Conversation: 784-021
Prev:  784-020 Next: 784-022Start Date: 21-Sep-1972 12:25 PM
End Date: 21-Sep-1972 2:01 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; Woods, Rose Mary; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On September 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:25 pm to 2:01 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 784-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 784-21 Date: September 21, 1972 Time: 12:25 pm - 2:01 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 13m 45s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ***************************************************************** US-Soviet Union wheat deal -Federal Bureau Investigation [FBI] report -Release -Timing -John D. Ehrlichman -Conversation with Haldeman -Appearance of impropriety 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 5m 35s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ***************************************************************** Vietnam War -[George S. McGovern] -John B. Connally -Polls -Support for the President's policies -Bombing, mining, prisoners of war [POWs] -Casualties -Press coverage -Radio -Walter L. Cronkite, Jr. -Airplane -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] News -Historical perspective ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 8m 4s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ***************************************************************** The President's visit to the People's Republic of China [PRC] -Public image -Thomas E. Dewey 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -The President’s meetings with Chou En-lai -Ceremonial aspects -Chou En-lai -Coat -George E. Christian’s view -America the Beautiful -Film -Shanghai Communiqué -Background -Chou En-lai -Coat -Haldeman's home movies -Haldeman’s California friends -Soviet Union trip -Appearance compared to substance ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 2m 20s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ***************************************************************** 1972 campaign -Issues -Vietnam -POWs -Polls -McGovern’s speech, September 20, 1972 -Administration announcement of zero casualties -Emotion -Fragment bombs -Racial connotations -Administration reports -Racial aspect of war -Double standard 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Burundi Foreign policy -Double standard -State Department -Henry A. Kissinger -The President’s recent conversation with Kissinger -Ethnic concerns -Jews -Israel -Catholics -Burundi -State Department -Recall of US ambassador [Robert L.Yost] -State Department -African governments -Biafra -Catholics -State Department -Nigeria -Ibo tribe -African governments -Genocide -Burundi -Killed -Proportion of total population -Heads of families -Perspective -US -Soviet Union -Hungarians -Ukrainians -Communists -PRC -Visit by Theodore H. (“Teddy”) White -Shanghai -Stores, shops -English speakers -Language training -Communist training -Japan -Unknown city 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Shanghai -English speakers -Interpreter -White’s Chinese language skills Vietnam War -McGovern's possible visit to Hanoi -Release of three POWs -Edward M. Kennedy’s possible trip to Stockholm -Kissinger -Response -Otto E. Passman -Kennedy announcement -Politicization charges -Request of [Carl B. Albert] and [Michael J. Mansfield] -Bipartisan delegation -News summary -Political interest -Selection -Brainwashing -Press conference -US -Compared to Korean War POWs -North Vietnamese -Possible fate in US -Officer status -Brainwashing -Kissinger’s view -Escaped POW Personnel management -Brig. Gen. Daniel (“Chappie") James, Jr. -The President’s recent conversation with Melvin R. Laird -James’s position -Promotion to Major General -Air Force list -Kissinger -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Blacks -Pentagon and Air Force reorganization -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger -James 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Possible role as spokesman -Blacks -Richard M. Nixon Doctrine 1972 election -James -Use of speech by Presidential surrogates -Haldeman -Ehrlichman -William F. (“Billy”) Graham -POWs -Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. -Hijacking -Possibility as speaker -Singing ability -Vietnam -Audience composition -Blacks -Whites ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [Privacy] [Duration: 12s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 ***************************************************************** -Racism -Southerners -McGovern's campaign -Campaign dinners -The President's campaign -New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles -Tone -Patrick J. Buchanan 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -McGovern's campaign -Mock theater groups -Staged bombings -Anti-war demonstrators -Actions in Washington, DC -Flag burnings, bombings, vandalism -Actions in Miami during Republican National Convention -John W. Bricker -Buses -South Carolina -Ohio -Television coverage -Radicals -The President’s need to note -Tear gas -Audience ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 1m 19s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 ***************************************************************** -R. Sargent Shriver's Texas visit on September 22, 1972 -Use of television -Visit to Texas -The President's visit to Laredo border station and [Rio Grande] High School -Chicanos -Al Capp -The President’s reception on college campuses -Charles W. Colson -Hecklers -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -Viet Cong flags 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Politics -Hecklers -McGovern -1968 campaign -Hubert H. Humphrey -Kennedy ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 1m 54s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 ***************************************************************** The President's schedule -Forthcoming speech draft -Rio Grande High School -Timing -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -John B. Connally Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 12:25 pm and 2:13 pm. [Conversation No. 784-21A] The President's speech draft -Schedule -Rio Grande High School -Laredo [End of telephone conversation] The President's schedule -Visit to Laredo, Texas customs border patrol station -Statement -The President’s appreciation 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Talking paper -Richard A. Moore -Procedures -Rio Grande High School -Michigan -Courtesy talk -Student assembly -Reciprocal visit -Mexican-American heritage -The President’s background as Southern Californian -Opportunity -Students as example for others -Judge Mario E. Ramirez -Daughter -Projected welcome -Band -Laredo -Connally -Lloyd M. Bentsen -Democrat Congressmen [Elgerio (“Kika”) de la Garza and Abraham Kazan] and Bentsen -McGovern -Democrats for Nixon -Rio Grande High School -Democrats for Nixon ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 1m 33s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 ***************************************************************** Support for the President's policies -Vietnam War issue -Volatility 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Events -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision on bombing and mining -White -Need for analysis -The President's trip to Moscow Media coverage of Vietnam War -Haldeman’s conversation with White about forthcoming book -1972 election -Cambodia -PRC -June 30, 1970 -Laos, 1971 -May 8, 1972 decision -Issue of passivity -Mining, bombing -[Arnold] Eric Sevareid -Soviet Union summit -The President's trip to Soviet Union -Negotiation of peace treaty -Kissinger meetings with Le Duc Tho -Paris Post-1972 election plans -Administrative organization -Timing -First thirty days An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:25 pm. Instruction The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm. Post-1972 election plans -Generosity -Press -Bureaucracy -Advisability -Administrative reorganization -The President's conversation with Kissinger -Loyalty 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -U. Alexis Johnson -Ambassadorial appointment -Kissinger -State Department, Defense Department -Loyalty compared to intelligence -Schools -News story -Compared to Cambodia, Laos, May 8, 1972 decision -Weinberger -Ehrlichman -Appointment of agency heads -Compared to ambassadorships -Budget -Arms Control and Disarmament Agency [ACDA] -Arms Control Advisory Committee -Meetings -Congress -Agnew -Appeals -The President's involvement -Possible presidential memorandum -Agnew -Relationship with the President -Responsibilities -[National Aeronautics and Space Council] -Congressional relations -Colson -Photograph sessions with Democratic Congressmen -John E. Nidecker -Bryce N. Harlow -1969 -Compared to William E. Timmons -“New Establishment” -Charles H. Percy -Kissinger's breakfast -Clark MacGregor's dinner -Plans for Illinois -Ehrlichman -[Charles E. Goodell] -New York -Percy -Arthur F. Burns 37 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -White House gifts -Watches -The President's relations with his staff, cabinet -Camp David -Use -Example -[William P. Rogers] Presidential yacht -Requisition of new boat -Seqouia -Navy -Secretary of the Navy -Secretary of Defense -Requisition of new boat -Gift -Tax deduction -Possible docking places -Potomac River -Key Biscayne, Florida -Annapolis, Maryland -Helicopter -Possible cruise -Bahamas -Caribbean Sea The President's post-1972 election plans for remodeling the White House -The President’s forthcoming conversation with Thelma C (“Pat”) Nixon -Kitchen and pantry in family quarters -Appearance -Age -Function -Service capacity -Main kitchen -Dumbwaiter -Bedrooms -Refrigerators -Timing -Sink -Wet bar -Kitchen -Yellow Oval Room 38 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Coffee -Wet bar -Bathroom -Sink -Plumbing Reorganization -Jobs -The President's conversation with Ehrlichman -Ethnic, religious, political concerns -Catholics, Italians, Poles, Democrats -Labor -Colson -Ambassadorships -Secretary of Labor -Businessmen -Donald F. Rodgers -Democrats -Connally's recommendations -Christian -Peter M. Flanigan -Possible commission chairmanship -Confirmation -Subtlety -Herbert G. Klein -Robert H. Finch -Supreme Court nominees -Ehrlichman's concerns -Qualifications -Catholicism -Conservatism -Ethnic groups -William H. Mulligan -Fordham University -John A. (“Jack”) Mulcahy -Catholics -Italians -Joseph L. Tauro -Support for the President -Qualifications -Women -Jews 39 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Herbert Stein, Kissinger -Cabinet -Weinberger -Catholics -Italians, Irish -Quota -William French Smith of California -Cabinet appointments -Frank C. Carlucci -Italian background -Catholicism, labor, ethnic groups -Negroes -Jews -Democrats -Secretary of Labor -Rodgers -Background -Catholicism -Undersecretary -“New Establishment” -Walter J. Hickel, George W. Romney, John A. Volpe -Volpe -Campaigning -Work habits -Possible ambassadorship to Italy -Kissinger -Foreign policy -The President's role -The Establishment -Ehrlichman -Advance trip -The Establishment -Military services -Congress -Republican appointments -US attorneys, judges, customs officials -Democratic appointments -Humphrey -Voting -Political philosophy -Peter G. Peterson -[Sally (Hornbogen) Petersen] 40 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Helmut (“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt -[Marjorie (Hecht) Sonnenfeldt] -Loyalty -Haldeman’s view -Writing for Kissinger Jews -Leonard Garment -Kissinger -William L. Safire -Stein -Burns -Garment -Loyalty Rose Mary Woods entered at 2:00 pm. Delivery Weather The President’s schedule -Dinner Woods left at 2:01 pm. The President's and family’s medical records -Story about break-in at Dr. John C. Lungren's office, September 20, 1972 -Los Angeles police report -Vault in safe -Gen. Walter R. Tkach -Possible copy of files -Publication of files -Finger printing -Woods's concern -Dr. Arnold A. Hutschnecker ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 41 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) [Personal returnable] [Duration: 31s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 ***************************************************************** -Effect on 1972 election -Media coverage -Lungren’s possible statement -Age of records -Lungren’s last examination of the President -Timing -Between 1968 election and inauguration ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 36s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 ***************************************************************** -Possible motivation -Selling -Possible inside job -The President’s family -Handling -Lungren’s inquiry -Nature of records -Effect on Watergate story -Perpetrators -Instructions for Haldeman to call Lungren -Nature of records 42 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 1m 12s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14 ***************************************************************** -Haldeman’s forthcoming telephone call to Lungren -Quality of story -Publication of files -Possible further break-ins -White House -Camp David -Key Biscayne -San Clemente ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 28s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 -The President’s family -McGovern McGovern -Ft. Wayne -Use -Kenneth W. Clawson 43 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov-03) -Harold E. Hughes -Iowa -Alcoholism ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16 [Privacy] [Duration: 44s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16 ***************************************************************** -Use -Threat ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 54s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17 ***************************************************************** Break-in to Lungren’s office -Possible publication of records The President and Haldeman left at 2:13 pm.