666–7

Conversation No. 666-7

Date: February 7, 1972
Time: 1:31 pm - 2:03 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

Greetings

Press briefing
-Criticism
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s interview on the Today show, February 7, 1972
-Xuan Thuy
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)



-White House

Haldeman interview briefing
-The President’s meeting with Haldeman
-Critics
-Liberals
-Reaction to Haldeman’s rhetoric
-The President’s peace proposals
-Prospects
-Need for unity
-Haldeman’s view
-Talk with Ziegler
-The President’s view
-Unity
-Edmund S. Muskie statement
-Honesty
-William P. Rogers’s statement
-Muskie’s statement questioned
-Facts
-Motives compared to effect
-Barbara Walters
-Effectiveness of press interviews
-Haldeman
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Rogers
-Haldeman’s interview
-Timing
-Compared to Muskie’s statement
-Muskie statements
-Possible response form the Administration
-William E. Brock, III [?]
-Rogers
-Ziegler’s remarks
-Unity
-Cease-fire
-1970
-Withdrawal of forces
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Talk with Ziegler
-Possible response
 19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)



Press stories
-Coverage
-Campaign
-Signing bills
-Foreign aid
-The President’s schedule
-President’s speech
-Television coverage
-Press list
-Haldeman’s interview
-Democrats’ reaction
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Criticism
-Freedom of speech
-Haldeman
-Hugh Scott statement
-Alan Cranston
-Public support for President
-Ziegler’s example
-Press questions
-Kissinger
-Xuan Thuy
-Military compared to political issues
-Haldeman’s reaction to criticism
-Haldeman’s talk with Ziegler
-Mansfield
-Critics
-Senators
-Right to express themselves
-Haldeman
-Administration handling

President’s schedule
-Press conference
-Timing
-Upcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Announcement
-Schedule
-Hawaii
-Briefing
 20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)


-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon attendance on PRC trip
-History of Mrs. Nixon’s travels
-Buchanan
-Kissinger
-Preparations
-Questions
-Numbers
-Frequency
-Vietnam
-Criticism
-Possible response by the Administration
-Motives
-Muskie
-Unity
-Critics
-President’s responsibility
-Press conference
-Television
-Options

Press stories
-Press list for PRC trip
-Exclusions
-Nicholas P. Thimmesch
-Cliff Evans, RKO
-Alan Leo
-Upcoming trip the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Representation
-Journalists
-Trip coverage
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
-Location
-Attitude
-Hawaii briefing
-Today Show
-Haldeman’s briefing
-Journalistic contacts
-Jack N. Anderson papers
-Kissinger
-[Yeoman Charles E. Radford]
-Alexander M. Haig’s, Ziegler’s reactions
 21

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)


-PRC
-Air Force One
-Wire reports
-Henry A. Kissinger’s possible involvement
-Haldeman’s comments
-Kissinger’s concern
-Ziegler’s view
-Democrats
-Vietnam War critics
-The President’s posture
-Haldeman’s intent
-Effect
-Press conference
-Call for honest criticism
-Possible pressure from the press
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Previous press attacks
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Comment
-Alejandro A. Lanusse
-Telephone call
-Length
-Meeting with attorneys
-Drug prosecution program
-Haldeman interview
-Democrats
-Muskie
-Kennedy
-Ziegler’s press conference comments
-Muskie statements
-Rogers statement
-Timing
-Taping time
-World report
-Busing
-Extensive statement


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
 22

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 666-7 (cont.)


[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 53s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Ziegler left at 2:03 pm.