President Nixon met with departing Ambassador to India Kenneth B. Keating and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. to discuss Keating's tenure in India, his upcoming domestic political activities, and foreign policy strategy for the 1972 election. They reviewed Keating's conversations with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and analyzed the political risks of George McGovern's defense proposals, specifically regarding Israel and nuclear deterrence. The meeting concluded with President Nixon presenting Keating with an commemorative watch in recognition of his service.
On August 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Kenneth B. Keating, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:14 am to 11:28 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 768-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 768-8
Date: August 14, 1972
Time: 11:14 am - 11:28 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Kenneth B. Keating and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Greetings
Indira Gandhi
-The President’s view
-Women
-Keating’s cable to the President
-The President’s view
-Jawaharlal Nehru
-Political support
-Right-wing communists
-Left-wing communists
-Gandhi’s previous conversation with Keating
-Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI-(M)]
Keating's schedule
-State Department
-Debriefing
-New York
-Republican National Convention
-New York delegation
-Honorary delegates
-[Nelson A. Rockefeller]
-State officials
-Blacks
-Women
-Youth
Composition of the President’s staff
-Quota system
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Herbert Stein
-Federal Reserve Board [FRB]
(rev. Nov-03)
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Effect of hypothetical quota system
-Firing of staff members
-Henry A. Kissinger
The President’s image
-Golda Meir
-Jewish leaders
-New York
Foreign policy
-Israel
-George S. McGovern’s pledge to provide troops
-McGovern’s plan to reduce naval forces
-Aircraft carriers
-McGovern’s plan to reduce aid to Greece
-Syria
-Jordan
-Threat of US-Soviet Union mutual annihilation
-John Foster Dulles
-Massive retaliation
-US strength compared to the Soviet Union
-Current equivalence of US and Soviet Union forces
-Sixth Fleet
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 29s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
*****************************************************************
(rev. Nov-03)
US foreign relations
-Israel
-Support of US forces
-[McGovern]
-Support of US deterrence of the Soviet Union
-McGovern
-The President’s reliability
-Remarks by Meir
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 39 ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Keating’s experience as ambassador to India
-India-Pakistan conflict
-India-US relations
-William P. Rogers
Keating’s forthcoming public statements
-Issues
-Jews
-The President’s previous trip to Poland
-Reception by Polish people
-Economics
-Redistribution of wealth
-Permissiveness
-Keating’s experience as a judge
-Audience
-Italians
-Other urban groups
-W. Ramsey Clark
(rev. Nov-03)
-Actions in Hanoi
-Possible director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations [FBI]
-Judicial appointments
-Police
-Civil rights
-Police
-Previous support of Keating
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:14 am.
Presentation of Presidential gift
-Watch
-Presidential seal
-[Faisal, King of Saudi Arabia] Malik Faisal ibn Abd
al-Aziz al-Saud
1972 election
-The President’s role
-Keating’s view
-Keating
-Forthcoming speeches on foreign policy
Bull, Keating, and Haig left at 11:28 am.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.