668–12

Conversation No. 668-12

Date: February 9, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:45 am and 10:40 am
Location: Oval Office

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

Foreign policy meeting
-Analysis
-Vietnam
-News summary
-Importance
-Reaction
-Hugh Scott
-Dock strike
-Editorials and columns
-Reaction
-William P. Rogers and John B. Connally
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Rogers and Connally
-Talk with Haldeman
-Countries
-Proposal for Rogers
-Country visits
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Europe
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Wilderberg [sp?] conference
-Canada
-Kissinger’s attendance
-Number of years
-Southern New England
-Vienna
-Munich

Invitations
-Japan
-Kissinger
-Timing after upcoming trip to PRC
-University
 7

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Possible plans
-Rogers
-Latin American countries
-Japan
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Proposed announcement
-Haldeman’s instructions to Rogers

PRC Trip
-Briefings
-Types

Rogers’s schedule
-Kissinger
-South America
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] meeting
-Central Treaty Organization [CENTO] meeting
-Southeast Asia Treaty Organization [SEATO] meeting
-Romanians
-Yugoslavs
-Latin America
-Rogers’s duties

Japan
-Kissinger
-Invitation
-Rogers
-Possible significance of Kissinger trip

Rogers
-Reaction to handling of Haldeman’s Today show interview

Nicholas and Alexandra premiere
-Location
-Haldeman’s attendance
-Rasputin
-The President’s attendance
-Florida
-Audience support for Haldeman
-Betty Beale
 8

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 8:45 am.

Stephen B. Bull’s return
-President’s questions

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 9:19 am.

Nicholas and Alexandra preview
-Support for Haldeman
-Beale
-Helena M. (“Obie”) Shultz

Democrats


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 49s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Vietnam negotiations
-Ngo Dinh Diem
-Death criticized by the President
-The President’s posture as candidate

News stories
-Connally
-Rogers
-Talk with Haldeman
-Washington Post editorial
-State of the Union Message
-Administration response
-Rogers
-Ziegler
 9

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Haldeman
-Agnew
-Crosby S. Noyes
-Ziegler
-Kissinger
-Vietnam

February 7, 1972 speech [Remarks to White House Conference on Industrial World Ahead]
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-William L. Safire
-PRC
-President’s “ad lib” near end of speech
-Maurice H. Stans
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-PRC
-Foreign policy

Speech
-Connally
-Stans
-Timing

Draft of Foreign Policy Report radio speech, February 9, 1972
-The President’s efforts to end the war
-Honorable peace
-Withdrawal of troops
-Number
-Casualties
-Air power
-Budget costs
-Draft
-Peace offer
-Criticism
-1968
-Negotiations
-The President’s comments as candidates
-Criticism
-Candidates’ responsibility
-Avoiding prolonging war
-Peace
-Trust in US
 10

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-John A. Scali
-Press
-Selling out
-A question of sincerity
-The President’s policy
-Critics
-Presidential candidates
-Criticism
-Prolonging the war
-Responsibility
-Comparisons
-Kissinger
-“Postpone the Peace”
-Line from the President
-Optimism
-Candidates’ statements
-Wording
-Cautiousness
-Surrender compared with victory
-Nicholas and Alexandra
-Comparisons to the present time
-Alexander Kerensky and Tsar Nicholas II
-Criticism
-Presidential candidates
-Honorable peace
-Communists
-Cold War
-South Vietnam
-Haldeman’s opinion
-Scali’s statements
-Prisoners of war [POWs] compared to Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu
-Ziegler
-American support
-Surrender option
-“Peace with honor”

Press conference
-Possible appearance on television by the President

Vietnam
-Rogers
 11

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Candidates’ criticism
-Possible enemy incentive
-Prolong the war
-Election
-Presidential statements
-Haldeman statements
-Agnew statements
-Editorials
-A question of patriotism
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Haldeman’s comments
-Claim
-Ziegler

An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 9:19 am.

Request for Ziegler

The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Scali
-Concern
-State of the World report
-Press conference
-PRC
-Plan by the Administration

Ziegler entered at 9:19 am.

Ziegler’s schedule
-Call from the President, February 8, 1972
-Parent-Teacher Association [PTA] meeting
-Compared to Kissinger’s trips to Paris


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 36s ]
 12

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)



END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14

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Vietnam statements
-Involvement
-Scali
-Kissinger
-President’s responsibility
-Democrats
-Criticism and accusations
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Haldeman
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Sevareid
-Washington Post
-Editorial
-Timing
-Agnew
-Rogers
-The President
-Haldeman
-Statement about PRC
-Democrats
-Noyes
-Negotiations
-Criticism
-Assessing blame
-Scali
-Possible press briefing by Ziegler

The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Reading of draft
-Ziegler’s opinion
-Copies of to press
-Distribution
-Herbert E. Kaplow
-11:00 pm news
-Candidates
 13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Criticism
-Haldeman statements
-New York Times
-Ziegler
-Washington Post
-Ziegler’s complaint
-Candidates
-Prolong the war
-Leaders meeting
-Timing
-Negotiations
-Ziegler’s view
-Responsibilities
-Statements
-Wording of speech
-Ziegler’s opinion
-Assistance to the President
-George S. McGovern
-Surrender
-Context
-Muskie
-McGovern
-Kissinger
-Briefing
-Statements
-Safire
-Kissinger
-PRC
-Name
-Taiwan, Republic of China
-Corrections of text
-Vietnam War
-Radio
-Wording
-Candidates’ criticism
-Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Prolonging the war

Rose Mary Woods entered at 9:38 am.

-Typing
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Instructions
-Ziegler’s opinion

Woods left at 9:43 am.

-Draft
-POWs
-Wording
-Possible consequences
-President’s view
-Teleprompter
-Camera
-President’s instructions
-Distribution
-Newsmen
-Number
-Location
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Broadcast
-Amount of time
-Preparation by the President
-Schedule
-Press
-Ziegler
-Haldeman
-News
-Editorials


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 45s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5

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 15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Haldeman
-Call to Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-George C. Wallace
-Cousin
-Rebozo contact
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-1968
-Muskie
-Florida primary
-Agnew

Haldeman’s Today show interview
-Press conference
-Peter Lisagor
-Dan Rather
-Briefing
-PRC
-Story
-Ziegler
-Press
-Barbara Walters’s point
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
-Transcript availability
-Newspapers
-Television news services
-Timing
-Press
-Patriotic forces in US
-Underestimation
-Washington, DC
-Reaction
-Nicholas and Alexandra
-Beale
-Anna C. Chennault
-PRC ambassador

Vietnam
-Noyes
-Story
 16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Surrender
-1970 campaign
-Issue
-Peace initiative
-Public opinion
-US involvement
-Possible movement to undermine the President’s efforts
-Critics
-Haldeman’s statements
-Possible administration response
-Reston
-Kissinger
-John W. Gardner
-Visit to Reston’s home
-Tone of columns
-Kissinger
-Popularity with the media
-Haldeman’s comments
-Durability as story
-PRC trip
-Democrats
-Future comments

The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Kissinger
-Vietnam section
-Note from Ziegler
-Woods
-Typing
-Teleprompter

[The President talked with Woods at an unknown time between 9:43 and 10:09 am.]

[Conversation No. 668-12A]

-Typing

[End of telephone conversation]

Jaycees
-US Jaycees Governmental Affairs Leadership Seminar
 17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Convention
-Atlanta
-Timing

The President’s schedule
-Haldeman’s upcoming conversation with Connally
-Abilene, Texas
-Unknown Houston publisher
-San Antonio
-Texas newspapers
-Abilene Christian Conference
-Rotary
-Timing
-Jaycees
-Timing
-Campus Crusade
-Timing
-Houston
-Governors’ conference
-Timing
-President’s attitude

Kissinger’s location
-Ziegler’s office
-Briefing
-Foreign policy report

The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Broadcast
-Instructions for Ziegler, Haldeman
-Coverage

1972 Environmental Program
-News coverage
-Tape
-Camera
-Number
-Mark I. Goode
-Teleprompter
-Executive Order
 18

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


Woods entered at 10:09 am.

The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Copy
-Typing

[No conversation]

-Corrections
-Subtleties
-Gerald L. Warren
-Pick-up
-Press
-Typing
-Corrections

Woods and Ziegler left at an unknown time before 10:15 am.

The President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Timing


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 26s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

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Woods entered at an unknown time after 10:09 am.

Buzzer
-Manolo Sanchez

Camp David
 19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)




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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 15s ]


Woods left at an unknown time before 10:15 am.

An unknown Navy steward and Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:09 am.


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8

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The steward and Sanchez left at 10:15 am.

[The President talked with the White House operator at 10:15 am.]

[Conversation No. 668-12C]

[See Conversation No. 20-81]

[End of telephone conversation]


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 4s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9

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 20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)



The President’s schedule
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Teamsters Union
-Letters
-Purpose
-Notes and phone calls
-Effect and advantages
-Frequency of telephone calls
-Notes
-Publication
-New York police

[The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 10:15 am and
10:33 am.]

[Conversation No. 668-12D]

[See Conversation No. 20-82]

[End of telephone conversation]

-Notes
-Widows, parents
-Brevity
-Writers
-One-liners
-Type
 21

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 2s ]


Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:15 am.

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:33 am.


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10

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Forthcoming press conference
-Briefing books
-PRC
-Timing
-Phraseology
-Substance

Llewellyn E. (“Tommy”) Thompson, Jr.
-Funeral
-Timing
-Attendance
-Wreath

Kissinger
-Safire
-Marilyn B. (“Missy”) Chandler
-Support
 22

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


Otis Chandler
-Robert H. Finch
-Economy in California
-Unemployment
-Los Angeles Times
-Administration efforts


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 4m ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11

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Busing
-Dallas

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 10:15 am.

Thompson funeral
-Signature for letters for Jane (Monroe Goelet) Thompson
-Rogers
-Attendance

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 10:33 am.

[No conversation]

The President’s forthcoming radio speech
-Teleprompter
-Rogers
-Microphone
-Desk
-Cameras
-Goode
 23

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


-Ziegler
-Press office
-Teleprompter
-Messages
-Dock strike

Woods entered at 10:33 am.

The President’s schedule


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 45s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12

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-Helicopter
-Timing
-Speech
-Typing
 24

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 668-12 (cont.)


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 3m 45s ]


Woods left at 10:35 am.


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13

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Attitude of White House staff
-National attitude

Speech
-Teleprompter

Haldeman left at 10:40 am.