382–2

Conversation No. 382-2

Date: December 16, 1972
Time: 11:30 am - 12:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Charles W. Colson.

Second term reorganization
-John A. Scali appointment
-Announcement
-Italian-Americans
-Changes
-Press relations
-The President’s conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-William P. Rogers
-Retentions
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Rogers
-George P. Shultz
-Number
-Scali
-Number of Catholics in Cabinet
-Roy L. Ash
-Claude S. Brinegar
-Regional representation
-Sub-Cabinet
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Conversation with John B. Connally
-Marianne H. Means
-Post-1964 election
-Schedule C
-Press relations
-Ray Cromley article
-Washington, DC, reporters
-White House staff cuts
-Press relations
-The President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Announcement
-Symbolism
-Public relations [PR]
-Plan
-News summaries
-Patrick J. Buchanan and Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
-Compilation
-PR
-Bureaucracy
-Peter J. Brennan’s conversation with the President
-Brennan’s visit to Labor Department
-Display of the President’s portrait
-Labor offices
-Shultz
-James G. Hodgson
-Brennan’s view
-Rogers’s office
 -3-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-State Department
-Press relations
-Brennan’s Democratic Party affiliation
-Politicans as managers
-John G. Veneman
-Performance as Under Secretary [of the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare] [HEW]
-George W. Romney
-Compared to Brennan
-Governorship of Michigan
-John A. Volpe
-Performance
-Colson’s meeting with insurance people
-Truckers
-White House staff
-Loyalty
-Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Secretary of Transportation
-Interest in retention
-[John A. Volpe, Jr.]
-Exhaustion
-Politicians as managers
-Robert H. Finch
-Performance as HEW Secretary
-Changes
-PR
-Compared to other Presidents
-Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936, Theodore Roosevelt in 1904, Dwight
D. Eisenhower in 1956
-Lower level positions
-Rogers C. B. Morton, Shultz
-Under Secretaries
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Rogers
-PR
-Herbert G. Klein
-Announcements
-Press relations
-Buchanan’s and Allin’s view
 -4-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Brennan
-Scali
-1972 election
-George S. McGovern results
-Blacks
-Jews

Domestic issues
-Democratic Party
-Blacks
-Reception
-Welfare
-Colson’s conversation with Peter Fosco

Second term reorganization
-Black ambassador
-Need to appoint

Domestic issues
-Blacks
-Welfare, busing
-Robert J. Brown

Second term reorganization
-Brennan
-Confirmation
-Effect
-PR
-Colson’s work with Kenneth W. Clawson, Richard A. Moore, William L.
Safire
-Safire’s work on historical research
-Publicity for second term changes
-James T. Lynn
-Commerce Department
-Political background

New Majority
-Press relations
-Helen Thomas
-Reception
 -5-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Democrats
-Colson
-Reception
-Colson’s conversation with an unknown woman reporter
-Aristocracy
-International Brotherhood of Teamsters
-Unknown person
-Teamsters
-Philadelphia
-Children
-Italian-Americans, Catholic background
-Women reporters
-Christmas
-Visits to White House
-Analogy to “Age of Jackson”
-Republican President
-Labor leaders, Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans and Democrats
-Church service
-Republican President
-Thomas
-Church service
-Guest list
-Duplication
-Richard M. Scammon
-Labor leaders


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

1972 election
-Richard M. Scammon
-Results
-Arizona
-Missouri

New Majority
-The President’s view
-Compared to Republicans
-Arrogance
 -6-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Peter H. Dominick
-Clark MacGregor
-Republican candidates
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon Cox, and
other surrogates
-Campaign support
-White House Christmas tree lighting reception for the President’s supporters
-Michael P. Balzano, Jr.
-Donald F. Rodgers
-Salvatore Provenzano [?]

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Second term reorganization
-Mickey Gardner
-White House staff
-Public Information Officer [PIO]
-PIO officers
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Gardner
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
-The President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Background check
-Labor groups
-Lobbies
-Conservatism
-Colson’s conversation with William P. Rogers

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:30 am.

Haldeman’s schedule

Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s press conference
-Timing

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:11 pm.
 -7-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

Second term reorganization
-Baroody
-Conservatism
-Intelligence
-The President’s trip to the People’ Republic of China [PRC]
-Managerial skills
-Frederic V. Malek
-Typical manager
-Harvard University business school
-Loyalty to the President
-Unknown Polish-American lawyer
-Compared to White Anglo-Saxon Protestant [WASP]
-Education
-Loyola University

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:30 am.

The President’s schedule
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Timing
-Haldeman’s schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Timing
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Duration
-Possible telephone calls

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:11 pm.

Harvard University
-John F. Kennedy Center
-Teachers
-Background
-McGovern supporters
-Republican participation
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Conversation with Colson
-American Enterprise Institute [AEI]
-Colson’s efforts
-Funding
 -8-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)


Press relations
-Columbia Broadcasting Company [CBS]
-Colson’s conversation with William S. Paley
-Haldeman
-Paley’s request for a meeting
-Timing
-Dan Rather, Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Rowland Evans
-Peter A. Diamond
-Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]
-Political orientation
-Social events
-Coverage
-Women reporters
-Reception
-Reception
-Patricia (Hughes) Colson’s comments comparing coverage of the President
to Kennedy
-Human interest
-CBS
-Cronkite

Second term reorganization
-Agencies and Departments
-Loyalty to the President
-Colson’s work with Brennan, unknown person
-Brennan
-Labor Department
-Shultz
-Conversation with Colson
-Morton
-Laurence H. Silberman
-Judgeship
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
-EOB
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-George D. Webster
-Confirmation
-Conversation with Colson
 -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Confirmation
-Tennessee farm
-Howard W. Cannon
-Howard H. Baker, Jr.
-Background check

The President’s official portrait
-Colson’s conversation with Haldeman
-Embassies
-Distribution
-Public buildings
-Government Service Administration [GSA]

Press relations
-“Things They Would Like to Forget”
-US Information Agency [USIA]
-James Keogh
-Conversation with Colson
-McGovern
-Accuracy in Media [AIM] report
-Distribution
-Congressmen, editors
-White House press corps
-Ralph Nader article
-Response
-Nader’s taxes
-Audit
-Webster’s assignment

Connally
-Conversation with Colson
-Schedule
-Cabinet dinner

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:30 am and
12:11 pm.

[Conversation No. 382-2A]

[See Conversation No. 34-96]
 -10-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)


[End of telephone conversation]

Connally’s schedule
-Cabinet dinner

The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield between 12:11 pm and 12:12 pm.

[Conversation No. 382-2B]

[See Conversation No. 34-97]

[End of telephone conversation]

Press relations
-AIM
-News summary
-Article about bias
-Unknown New York businessman
-Xerox copy
-US mining of Haiphong Habor
-CBS
-Distribution
-Editors
-Xerox copy
-Unknown New York businessman
-CBS
-Newsweek
-CBS
-George S. McGovern
-US mining of Haiphong
-New York Times
-Washington Post

1972 election
-The Left
-Reaction


*****************************************************************
 -11-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

Edward M. Kennedy’s speech
-Relations with moderate Democrats
-McGovern
-Change of party affiliation by Democrats
-Patrick J. Buchanan, Michael J. Maye
-Need to establish momentum
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Ethnics
-Robert S. Strauss
-John B. Connally
-Future plans
-Conversation with Colson

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Vietnam War
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s press conference
-North Vietnam’s delays
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Casualties
-US, North and South Vietnam
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam’s delays
-Offensive
-Follow-up
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Hanoi, Haiphong
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-US public opinion
-Effect on North Vietnam
-Limitation
-Effect
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Views
-Congressional relations
 -12-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Letters from the President
-Negotiations
-Continuation
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Kissinger
-Congressional relations
-Le Duc Tho
-Statement
-Tone
-Domestic reaction
-Duration
-January-February 1973
-Kissinger
-Negotiations
-Pressure on North Vietnam
-Congressional relations
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Agnew’s view
-Charles McC. Mathias, Charles H. Percy
-House of Representatives, Senate
-Supplemental spending bill
-Military
-Pentagon
-Vietnamization
-Announcement
-January 1973
-Settlement agreement
-North and South Vietnam
-Cease-fire
-POWs
-McGovern’s view
-Thieu
-Public opinion
-POWs
-Honor
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Thieu’s retention
 -13-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Vietnamization
-Congressional relations
-US withdrawal and cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-POWs
-North Vietnam’s possible demand
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Congressional relations
-North Vietnam’s demands
-US public opinion
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Domestic reaction
-The President’s advisers’ view
-Breakdown in negotiations
-North Vietnam’s responsibility
-Kissinger’s press conference
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Compared to the President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-North Vietnam’s invasion of South Vietnam
-POWs
-US public opinion
-Communists
-Thieu
-POWs
-Honor
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Effect on North Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Tone
-The President’s first term
-Passive
-1972 election
-Results
-McGovern
-“Doves”
-Congressional relations

Second term reorganization
-PR
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Clawson
 -14-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Carryovers
-The President’s official portrait
-Labor Department
-Brennan
-Robert Armayo
-1972 campaign
-Kennedy photographs, US flags
-Hodgson
-Shultz

Shultz’s views
-Liberalism
-Sidney Hook

Second term reorganization
-Bureaucracy
-Colson’s conversation with Louis P. Harris

Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:12 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Kissinger’s press conference
-Completion
-Haldeman
-Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:45 pm.

Second term reorganization
-Colson’s conversation with Harris
-Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS]
-Unemployment statistics
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Press relations
-New personnel
-Historical significance
-Second level appointees
-Italian-Americans, Polish-Americans
-Ambassadors
 -15-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 382-2 (cont’d)

-Labor
-James Suffridge and Einar Mohn
-Advantages
-Symbolism

Labor relations
-George Meany

Press relations
-William S. Paley
-Buchanan
-Colson
-Washington Post article
-John A. Scali
-Garnett D. (“Jack”) Horner’s interview with the President
-Announcements
-Washington Star, Washington Post
-Scali
-Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead
-Networks
-Coverage
-Fairness
-Vietnam War
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel

Colson left at 12:45 pm.