’s resignation letter
                   -Release by the State Department
                         -William P. Rogers
                         -State Department bureaucracy
             -Ziegler’s meeting with Hugh S. Sidey
                   -Sidey’s comments on McGovern
                   -Questions for Shriver on Meet the Press
                         -Shriver’s resignation letter
                         -Shriver’s request to remain in the administration
                               -Ehrlichman
                                      -Sidey’s possible meeting with Ehrlichman

Bull entered at 12:45 pm.

       Mrs. Nixon’s schedule

       Release of Shriver’s resignation letter

Mrs. Nixon entered and Ziegler left at 12:45 pm.

       The President's schedule
            -The President's meeting with Deborah (Murray) Sloan
                  -Timing
                         -Meeting with Kendalls
                  -Sloan’s pregnancy
                  -Sloan’s parents
                  -Mrs. Nixon’s participation
                         -Mrs. Nixon’s previous meeting with Sloan
            -The President's meeting with Kendall family
                  -Gifts
                         -Possible gift to Donald Kendall
                         -Kendall’s gifts to the President

                                         (rev. Nov-03)

                               -Golf clubs
                               -Golf balls
                         -Kendall sons
                         -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
                         -Sigrid Irmgard (Baroness Ruedt von Collenberg) (“Bim”) Kendall
                               -Pin

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:47 pm.

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 18s     ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

*****************************************************************

Donald Kendall, Sigrid Kendall, Donald McI. Kendall, Jr., Kent C. Kendall and Peter M.
Flanigan entered at 12:47 pm; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the
meeting.

       Greetings

       Introduction of children
             -Donald Kendall, Jr.
             -Kent Kendall

       Gift presentation to the President
             -Gold dessert service
                   -Manufacturing process
                   -Exclusion from future presidential library
                   -Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                   -Edward R.F. and Tricia Nixon Cox

       Photographs
            -Arrangements

                                  (rev. Nov-03)

Oval Office description
     -George Washington
     -Music box
     -Flags of the armed forces
           -Army
           -Navy
           -Air Force
           -Marine Corps
           -Coast Guard

Washington Monument

Donald Kendall
     -Pepsico
           -Products
                -Golf clubs

Publications
      -Expenditures
            -Color printing
            -Advertisements
            -Coca Cola
            -Democrats, Republicans

Photograph
     -Deaf boy [Michael Newton?]
           -Previous visit with the President
           -Instrument in ear

Presentation of Presidential gifts
     -Viewfinder
            -Apollo program
     -Tie clasp
     -Trinket
     -Cuff links
     -Pin
     -Putter
            -Presidential seal
            -Presidential signature

                                          (rev. Nov-03)

       [Business and Industry for the Re-election of the President?]
            -Boston
            -Chicago
            -Denver
            -Pittsburgh
            -Dallas
            -Unknown person's schedule
                   -Seattle, Dallas
            -Regional chairmen
            -City organizations
                   -Businessmen

       Dwarf tree
            -PRC

       Pandas
            -Photograph
            -National Zoo
            -PRC

       Rose Garden

       Donald Kendall

       Golf clubs
             -Possible use as head of state gifts
                   -Kakuei Tanaka
                         -Eisaku Sato
                         -Tanaka

Mrs. Nixon et al. left at 1:02 pm.

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.

I'm afraid we kept you waiting a long time.
We're having a little problem up there.
Sit down right here.
Mr. President, I have to get one photograph.
Sit over here.
They can all see you.
Yes, sir.
I should be broadly publicized and better unsuppressed.
in charge of the C.I.A.
and in charge of the Atomic Energy and all the rest of the connection gates, which I did put you in the cabins.
That's the...
Very good.
In other words, personally I'm very honored in the recognition of the VA and the role it has played
I agree with you, Mr. President.
PHS has
There are only two things I can't veto.
One, Social Security.
The other is federal, so there's not much.
On the other hand, don't put us in a very bad environment, as you can understand.
And so we want you to work with Tigerville, both of these.
That's not where the action is.
We'll do that.
We shall.
We didn't have that.
Get us a good bill.
I know you've been working with Jim at the restaurant, but get us the best possible bill you can.
Senate committee is, because he's grown up and works on the education bill, it's unfortunate.
And the Tiger is very much holding the line and being a very tough partner in the Congress.
And will continue to be.
And we need to give some help, the LA House staff as well as ourselves
The education bill, we have a big medical bill, which is part of your budget, which may come down.
We think it will come down before the election.
Those are the two big bills.
The cemetery bill seems to be moving, but knowing how the Senate operates, it may not make it before the public.
Do your best, Mr. Speaker.
the incident medical school bill, it's a 08748.
Now, the one thing, of course, there is an appropriation to go with the authorization.
So I don't know how we're going to handle it.
What sort of response do you get from T?
Anything at all?
No.
No.
He wants to tell you that it was good.
small thing.
We did it, right?
I guess it's a big thing.
That's what he got.
He survived.
I also want to say, he's a very awkward man.
I've never really talked to him.
I've never seen that guy.
He recognizes this and the
He does have, I know, some of his supporters very active in the John Connolly Edwards committee.
In fact, I learned that one of our hospital directors is his boy, so to speak, has disregarded the Hatch Act and he's doing work on it.
I guess everybody can do that.
The other thing is, John, I'd like to do,
in the period between the convention and the election.
a lot of labor are given to them.
Among those things, I would like me to talk not just about what we're doing for veterans, but the idea of honoring the men in the armed services.
I would attack the hell out of Amnesty.
I think you can make some news in some of these areas.
Now, when I say speeches, I also, when we possibly can, John, I want him to put on that basis that we have with others.
I want him on the talk shows in these areas.
The regional talk shows.
I didn't realize.
You heard about this Paul Ramsey Clark.
What he said about us was out there this time.
lie after the man did.
Hoover had lived beyond the moral years, so I couldn't deal with faithless.
I wouldn't for a young man.
I could feel nothing but relief that he was no longer a public servant.
I thought he had become a menace to justice.
Now listen to this.
as head of the FBI.
Now, I can tell you if I was out there, I could take that and kill all of them.
Here's a man giving aid and comfort to the enemy, to the communist enemy, that has caused 50,000 American deaths in Vietnam, and saying he would be perfect to see J. Edgar Hoover as head of the FBI with all the files and copies.
Edgar Hoover, the man who was the number one
My experience, when I went to the channel to make the statement, they didn't mention it.
But I don't worry about it.
Well, I don't.
That's right.
And that's all you need.
That's what we're after.
But the response, there were two things that always triggered response.
One was, thank you for their support of your actions in Vietnam.
My name is Bob.
Yes.
And the second one is always on energy.
Is that right?
It's broader and really specific.
Well, we, I think, have followed your instructions of the recent cabinet meeting we spoke to this.
Of course, in the past week, we've been talking about the state convention as an excuse for the trip.
There's always one other organization in the chamber, or a public fundraising
And the TV show is now this weekend.
I'm in Los Angeles.
I'm leaving now to go to the Marine Corps League tonight.
This is a nice little convention.
And I'm ready.
So the general commissioner will be there.
And we're proud.
And so he was just sitting there.
And I think it's time.
went out to Vietnam and served their time.
Some of them died, some of them, some of them back home.
And it's about time to put the emphasis where it belongs.
Who are the real heroes?
Not the slayers, but the people.
Boy, I believe that's wrong.
Well, yeah.
I'm against it.
the war.
Anyone who left the country, who did not serve, must pay a penalty.
Some guys paid with their lives, and they sure as hell didn't spend some time paying a penalty.
There's got to be an environment of amnesty for people, because they said, well, we don't have these three-fourths of each other's wars in the world.
I'm going to go to Canada.
You know why they went to Canada.
Most of us were scared to death.
Right?
Right.
Or they had some other charge against
I do it, of course, positively, as my wife has done constantly.
It does come up in any media interview.
I thought maybe it was the president who might have been arrested and then Governor Wallace, I don't know.
It's not up there.
suffering a great deal of internal infection.
There is an under access that may have to be operated on.
And then they will move.
But the equipment, the personnel, everything is all set.
We've got our stuff already in the mansion.
And it will be handled.
What I would like you to do after our conversation is I want you to call me.
gave the report, and the president said that you were to do, that you were their command for the battle.
And everything that's necessary that he deals with, he was a lawyer, a battler, who was willing to do everything we can to get him back.
The other thing I would suggest would be to help him with his travels.
I mean, it could be a good for him, just that we care about him, and that's not just his physical condition.
Oh!
I'll be back.
Wait a second.
Well, he's going to go out and say that
that he wanted to return to a private life, to engage in a private activity, which is directly related to public service.
It's an idea he's had for a long time.
The president requested he stay on because of the war with the council.
He's done that.
The rest of the time, he's deeply involved in the matter of what was first.
And he has no plans at this point.
What about in the future?
Well, of course, I'm going to go into this, but I've got nothing to announce now.
After your information, we're going to do it after the convention in Sacramento.
But he will, uh, they will actually speculate and get you to say, well, I don't understand.
But he'll go pre-election.
Oh, yes.
If he wants to go pre-election.
Fine with those.
This is whatever he wants.
Oh, I think that's great.
We're bridging today, right?
That's fine.
Okay, I'll just say that.
I'd say that when you go.
No, I would say that.
Well, I don't know if you're honest.
You see, if you put it out, I'm fighting this right now.
The president's fighting this right now.
I'm going to fight this right now.
Sidney said, Sidney was on the briefing.
And he said, he said, he said, I said, I'm in an administration scam.
I said, forget it.
I know you're not, Sidney.
You are for just a brief.
Yeah, I was giving it back to him.
He said, well, I'll tell you, McGovern scares the linen hell out of me.
This is Sidney.
He said, now look, he said, I'm on meet to press with Shriver on Sunday.
He said, do you have anything that I can do?
So I said, well, as a matter of fact, I said, as a matter of fact, you and I read him a letter, which was going to be released when he got a kick out of it.
I said, you know, I think I recall this, but at that time, when he left, the guy was really kind of begging around to say, oh, I said, you should talk to Earlyford about this.
So Earlyford can give him that information.
And then Shriver called him.
Okay, great.
Debbie Sloan, I want her to do today.
Is she here?
Yes, sir.
We'll do that right after.
the license of golf clubs.
All right.
All right.
All right.
Oh, look at you, dear.
Hi, honey.
How are you, honey?
That's a big load.
It weighs a ton.
It weighs a ton.
Oh, I can't hold it.
Oh, wait a minute.
You must have had a great dream last year.
Oh, of course.
You're six years old?
Five.
All right.
Thank you very much.
Oh, in your package.
In my package?
We'll get them.
I'll tell you what we'll do with them.
They're two layers.
Oh, two layers.
This is beautiful.
Hey, we can't use this.
I'll make it this year.
This is an 1837.
This is the first gold.
Well, because the cocks have got all kinds of bad taste.
Well, they sure have.
From what you can say on it, and the propellers included.
Well, that's the time.
Let me, uh, let me try two different things.
I'm going to try one.
You come over here.
Not you, necessarily.
Come on.
You stand up.
Come on, Pat.
Don't forget.
Don't forget that.
Just stand up.
Come on, come on.
Don't stand away.
You stand right here like that.
You stand here like this.
You stand here and I'm fine.
Look out here.
Smile real big.
Real big.
Now I'm going to try another.
I'm going to try another.
Oh, my God.
Right.
Good.
I'm 12 and he's 5.
Mommy's going to take me up to the big tower.
Oh, the what, honey?
And me, the big tower.
Right.
And they're all the Americans who are at the market.
They're all the blacks who are at the market.
He's the president of Mexico.
Mexico?
I know he's the president.
Lincoln.
My dad is going to give me a small car.
He is?
Well, that's great.
It's all gone.
Yes, aren't you?
They cut a big man's side and got a children's side.
And that's a beautiful house up there, isn't it?
A marvelous place.
Yes.
Oh, here's the project.
First time down the line.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I love that.
Well, that's what my dad's driver had when he couldn't hear me.
He had a phone that was in his ear.
That's exactly the same thing.
How does it take to go out?
That's exactly the same thing.
No, you brought us something.
You brought us something.
Now we got a new present.
This is a viewfinder.
Here's a tie.
You don't have to wear a tie.
Here's a little thing for you.
It's a seal with a bow.
These are the new products, John.
This is a special pearl pin for a seal.
Only for special people.
And, Don, we haven't got a nice set of golf clubs.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
No, you don't show him anything.
He's really, really proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
I'm proud of you.
I wish you would, because he's going to get to Dallas by 1220 and talk to you.
And he hasn't missed one of the meetings.
And we finally have one.
We've now got, I don't know, every city's governor.
We've got 321 city governors.
So we're kind of busy.
Yeah, we got there all too all the way inside.
My dad has gave me one of those.
Oh, yeah, it's mine.
And he's gave me money for one of the presents.
Then I wanted to sell it out.
Hey, help.
He's a rock.
My daddy's a rock.
And Candy, too.
That's right.
Good dream.
Thank you.
Thank you.
What are you doing?
You're good.
That's right.
Look at that.
I'll show you something else.
Come here.
You were talking about the peace in the world.
I'll show you something.
This is a tree we brought back from China.
That's 30 years old, that tree.
It's what they call the world tree, the world of mine, all the way from China, 30 years old.
Have you seen the pandas?
The pandas?
You know, you know the pandas.
Oh, well, thank you.
Good for you.
Do you have a driver?
We're going to open the whole class.
Give it back.
Okay.
I hear you.
Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
We're important people.
Oh, hey.
I don't know what I was about to tell him.
This is a knockout.
He said knockout.
Thank God.