Conversation No. 848-10

Date: February 5, 1973
Time: 11:09 a.m.-12:39 p.m.
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead and Charles W. Colson; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

       H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman's presence

       Photographs

The White House photographer left at an unknown time before 11:11 am.

       The President’s appreciation
                                            -24-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                           Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



             -Controversy
                    -College
                    -Conflict
                           -Compared to consensus
                           -International relations

Haldeman entered at 11:11 am.

      Colson’s schedule
            -Trip
                    -Moscow
                    -Bucharest
                    -Vienna
                    -Tel Aviv
            -President’s visits to Israel
                    -Jerusalem

      Telecommunications policy
            -Internal communication and consultations
            -Executive Branch reorganization
                    -Whitehead
                            -Economic policy
                                  -George P. Shultz
                                  -Compared to political policy
            -Federal Communication Commission [FCC]
                    -Shultz
            -Staffing
                    -William E. Timmons
                            -Edwin L. Harper
            -Informing White House staff
                    -Meetings
            -John D. Ehrlichman
                    -US News and World Reports
                    -Domestic Council

      Office of Telecommunications Policy [OTP]
                                      -25-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                          Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



       -Broadcasting legislation
             -Ehrlichman
             -Procedure for drafting legislation
                     -William J. Baroody
                     -Ehrlichman, Shultz

Broadcast regulation
      -The President’s meeting with broadcasters
      -Herbert G. Klein
      -Support
      -Opposition
              -Groups
                      -Minorities
              -Networks
              -Local stations and broadcasters
                      -Crutchfield
      -Fight
              -Networks
              -Local stations
      -Congressional relations
              -Robert P. Griffin
              -Clarence J. (“Bud”) Brown, Jr.
              -Hugh Scott [?]
              -[First name unknown] Steiger
              -John O. Pastore
                      -Politics
      -Networks
              -Local broadcaster involvement
                      -Opposition
                              -Ehrlichman
      -Opposition to local control and responsibilities
              -Liberals
              -Klein
                      -Anti-networks
                      -Crutchfield
                      -Chicago Tribune
                                   -26-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                             Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                    Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                           -Attack
                                  -Censorship
                                         -Legal controls
                                  -Reaction to press coverage
      -Hearings
      -Program to support
             -Klein
      -The President’s meeting with broadcasters
             -Fears
                    -American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
                    -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
             -Responsibilities
      -Legislation
             -White House unity
             -Public relations plan for support
                    -Broadcasters
                    -Richard A. Moore
                    -Ronald L. Ziegler
                    -Ehrlichman

Cable television
       -Cabinet Committee
               -Founding
               -Chairman
               -Members
                      -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
                      -Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]
                      -Commerce Department
                      -Robert H. Finch, Klein
               -Long term policy
               -ABC
               -Report
                      -Role of states
                      -Development of services
                      -Cabinet meeting
               -Garment
                                        -27-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                             Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                 Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



            -Moore
                    -Public relations
      -Administration’s support
            -Technology
            -Impact

Communications
     -Repeal of prime time rule
            -Support
                    -Hollywood
            -Opposition
                    -Networks
            -Local networks
            -Congressional support
            -FCC
                    -Robert E. (“Bob”) Lee
                    -Dean Burch
                    -Richard E. Wiley
            -Peter M. Flanigan
            -Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.

Public broadcasting
       -Major disputes
              -PR
       -Administration control
              -Strategy
                      -Ziegler, Klein, Ehrlichman, Moore
       -White House unity
              -Compared to December 1972 bombing decision
                      -Henry A. Kissinger
              -Meeting
                      -Ziegler, Klein
              -Staffing
                      -Cole
                      -Domestic Council
                      -Garment, Moore, Klein, Ziegler
                                     -28-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                      Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                            -Compared to Earl L. Buntz
             -Shultz
                      -Milton Friedman
                      -Equality
      -Public affairs programs
             -"Agronsky and Company"
                      -Funding
             -William Moyers
             -"Black Journal"
             -"Washington Week in Review"
             -Funding
             -William F. Buckley, Jr.
             -Administration's actions
                      -Buckley, Moyers
                      -Propaganda
                      -Voice of America [VOA]
      -HEW
             -Educational TV
      -Role of public broadcasting
             -Corporation for Public Broadcasting [CPB]
                      -Legal Services Division of Job Corps
                      -Radical views
                      -George C. Wallace
      -Budget of Public Broadcasting Service [PBS]
             -Cuts
             -Board
      -Public affairs programs
             -Quarrels
             -Cuts

Telecommunications policy
      -Staffing work
              -Klein, Ziegler
      -Five year plan
      -Minority groups
      -Local ownership, control
                                     -29-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                   Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



       -Controversy
              -Whitehead’s speech
                      -Richard M. Scammon [?]
       -Garment, Patrick J. Buchanan
       -Opposition to local control
              -Station license extensions
              -Network control
       -Programming policy
              -Martin Z. Agronsky
              -Peter Lisagor
              -Control by Washington and New York
                      -Compared to local control
                      -Budget
       -Administration's philosophy
              -Compared to philosophy of bureaucracy
       -Bureaucracy
              -Leftist authoritarian orientation
              -Control over local communities
                      -Wyoming

Telecommunications policy
      -Administration’s position
             -White House unity
             -Discussion of positions
                     -Public broadcasting
      -Prime time access
             -Klein
      -Cable television
             -Disagreements
             -Moore’s support
      -Local control of broadcasting
             -Licenses
             -Networks
             -Local responsibility
             -Five year licenses
                     -Challenges to licenses
                                              -30-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                            Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



              -Staff work
                      -Ehrlichman
                      -White House unity
                      -Klein
                      -Decisions

       President's schedule
              -Whitehead’s proposal
                      -Pubic reaction

       Telecommunications policy
             -Local control
                    -Censorship

       President's schedule
              -Forthcoming meeting
                      -Colson, Haldeman
                      -W. Richard Howard

Whitehead left at an unknown time before 11:48 am.

       Telecommunications policy
             -Press releases
             -Meetings
                     -Colson, Shultz, Ehrlichman
                     -Garment, Klein
             -Whitehead’s speech
                     -Ehrlichman
                     -Cole

The President met with Albert E. Sindlinger and W. Richard Howard at 11:49 am; Stephen B.
Bull and the White House photographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       Introductions
              -Weather
                                              -31-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                               Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



        Photographs

The White House photographer left at an unknown time before 12:39 pm.

        Poll
               -Public reactions
               -Sindlinger’s performance
                       -Publicity
               -Administration’s needs
                       -Howard’s role
                              -Contact
                       -Work with Sindlinger
               -Pubic polling
                       -1972 election
                              -Gallup, Harris
                                      -Addition of Sindlinger
                       -Gallup, Harris
                              -Delays
                                      -The President’s trip to the People’s Republic of China
[PRC]
                               -Methodology
                               -December 1972 bombing
                               -Vietnam settlement
               -Sindlinger’s polls
                       -TV networks
                               -Offers
                       -Individual TV stations
                               -Teletype machines
                                       -Constant feed
                               -Independent network
                               -Independent fees
                               -Local data
                                       -Community service
               -1972 election
                       -Democrats
                               -Voters for the President
                                         -32-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                          Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                                 -Cities
                                 -Large states
                                 -Allegiance to Republican party
                                 -Ethnics
                                 -Union members
                       -Issues
                                 -Vietnam
                                        -Economy
                                                -Pride controls
                                                -Raises
                                                        -Steel industry
                                                        -Automobile industry
                                                -Imports
                                                        -Cars
                                                        -Shoes
                                 -Future voters

Political attitudes
        -Numbers
                 -Democrats
                 -Republicans
                 -Total population
                 -Independents
        -Affiliations
                 -Democrats
                         -Uncertainty
                                 -December 1972 bombing
                                        -1972 election
                         -“Hardcore doves”
                                 -Affluent, suburban, stocks, college
                                 -Mothers and College-aged children
                                        -Fathers
                         -George S. McGovern supporters
                                 -Young people
                 -“Hardcore hawks”
                         -Ideas for Vietnam
                                       -33-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                        Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                               -Compared to “doves”
        -Support for the President
              -December 1972 bombing
              -Ethnic connection
              -patriotic voters
                       -Classification as “hawk” or “dove”
              -“Hawks”
                       -Selfishness
                               -Vietnam settlement
                                       -1972 election
                                              -The President’s reelection
                                              -Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” statement
                                              -Percentage of support

1972 election
       -McGovern vote
              -Morning turnout
                      -Associated Press [AP], United Press [UP]
       -Compared to 1968 election
              -Hourly interviews
                      -Statistical tie
                               -Hubert H. Humphrey
       -Hourly interviews
              -Minority turnout
                      -McGovern vote
       -California
              -Early returns
       -Non-voters
       -McGovern vote
              -Final vote
                      -AP
                      -Scammon
       -Non-voters’ support for the incumbent

Press
        -Influence
                                       -34-

             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                       Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                 -Pubic opinion
                 -“March of Time”
                        -Adolph Hitler
                 -World War II commentators
                        -Great Britain
         -Commentators
                 -Negative public opinion
                        -1968 Democratic convention
                                -Riots
                                       -Lights
                        -Coverage of campus unrest
                        -1972 conventions
                                -Network
                                       -Public perceptions
                        -Credibility
                                -CBS
                                -[Arnold] Eric Seareid
                                -Vietnam negotiations
                                       -Network’s depiction
                                       -Public’s perception
                                               -Lyndon B. Johnson
                                               -Kissinger
         -Polls on commentators
                 -“Liberal press”

Issues
         -Gun control
                -John C. Stennis shooting
         -Capital punishment
                -Supreme Court
                -Support
                        -Public fears of crime
                -Compared to inflation
         -Vietnam War
                -Commentators
                        -Skepticism about settlement
                                                -35-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                              Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                              -Cease-fire
                              -Prisoners of War [POWs]
                      -End of war
                              -General public compared to antiwar minority
                                     -December 1972 bombing
                                             -Loss of votes
                -Wage and price controls
                      -Inflation
                      -Public support

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:49 am.

       Refreshments

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:39 pm.

       Issues
                -Wage and price controls
                        -George Meany
                        -Labor and management’s opposition
                        -Steel strike
                                -Recession
                -Unemployment
                        -End of war
                                -Navy Yard
                -Inflation
                        -Paul W. McCracken
                        -Fears
                                -Deflation
                        -Automobile sales
                        -Buying decisions
                                -General public compared to businessman
                        -Business planning
                                -Expenditures
                                -Overexpansion
                                        -Wall Street
                                      -36-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                       Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                            -Banks
                            -Interest rates
               -Business compared to consumers
       Taxes
               -Reform
               -Congressional expenditures
               -Public attitudes
                      -McGovern
                      -Change
                               -Labor unions
                               -Welfare
                               -Spending
                               -Capital punishment, busing, Vietnam

Electorate
       -Democrats
              -Confusion
              -Large electoral states
       -Division in US
              -South
                      -Recession
              -Rural and small towns
              -Cities
                      -Suburbs
                      -Blacks
       -Blacks
              -Capital punishment
                      -Support
              -Mandatory sentences
              -Drugs
                      -Concern
                      -Compared to inflation and Vietnam
              -Sindlinger’s interviews
       -Use of Sindlinger’s data and interviews
              -American Enterprise Institute [AEI]
              -Speeches
                                      -37-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                  Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                    -Quality of writing
                           -Congress members
                           -Catchphrases
              -Congress members
                    -John E. Moss [?]
                    -James C. Wright, Jr.
                           -Questionnaires

Administration’s policies
      -Budget
              -Tax increases
      -Law and order
              -Capital punishment
                      -Supreme Court
      -Economy
              -Inflation
              -Food prices
              -Strike
              -Food prices
                      -Control
                              -Production
                              -Imports
                      -Inflation
      -Public attitudes
              -Fears of inflation
                      -Food prices
              -Explanation of problems
              -Savings
                      -Support for budget cuts
              -Food prices
                      -Meatless days
                              -Armed forces
      -Vietnam
              -Perpetual opposition
                      -Affluence, education
              -“Hawks”
                                              -38-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Oct.-09)
                                                              Conversation No. 848-10 (cont’d)



                              -Selfishness
                              -Money from war
              -Timing

       Future meetings
              -Issue cycles

       Herbert C. Hoover
              -Meeting with Sindlinger
                       -Age
                       -Rose Garden
                       -[John] Calvin Coolidge
                              -Swearing-in
              -Founding of Sindlinger’s Company
                       -Financing
                       -John Shaw
                              -Chicago
              -Intelligence and administrative ability

Sindlinger, Howard, Colson, and Haldeman left at 12:39 pm.