Conversation No. 799-19

Date: October 16, 1972
Time: 11:42 am. - 12:54 pm
Location: Oval Office


The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

         The President's schedule
             -Use of the President for news coverage
             -Television [TV]
             -The President's recent appearance before National League of Families of
             American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
                      -Henry A. Kissinger
                      -Possibility of questions challenging the
                       President's Vietnam War policy
                      -The President's statement on amnesty
                           -News coverage
                      -The President’s statement on opinion leaders
                           -News coverage

John D. Ehrlichman entered at 11:44 am.

         Congressional relations
            -Water bill
                 -Draft for the President
                                            22
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)

                 -Quorum problems
                     -Michael J. Mansfield
                         -Possible return of congressmen
                 -News coverage
            -Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] II announcement
                 -Timing
                     -Kissinger

        Announcements
            -The President's radio speech
                -Location
                     -Camp David, Oval Office, Executive Office Building [EOB], Residence,
                      Treaty Room, Map Room, Theater
                -Announcement
                     -Timing
                          -SALT II
            -Camp David trip
            -Philadelphia trip
                -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, Donald H. Rumsfeld
                     -Rumsfeld’s location
                          -Chicago
                          -Clarence D. Ward
            -SALT II
            -Conference on European Security and Cooperation
                -Kissinger
                     -State Department
            -SALT II
        US – Soviet Union trade agreement
            -Radio speech
            -US – Soviet Union trade agreement
                -Timing
                     -Kissinger’s schedule
                     -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.


Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 11:44 am and 12:49 pm.

[Conversation No. 799-19A]

        Haig's schedule

        William L. Safire
                                             23
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Nov-03)


[End of telephone conversation]

        The President’s schedule
            -Camp David
            -Philadelphia

        News coverage
           -Kissinger

        Radio speech announcement

        Congressional relations
           -Social Security bill
                -Possible signature
                    -Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
                         -Possible veto
                              -Payroll taxes
                         -Budget impact
                         -Possible signature
                         -Water bill

                               -Veto
                                    -Timing
                                         -Senior citizens
                                         -Environmentalists
             -Seventy-one bills for presidential action
                 -Ehrlichman’s view
             -Water bill veto
                 -Timing
                     -News coverage
                           -The President’s radio speech
                           -SALT II
             -Congress
                 -Social Security legislation
                     -Ehrlichman’s advice
                           -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
                     -George P. Shultz, Weinberger, Charles W. Colson, Elliot L. Richardson
                     as advisers
                     -Arthur S. Flemming
                     -Clark MacGregor
                     -John B. Connally
                                      24
             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Nov-03)

                  -The President's October 17, 1972 meeting

Philadelphia revenue sharing signing ceremony
    -Independence Hall
         -Number of guests
         -Courtyard
             -Liberty Bell
         -Press, cameras
         -Declaration of Independence Room
             -Benjamin Franklin
         -Public viewing
             -Frank L. Rizzo
                  -Supporters
    -Weather forecast

Media relations
   -Ehrlichman's October 15, 1972 interview on American Broadcasting Corporation
     [ABC]
        -Daniel L. Schorr's interview request
             -Ehrlichman’s refusal
             -Schorr's brother's involvement with George S. McGovern's campaign
             -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
                 -George Herman interview
                      -House Resolution [HR] 1

Congressional relations
   -Social Security
   -Water bill
        -Possible lawsuit
            -Withholding of funds
                 -Constitutional authority
   -Labor-HEW
   -Veto
        -George H. Mahon
            -Continuing resolution
   -Product safety bill
        -Signature
        -Independent product safety agency
            -Executive branch
                 -Second term plan
   -Executive, judicial, legislative salaries
        -Commission
                                     25
             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                             Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. Nov-03)

        -Time frame
        -Appointment by Agnew, [Warren E. Burger], [Carl B. Albert]
        -Pay Board
             -George H. Boldt appointment
        -The President’s view
             -Cabinet
        -Congressional staffs
        -General Schedule [GS] salaries
             -Cost of living increases
    -Circuit Court boundaries revision

Watergate
   -John W. Dean's October 16, 1972 talk with Donald H. Segretti
        -Segretti's conversation with lawyer
             -Disclosure of information
             -Statement
                  -White House involvement
                       -Affidavit
   -Legal action against Washington Post
        -Sullivan v. New York Times Co.
        -Time Inc. v. Hill
             -The President’s involvement
        -Public reaction
             -Theodore Roosevelt
                  - [Roosevelt v. Newett]
             -Unknown person
                  -Time
        -Segretti
             -Allegations
        -Time Inc. v. Hill
             -Film [The Desperate Hours]
             -Supreme Court decision
                       -Tom C. Clark, Earl Warren, Abe Fortas, John M. Harlan
                  -Position of public figures
             -Libel
                  -Deposition
                       -Timing
                           -1972 election
   -Democratic lawsuit
        -Edmund S. Muskie
   -Lawsuit against Washington Post
        -Veracity of charges
                                            26
                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)

               -Ronald L. Ziegler
               -Washington Star
               -Public reaction
               -Plea
                    -Summary judgment
               -1962 legal action
                    -Election
               -Possible Segretti suit
               -Dean
               -Post-1972 election action
                    -Disbarment proceedings
           -Lawsuits
               -Maurice H. Stans's suit against Lawrence F. O'Brien, Jr.
               -Washington Post
                    -Building dedication ceremony
           -Ziegler
               -Job, performance
                    -May 8, 1972 decision
                        -Peter Lisagor

       The President's comments to National League of Families
           -May 8, 1972 decision by the President
               -Reaction
                    -Opinion leaders
                         -Media, business, universities
           -The President's position on amnesty
               -Casualties
               -Prisoners of war [POWs], missing in action [MIAs]
               -Audience reaction
           -Fate of POWs
           -Amnesty issue
               -McGovern October 15, 1972 statement
                    -Veterans
                    -Conditions


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m 58s ]
                                            27
                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                    Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. Nov-03)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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


       Press and media relations
           -Amnesty
                -The President’s comments to the National League of Families
                     -News coverage
                          -Ehrlichman’s recent CBS interview
                               -Edits
                                    -Schorr
           -Ziegler
                -Job performance, temperament
                -Press conference
                -The President's meeting with Ziegler
                     -The President's backing for Ziegler compared to Lyndon B. Johnson and
                     George E. Christian
                -Briefings
                     -Domestic policy
                     -Foreign policy
                          -Work with Kissinger, National Security Council [NSC]
                               -Difficulties
                -Background
                -Intelligence, aptitude, competitiveness, temperament
                     -Work with Haldeman
                -Competitiveness
                -Comparison with Herbert G. Klein
                     -Klein's relations with press
                          -Precision
                -Understanding of the press
                -Integrity
                -Washington Post, New York Times, Time, Newsweek, CBS,
                 ABC, National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]
                     -Post-1972 election access to White House
                          -Washington Star, Chicago Tribune, U.S. News and World Report

       Appointments
          -Intellectuals
               -Kermit Gordon
                    -Pay Board
                                    28
            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. Nov-03)

            -Shultz
       -William P. Rogers
            -Charles W. Yost appointment to the United Nations [UN]
                 -Irena (Oldakowska) Yost
                 -Yost
                      -Democratic leanings
       -Effectiveness of White House treatment
       -Right compared with left
            -New York Times advertisement
                 -Unknown person from Stanford University
                 -Yale University
       -Government
            -State Department
                 -Firings
                 -Kissinger
                 -The President's leadership
            -Connally
                 -Possible appointment
                 -Position as Treasury Secretary
                      -Firings
                           -Position as Texas governor
       -University education
            -Duke University, Stanford University, University of California, Los
             Angeles
            -Elite schools
                 -Effect on character
   -Businessmen
       -Advertising agencies in New York
            -The President’s conversation with Beurt Servaas
            -Eastern establishment
            -Jews
   -Rev. Theodore S. Hesburgh
       -R. Sargent Shriver
       -Possible resignation
            -Civil Rights Commission
                 -Length of term
                 -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
                 -Staff
                      -[Howard A. Glickstein]

Budget
   -Civil Rights Commission
                                              29
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

            -Cuts
                -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
                -Defense Department
                -Optional cuts by the President
                    -Amounts
                -National debt interest, veterans benefits, Social Security
                -Federal bureaucracy
                    -Weinberger
                    -Firing of low-level jobs

An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 12:45 pm.

                -Firing of administrative, executive jobs
                     -CIA
                     -State Department
                          -Foreign Service
                          -Defense Department
                               -Civilians
                               -The Pentagon
                     -Seniority
                          -State Department
                               -Retirements
                     -Agriculture Department
                     -Frank C. Carlucci
                          -Kissinger's view
                               -CIA
                     -Study of proposals
                     -Types of cuts
                     -Kissinger
                          -Helmut (“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt
                               -Importance
                     -State, Defense
                     -Justice Department
                     -HEW, Housing and Urban Development [HUD], Agriculture Department,
                      Interior Department, Bureau of Indian Affairs
                     -Opportunity to cut
                     -1972 election's impact on cut choices

        Vietnam War
            -The President's appearance before National League of Families
                -Mrs. Nellie Davis
                    -Bracelet
                                     30
             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                             Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. Nov-03)

            -Tricia Nixon Cox
            -Ricardo Davis
        -The President’s view
            -Amnesty issue
                 -McGovern
                 -Canadian refuge

The President's second term
    -Responsibilities
    -Effect of a forthcoming campaign
        -Discipline
    -Media and press relations
        -Left-wing press
             -White House efforts in public relations
             -TV
                   -Press conference appearances
        -Treatment of opponents
             -The President’s recent conversation with Kissinger
                   -Life editorial board endorsement of the President
                        -Support for McGovern
                        -Newspaper Guild
                        -Kissinger’s Time-Life contacts
        -Time
             -Jerrold L. Schechter
        -Granting requests for interviews in news magazines
        -US News and World Report
        -New York Times
             -Robert B. Semple, Edwin L. Dale, Jr.
        -Ehrlichman’s refusal to return telephone calls to unknown person
        -Washington Post
             -Ziegler
                   -Carroll Kilpatrick
        -White House access in post-1972 election period
             -Invitations
                   -Social occasions
                        -Christmas parties
                   -Press conferences
        -Lisagor, Edward B. Morgan
        -Supporters
             -Garnett D. (“Jack”) Horner
                   -Haldeman’s view
        -Semple's future
                                              31
                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Nov-03)

                     -New York Times
                     -New York Herald-Tribune
                 -Los Angeles Times
                     -Endorsement
                 -Los Angeles Times and Washington Post news service
                     -Segretti case
                         -Otis Chandler
                         -Chapin, Herbert W. Kalmbach
                 -The President's relations with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, Leonid I. Brezhnev,
                 Chou En-Lai
                     -Comparisons
                 -White House press, media contacts
                     -New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek, Life
                     -Networks
                         -Schorr
                         -Marvin L. Kalb
                               -Kissinger’s request
                               -The President’s meeting with National League of Families
                         -Richard G. Valeriani

                     -News magazines

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:42 am and
12:45 pm.

[Conversation No. 799-19B]

[See Conversation No. 31-53]

[End of telephone conversation]

        The press and White House access
            -Klein, Ziegler, Kissinger
            -Semple, Schechter
                -Conversation with Ehrlichman
                -Washington Post

The President talked with Tricia Nixon Cox between 12:45 am and 12:47 pm.

[Conversation No. 799-19C]

[See Conversation No. 31-54; one item has been withdrawn]
                                             32
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Nov-03)


[End of telephone conversation]

        POWs
           -Note to Mrs. Davis from Tricia Nixon Cox
               -Bracelet
               - [Ricardo Davis]
                    -MIA

The President, Haldeman, and Ehrlichman left at 12:54 pm.