Conversation: 788-018
Prev: 788-017 Next: 788-019Start Date: 29-Sep-1972 5:15 PM
End Date: 29-Sep-1972 6:30 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On September 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:15 pm and 6:30 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 788-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 788-18
Date: September 29, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:16 pm and 6:30 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Stephen B. Bull.
H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman's schedule
John D. Ehrlichman's schedule
Ehrlichman entered at 5:21 pm.
Bull left at an unknown time before 5:50 pm.
Spending ceiling
-House of Representatives
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Ways and Means Committee
-Amendment to debt ceiling extension
-George H. Mahon
-Carl B. Albert
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs
-Opposition
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Staff meeting
44
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Mahon staff member
-Mills staff member
-Opportunities for the administration
-Expenditures
-Lower taxes
-Support
-Embarrassment
-House Democrats
-Possibility of rebuff
-The President's role
-Republican Congressional leadership
-Surrogates
-Major efforts
-Public interest groups
-Business lobby
-Timing
-Plans
-Meeting
-Possible briefing
-The President
-The President’s view
-Ehrlichman's possible role
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Possible Republican Congressional leadership role
-Cabinet meeting
-William E. Timmons's list
-Letter
-Surrogate
-Outside group support
-Republican challengers issue
-Conference spokesmen
Andrei A. Gromyko’s schedule
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] signing
-Henry A. Kissinger's schedule
Budget
-Meeting with the President
-Key Republican leaders
-Gerald R. Ford
-Leslie C. Arends
-Barber B. Conable, Jr.
45
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Plan
-Mills
-Albert
-Boggs
-Mahon
-Timmons's conversation with Mills
-Possible partisan motivation
-The President’s view
-Environmental statement
-San Francisco
-Spending bills
-Pocket veto
-Water bill
-Possible veto message
-Previous recommendation by the President
-Tax increase
-Veto
-Departments of Labor and Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
appropriations bill
-Veto
-Audio and video Speech
-The President's previous video speech
US-Soviet Union grain deal
-Haldeman's schedule
-Earl L. Butz
-Preparation
Previous Cost of Living Council [COLC] meeting
-Ehrlichman's schedule
-The President’s view
-Rent
-Senior citizens
-Arthur S. Fleming
-The president’s previous meeting with Robert E. Merriam
-Surrogates
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
Bull entered at an unknown time after 5:21 pm.
Haldeman's schedule
-Grain deal
46
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
Bull left at an unknown time before 5:50 pm.
1972 Presidential election
-Tax bill
-Ehrlichman's previous meeting
-Department of Treasury information
-John N. Andrews, Jr.
-Radio speech
-Problems of elderly
-Radio speeches
-Debt ceiling
-Future
Grain deal with the Soviet Union
-Handling by government officials
-Grain trading
-Industry role
-Clarence D. Palmby
-Job offer
-Negotiations with Soviet Union
-Carroll G. Brunthaver
-Press release
-Telephone calls to grain dealers
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] special
-False allegations
-Previous Department of Agriculture knowledge of Soviet crop failure
Haldeman entered at 5:50 pm.
-Agricultural attache report
-Moscow
-Facts
-Department of Agriculture
-Chronology
-Butz
-Midwest
-Possible radio address
-Explanation
-Three farm editors
-Meet the Press format
-Possible press conference
47
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Importance of radio
-Question and answer on radio
-Rationale
-The President’s view
-Palmby
-Butz’s view
-Possible changes
-Using industry officials
-Butz's credibility
-Three issues
-Disadvantage to taxpayers
-Possible US subsidy to Soviet Union
-Conflict of interest
-Palmby
-Brunthaver
-Change in policy
-Grain dealer notification
-Confusion
-Democratic information
-14 government officials from grain industry
-The President's law firm
-John N. Mitchell
-Cargill Company
-Representation
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] investigation
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-White House involvement
-Butz's responsibility
-Price consideration
-Cargill Company
-Reaction of farmers
-Louis P. Harris Poll
-The President’s standings in Midwest
-Butz's handling of issue
-Schedule
-Figures of poll standings
-Charles W. Colson
-Harris poll
-Ratings decreases
-Possible reason
-Midwest
-South
48
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-West
-Michigian
-Detroit Daily News poll
-Minnesota
-Iowa
The President's schedule
-The President's forthcoming meeting with Republican Congressional leaders
-Timing
-Gromyko
-Revenue sharing ceremony in White House
-List of mayors to invite
-Mayors for George S. McGovern
-John V. Lindsay
-Joseph Alioto
-San Francisco, California
-Henry W. Maier
-Milwaukee, Wisconsin
-R. Sargent Shriver
-Lindsay
-Alioto
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
US Soviet Union grain deal as issue
-Poll importance
-The President’s view
-Midwest
-Chicago
-Detroit
-Columbus
49
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Indianapolis
-Concern over grain
-Butz’s view
-Storage sale
-Japan
-Wheat market
-Harris poll
The President's schedule
-Monday meeting
-Ehrlichman’s role
-Timmons
-Cabinet Room
-Timing
-Gromyko
Ehrlichman left at 5:53 pm.
1972 Presidential election
-Possible use of information
-Kenneth W. Clawson's schedule
-White House role
-Mitchell
Radio talks by the President
-Issues
-Ehrlichman
-Number
-Timing
Bull entered at an unknown time after 5:53 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Kissinger and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Bull left at an unknown time before 6:03 pm.
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
50
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 7m 39s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
*****************************************************************
Kissinger and Haig entered at 6:03 pm.
Haig’s forthcoming trip to Saigon
-Vietnam peace negotiations
Haldeman left at 6:05 pm.
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Relations with US
-Haig’s forthcoming meeting with Thieu
-Haig’s instructions
-US support
-US-Soviet Union summit
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Bombing
-Mining of Haiphong
-End of war
-The President’s view
-Importance
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Peace negotiations
-Options
-Haig’s view
-Kissinger’s view
-Importance of effort
-Strength and moderation
-Lyndon B. Johnson’s example
-Bombing
-Peace proposal
-Rejection of peace proposal
-Haig’s view
-Chance of non-Communist government
51
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-The President’s view
-North Vietnamese aims
-Thieu resignation
-North Vietnamese Army
-South Vietnam
-US proposals
-North Vietnamese withdrawals
-South Vietnam
-Laos
-Cambodia
-Constituent assembly
-Haig’s forthcoming meeting with Thieu
-Importance of withdrawal
-Election in US
-POW issue
-Structure of meeting with Thieu
-Past interest representation
-1968
-Johnson
-1968 election
-Domestic problems
-Difference between 1968 and 1972
-Strategic situation
-Senate support
-Legislation
-Haig’s previous meeting with Thieu
-October, 1971
-Thieu’s position
-May 1972 statement
-Detailing counterproposal
-Effect to Thieu
-Advisory group
-South Vietnamese forces
-Constituent assembly
-New constitution
-Possible South Vietnamese election
-Electoral commission
-Unanimity requirement
-1972 Presidential election effect
-Support for Thieu
-The President’s view
-Support for previous policy
52
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-US casualties and POWs
-Soviet Union
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-US and South Vietnamese casualties
-Differences
-Instructions to Haig
-Thieu
-Response to peace proposal
-Timing
-US relations with Thieu
-Possible George S. McGovern reaction
-Previous position
-Support
-Haig’s forthcoming meeting with Thieu
-House of Representatives
-Senate
-Media
-Student rioting
-Agreement
-North Vietnamese proposals
-Kissinger’s assessment
-Protection of Saigon
-Committee on National Reconciliation
-Haig’s forthcoming meeting with Thieu
-Transportation to Saigon
-Aircraft
-Air Force
-List of staff accompanying Haig
-John Negroponte
-Aid in negotiations
-Weapons expert
-Department of State
-Importance of ending war
-Risk of break
-1972 Presidential election
-Plans after election
-B-52s
-Reaction to proposals
Haig’s schedule
Haig left at 6:20 pm.
53
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
US-Soviet Union grain deal
-Soviet Union position
-Announcement of trade agreement
-Figures
-Israeli exit visas
-Peter G. Peterson
-Timing of trade agreement
-1972 Presidential election
-Kissinger’s view
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Public opinion
-Knowledge of Soviet food situation
-Farmers' reaction
-Foreign policy
-Dealings with the Soviets
-Startegic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT]
-Liberals
-Joseph C. Kraft and Milton Viorst
-Charges
-Wheat deal
-Hedley W. Donovan
-Criticism of the President
-Linkage of issue
-Middle East
-Egypt
-Soviet offensive weapons
-Vietnam
-Mining of Haiphong Harbor
-Liberals
-The President’s view
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 19s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
54
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
*****************************************************************
US-Soviet Union relations
-Trade agreement
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Brezhnev
-Peterson
-Gromyko
-William P. Rogers
-State Department
-Possible leaks
-SALT II
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s forthcoming press briefing
-Questions
-North Vietnamese
-Kissinger's previous trip to the Soviet Union
-News coverage of briefing
-Questions on Vietnam
Substance of Kissinger's forthcoming press conference
-SALT agreement
-Vietnam trip
-Separation of questions
Kissinger's schedule
-Peter Peterson
-Trade agreement
-Timing
-Haig
Forthcoming dinner
-Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home
Kissinger left at 6:30 pm.