President Nixon, John Ehrlichman, and John Volpe met to discuss the administration's second-term reorganization and Volpe's potential transition from Secretary of Transportation to Ambassador to Italy. Nixon emphasized the strategic importance of strengthening relations with Italian-Americans and the Catholic Church, viewing Volpe as a vital political asset for these goals. Volpe, who expressed concerns about his recent health and the logistical challenges of the ambassadorship, agreed to consider the offer while keeping open the possibility of a delayed start to allow for a smooth leadership transition at the Department of Transportation.
On November 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and John A. Volpe met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:43 am to 11:37 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 815-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 815-14
Date: November 24 1972
Time: 10:43 am - 11:37 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman.
Second term reorganization
-John A Volpe’s recent meeting with Ehrlichman
-Volpe’s retention
-Duration
-Volpe’s forthcoming meeting with the President
-The President’s recent meeting with George W. Romney
-Department or US future
-Future meeting
-Volpe’s activities
-The President's forthcoming meeting with Volpe
-Tone
-First term cabinet
The President left at an unknown time after 10:45 am.
Volpe entered at 10:45 am.
[General conversation]
Volpe's schedule
-Recent trip to Venezuela
-Trans-Amazon
-Villages
The President entered at an unknown time after 10:45 am.
Volpe’s weight
Volpe’s schedule
-34-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-International conference on Highway Transportation in developing countries,
Merida, Mexico
Volpe’s health
-Back
-Dr. W. Kenneth Riland
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-The President
-Sitting
-Muscle spasms
-Pain
-Rockefeller
-US Steel
-Osteopathy
-[Warren E. Burger]
-John N. Mitchell
-The President
-Source
-Nerve
-Remedy
-Riland
-Possible appointment with Volpe
-Timing
-Volpe’s recent trip to Venezuela
-Mexican doctors
-Luis Echeverria Alvarez
US-Mexico relations
-Echeverria
-Trip to US
-Remarks
-Personality
-Volpe’s schedule
-Virgin Islands
-International Conference on Highway Transportation in Developing
Countries
Volpe’s health
-Hospitals
-35-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Virgin Islands
-Mexico
-International Conference on Highway Transportation in Developing
Countries
-Venezuela
US-Latin America relations
-Volpe’s view
-Volpe’s recent trip to Mexico
-Possible report to the President
-US aid
-Brazil
-International Conference on Highway Transportation in Developing
Countries
-Volpe’s meetings
-[Echeverria]
-Venezuela
-Rafael Caldera
-Brazil
-Emilio Garrastazu Medici
-Duration of meeting
-Relationship with the President
-Brazil
-Importance
-The President’s travels
-Australia
-Wealth
-Volpe’s recent conversation with Ehrlichman
-Volpe’s visit to Trans-Amazon
-Volpe’s schedule
-Trans-Amazon
-Development
-Roads
-US aid
-Military sales
-Congress
-US business
-Lost opportunities
-US aid
-Military sales
-36-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Lost opportunities
-France
-Civilian
Second term reorganization
-Volpe
-Performance at Department of Transportation
-Successor
-Domestic affairs
-First term Cabinet
-Moves to other positions
-Romney
-Departure
-New approaches
-Department of Transportation
-Cabinet officers
-Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] Secretary
-New role
-Peter G. Peterson
-Performance at Commerce Department
-International economics
-Treasury Department
-George P. Shultz
-Commerce Department, Labor Department, State Department
-International economics
-Expertise
-Shultz
-New assignment
-Peterson’s forthcoming meeting with the President
-Timing
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-1972 election
-Charles W. Colson
-Ethnic vote
-Southern vote
-Labor vote
-37-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Shultz
-Ethnic vote
-Catholics
-Italian-Americans
-Breakthrough
-Polish-Americans
-Irish-Americans
-Massachusetts
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Italian-American vote
-Volpe’s aid
-The President’s future book
-Knights of Columbus dinner
-Maryland
-[Unintelligible name]
-Kennedy
-Support for the President
-“Folk hero”
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Timing
-Political situation in Italy
-Crisis
-Graham A. Martin
-Performance as ambassador to Italy
-Foreign service
-Knowledge of Italy’s politics, heart
-The President’s meetings with Italians
-Compared to other European ambassadorships
-US-Vatican City relations
-[Pope Pual VI] Giovanni Battista Motini
-Third secretary
-Henry Cabot Lodge
-Italian government
-Special representative
-38-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Volpe’s relations with the Pope
-Advantages
-Check on left wing
-Appeal to Italian-Americans
-US-Vatican City relations
-1972 election
-Vatican City political orientation
-Left wing
-Roman Catholic Church in Latin America
-The President’s interest
-John Cardinal Krol
-Terence Cardinal Cooke
-Tenure
-Second term reorganization
-Recommendations
-Report to Ehrlichman
-Ambassadorships
-Appointments
-State Department
-Bureaucracy
-Great Britain
-Walter H. Annenberg
-France
-West Germany
-Japan
-Back channel to White House
-State Department
-Bureaucracy
-Job offer to Volpe
-State Department
-Bureaucracy
-Volpe’s possible conversation with Clare Boothe Luce
-Timing
-Martin
Department of Transportation
-Volpe’s service in administration
-Department age
-Publicity
-Airline strikes
-39-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Hijackings
-The President’s forthcoming trip to New York
-Challenges
-Volpe’s recent conversation with Ehrlichman
-Highway Trust Fund
-Public transportation
-Volpe’s successor
-The President's directive to Ehrlichman
-Congressional relations
-Mass transit amendment defeat
-Procedural vote
-The President’s request for a report
-House of Representatives parliamentarian’s [Lewis
Deschler’s] conversation with Edward P. Boland
-Boland’s relationship with Volpe
-Reversal
-Wilbur D Mills
-Outcome
-Thomas P. (“Tip”) O’Neill, Jr.
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs
-Future effort
-Volpe's lobbying
-American Public Works Association
-Truckers
-Oil companies
-Adm.. Eugene Joseph Peltier
-American Road and Transportation Builders
Association [ARTBA]
-Conversation with Volpe
-Relationships with Volpe
-Background
-Navy
-Bureau of Yards and Docks
-Engineering consulting
-St. Louis
-Contracting
-Bureau of Yards and Docks
-Conversation with Volpe
-Peltier’s conversation with executive vice
president
-40-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Character
-Background
-American Society of Civil Engineers
-ARTBA
-Retirement
-Bureau of Yards and Docks
-Age
-Relationship with Volpe
-Scabees
World War II
-Scabees
-Volpe’s experience
-The President’ s experience
-Food
-Alleged thievery
Volpe
-Highway Trust Fund
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-The President’s previous conversation with Volpe
-William P. Rogers
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Privacy]
[Duration: 1m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Deed of gift-privacy]]
[Duration: 1m 22s ]
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
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[End of segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Opportunities
-US Vatican City relations
-Personal contacts
-Compared to formal diplomacy
-Third secretary
-Lodge
-Volpe’s previous visit
-Meeting with Pope VI, November 1969
-Vietnam War
-The President’s policies
-Support
-US troop withdrawals
-Consequence
-Blood bath
-Opposition
-Roman Catholic clergy
-Unknown person
-Pope Paul VI’s support for the President
-Consequences of North Vietnamese victory
-Blood bath
-Communist and North Vietnamese brutality
-Qualifications for job
-1971 meeting with Italian leaders
-Mariano Rumor
-Giulio Andreotti
-Industrialists
-Embassy
-Communism
-Christian Democrats
-Martin
-Martin
-42-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Relationship with the President
-Thailand
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-State Department
-Symbolism of appointment
-Volpe’s relationship with the President
-Impact on Italians
-Compared to Great Britain
-[Annenberg]
-Compared to France, West German
-Volpe’s stature as Cabinet member
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift
Italian-American vote
-Support for Republican Party
-Consultation with Volpe
-Speeches by Volpe
-Democratic Party tactics
-John A. Gronouski
-Warsaw
-Polish-American vote
-Volpe
-New Majority
-Speeches
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Cost of living
-Comparison with Great Britain and France
-Martin’s wealth
-H. Gardner Ackley’s wealth
-Ackley’s conversation with Ehrlichman
-US Embassy
-43-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Residence
-US embassy
-The President’s 1947 trip
-James C. Dunn
-Alcide de Gasperi
-Communism
-Possible visit from Volpe to de Gasperi’s wife
-Acceptance of offer
-Possible delay
-Volpe’s family
-The President’s conversation with Ehrlichman
-Martin
-The President’s conversation with Maurice H. Stans
-Timing
-Martin
-Volpe’s relationship with the President
-Effect on Italian-Americans
-Other possible positions in administration
-Congressional relations
-Clark MacGregor
-Democratic Congress
-Volpe as Congressional relations officer
-Problem
-Status
-Downgrade
-International commission
-Agencies
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Cabinet to major embassy
-Status
-Cabinet to White House staff
-Status
-Downgrade
-Cabinet to commission
-Status
-Downgrade
-Ambassadorships
-Volpe’s cabinet colleagues
-Pattern
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-44-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
-Volpe’s relationship with the President
-Volpe’s conversations with Italian friends
-Robert H. Finch
-Political aspirations
-Relationship with the President
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Massachusetts
-The President’s campaigning with Volpe
-1962 election
-Defeats
-Republicans
-John P. Roche Column
-Reasons for defeats
-Kennedy family
-Students
-Lack of Republican organizations
-Compared to Connecticut, Rhode Island
-Francis W. Sargent
-1972 election
-Edward W. Brooke
-Volpe
-Loyalty
-Organization
-Absence
-Colson
-Volpe’s service as governor
-1972 election
-State chairman
-John N. Mitchell
-Sargent
The President’s trips
-1952 convention
-Worchester
-Dinner
-Bocchi
-45-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
Volpe’s health
-The President’s doctor
-Virgin Islands
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Volpe
-Ambassadorships to Italy
-Acceptance
-Timing
-Announcement
-Effect on Martin
-Foreign policy assignment
-Compared to John B. Connally
-President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory
Board [PFIAB]
-Connally
-Brazilian Finance Minister’s view
-Martin's performance
-Schedule
-Social life
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 elections
-Republican candidates
-The President’s victory margin
-House of Representatives
-Quality
-Age
-Campaigning
-Contact with voters
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Volpe
-The President
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan.-08)
Conversation No. 815-14 (cont’d)
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Volpe
-Plans
-Work with Ehrlichman
-Department of Transportation
-Second term reorganization
-Volpe’s views
-Volpe’s conversation with Ehrlichman
-Timing
-Successor
-Candidates
-Peltier
-Age
-Consulting engineer firm
-Reputation
-Name
-French derivation
-Possible Catholicism
-Civil engineering
Volpe and Ehrlichman left at 11:37 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.