339–4

Conversation No. 339-4

Date: May 15, 1972
Time: Unknown after 7:42-8:10 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

George C. Wallace
-Assassination attempt
 25

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-3 (cont.)
-Investigation
-Call to Kenneth W. Clawson
-Creation of a story on assailant
-George S. McGovern-Edward M. Kennedy supporter
-Responsibility of left-wing groups
-Charles W. Colson
-Reason

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 7:42 and 7:57 pm.

[Conversation No. 339-4A]

[Unintelligible]

[End of telephone conversation]

Colson

Colson entered at an unknown time after 7:47 pm.

Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Condition
-Dr. William M. Lukash's report
-Prognosis
-Caliber of gun
-Assailant
-Possible release of press story
-McGovern-Kennedy supporter
-Investigation
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Colson's talk with W. Mark Felt
-Rumors about political affiliation
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-FBI check
-Clawson
-Possible story

Colson talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:47 and 7:57 pm.

[Conversation No. 339-4B]
 26

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)
[See Conversation No. 24-111]

Colson conferred with the President at an unknown time.

Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Assailant
-Press story on political leanings
-Clawson
-McGovern-Kennedy supporter

[End of conferral]

Colson talked with an unknown woman in Clawson's office at an unknown time.

Colson talked with Clawson at an unknown time.

[End of telephone conversation]

Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-Clawson
-Veracity
-Call to Wisconsin
-Condition
-Lukash's previous report
-Effect on forthcoming presidential election
-Compared to John F. Kennedy assassination
-The President’s view
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-John Birch Society
-Responsibility
-Assailant
-Political leanings
-Erroneous press reports
-Possible story
-The President’s instructions
-McGovern-Kennedy supporter
-Clawson
-A tip for friend in the press
 27

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)

Colson left at 7:57 pm.

-Authenticity
-The President’s view
-Punishment
-Other victims
-Secret Service agent
-A secretary
-Weapon
-Caliber
-The President’s previous weapon in the Navy

William F. (“Billy”) Graham

Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:57 and 7:59 pm.

[Conversation No. 339-4C]

[See Conversation No. 24-112]

[End of telephone conversation]

John B. Connally
-The President’s view
-Media skills

Richard G. Kleindienst talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 7:57 and 7:59 pm.

[Conversation No. 339-4D]

[See Conversation No. 24-113]

[End of telephone conversation]

Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Assailant
-Questioning
-Time

[The above portion of the office conversation took place simultaneously with Conversation No.
24-113]
 28

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)

-Kleindienst's report
-Delay
-Local police, press

Colson entered at 7:59 pm.

-Possible story
-Clawson’s view
-University of Wisconsin
-McGovern supporter
-Clawson
-A tip
-Reason
-Possible busing stories
-McGovern's statement
-Weapon
-Gun control issue
-Secret Service protection for Edward M. Kennedy
-President's call to Connally
-Colson’s view
-Security
-Huey P. Long comparison
-Assassination attempt
-Effect on President's Secret Service protection
-Soviet Summit trip
-Effectiveness

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 7:59 and 8:02
pm.

[Conversation No. 339-4E]

[See Conversation No. 24-114]

[End of telephone conversation]

Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Protection
-Amount
-Effect
 29

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 339-4 (cont.)
The President talked with Connally between 8:02 and an unknown time before 8:04 pm.

[Conversation No. 339-4F]

[See Conversation No. 24-115]

The President talked with Idanell B. (“Nellie”) Connally at an unknown time.

The President talked with Connally between an unknown time after 8:02 and 8:04 pm.

[End of telephone conversation]

Wallace
-Condition

Graham

Wallace
-Assassination attempt
-Control of investigation
-Ehrlichman’s role
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Questioning of assailant
-Ehrlichman's instructions
-Bremer’s safety
-Colson's intructions
-Felt
-Questioning about political leanings
-Reports to President
-Wallace's condition
-FBI interrogation
-Time

Dinner

Haldeman and Colson left at 8:10 pm.