Conversation: 912-003
Prev:  912-002 Next: 912-004Start Date: 8-May-1973 9:23 AM
End Date: 8-May-1973 10:16 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 8, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:23 am and 10:16 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 912-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 912-3 Date: May 8, 1973 Time: Unknown between 9:23 am and 10:16 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Stephen B. Bull. President’s signature President’s schedule -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. -Donald M. I. Kendall -Edison (“Pele”) Arantes do Nascimento -Trip to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Report Haig entered at 9:26 am. Greeting President’s meeting with Georges J. R. Pompidou -Iceland -Advance trip -Approval -Protocol -Meeting in Azores -Translation -Meetings -Planning session [?] -Wreath-laying -Meeting with Iceland officials -Legislature -Arrival ceremony Bull left at an unknown time before 10:16 am. -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) Watergate -Haig’s conversation with William P. Rogers, May 7 -Need for big play -John B. Connally and Ronald L. Ziegler -Rogers’s possible role with administration Personnel appointments and management -Haig’s conversation with Rogers -Dr. James R. Schlesinger -Confirmation by Congress -William J. Casey Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] -Need for professionals -William E. Colby -State Department -Saigon -Son -Haig’s conversation with Rogers -Outsider -Counsel for President -Leonard Garment -[Horace] Chapman (“Chappie”) Rose -Casey -Balance -Compared to Rose -Counsel for President -Role -Separate office -Questions -Rose Watergate -News stories -Harris poll -President’s possible resignation -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) -John W. Dean, III -Possible charges against President -Possible immunity -Public’s view -White House strategy -Ziegler’s press briefings -Daniel Ellsberg trial affidavit -Delay by White House -Garment’s possible role -Rose’s possible role -Haig’s forthcoming telephone call -Garment Personnel appointments and management -FBI director -Colby -Cartha D. (“Deke”) DeLoach and William C. Sullivan -Unknown man -Lawyer -Qualifications -William D. Ruckelshaus -Domestic Council -James T. Lynn -“Big play” compared to shift -CIA -Announcements -Cabinet meeting -Haig -Kenneth R. Cole, Jr. -Domestic council -Cabinet -Claude S. Brinegar -Transportation Secretary -Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr. -Resignation -Haig -Cabinet -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) -George P. Shultz -Concerns -Economy -Watergate -Conversation with Haig -Jamaica -Connally -Conversation with Haig -Connally’s travels -Nigeria -USSR -Postponement -Announcements -Cabinet meeting -Press release -Schlesinger, Colby, Rose, and Connally -Criticism -Henry A. Kissinger -Compared to Connally -“Spectacular change” -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman -Departures on press coverage -FBI Director -Unknown man -Announcement schedule -Ruckelshaus -Domestic Council appointment -Domestic Council -Cole -Announcements -Defense Department, CIA, Connally, and Haig -Rose -Counsel to President -Duration -Timing -FBI Director -Professional -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) -Potential candidate -Problems -Law school dean -Texas -Law school deans -Conservative -Career professional -J. Edgar Hoover -DeLoach -Democrat -Sullivan -Hoover -Loyalty -Leadership -William M. Byrne, Jr. -Judge -Ellsberg case -Controversy -Rulings US foreign policy -US – USSR summit -Kissinger -Haig’s conversation with Rogers -Meeting with Hafiz Ismail -Rogers -USSR -Information -Kissinger -Reasonableness Watergate -Elliot L. Richardson -Special Prosecutor -Meeting with Haig -Immunity for Dean -President’s conversations with Henry E. Petersen -14- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) -Dean -Possible immunity -President’s possible protection of Ehrlichman and Haldeman -Handling of information regarding Ellsberg break-in -Justice Department -New York Daily News -Ronald L. Ziegler -Confirmation hearings -Meeting with Haig -Possible meeting with President -President’s preferences -Telephone calls with Haig -Answers to questions from Congress members Forthcoming Cabinet meeting -Staffing of departments -Haig’s conversations with Jerry J. Jones, Roy L. Ash, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, and ambassadors -Scowcroft’s conversation with Rogers -Avoid controversies -Contributors -W. Clement Stone -J. Fife Symington, Jr. -William E. Timmons -President’s cooperation -White House staff -Staffing of departments -Press relations -Congressional relations -Timing -Staffing -Schlesinger and Colby -Connally -Volunteer -United States Steel -Timing -Announcement -15- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) President’s schedule -Congressional leaders -Cabinet Watergate -Public’s view -Harris poll -Compared with John F. Kennedy and Bay of Pigs -Administration’s successes -Vietnam settlement return of prisoners of war [POWs] -Forthcoming Cabinet meeting Transition between President’s first and second terms -Handling by Haldeman and Ehrlichman -Watergate White House staff -Relations with Cabinet, Congress President’s schedule -Cabinet meeting -Ziegler’s announcements Personnel appointments and management -Clearances -Colby -Secretiveness with regard to publicity -FBI Director -President’s desire for a professional -Police chief -Corruption -Richard A. Sprague -Prosecutor of United Mine Workers president, W. A. (“Tony”) Boyle -Potential appointment as Special Prosecutor -President’s recommendation to Richardson -Professional -16- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. July-2012) Conversation No. 912-3 (cont’d) -William D. Ruckelshaus -[Domestic Council] -Stability of Cabinet appointments -Ziegler’s view -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan -Connally -Experience at Treasury Department -Potential role in administration -Potential attendance at Cabinet meeting -Travel -Length of appointment -Special counsel Watergate -Resignation of Richard G. Kleindienst, Ehrlichman and Haldeman -Ehrlichman and Haldeman -Effect on Watergate criticism Connally -Stephen B. Bull [?] -Haig’s role Haig left at 10:16 am.