767–20

Conversation No. 767-20

Date: August 11, 1972
Time: 11:15 am - 12:22 pm
Location: Oval Office
 31

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)


The President met with George W. Romney, Gen. George A. Lincoln, Norman V. Watson,
Samuel C. Jackson, and John D. Ehrlichman.

Greetings
-Introductions
-Lincoln
-Jackson
-Watson
-Lincoln
-Task force to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Wilkes-Barre
-Romney’s previous visit to Wilkes-Barre
-Meetings with public officials
-Milton J. Shapp
-Television
-The President’s view
-The President’s previous meeting with group of mayors
-The President's previous trip to Harrisburg
-Ehrlichman’s previous meeting with Romney
-Cabinet Room
-Morale problems
-Shapp
-Expectations
-Unknown woman [Mrs. Min Matheson?]
-The President’s view
-Jean Westwood
-United Press International [UPI] reporter

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 11:15 am.

Refreshments

Wilkes-Barre
-Romney’s meetings with local officials
-Shapp

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 11:44 am.

-Press attendance
 32

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Effect on meeting
-UPI reporter’s interaction with Shapp
-Romney’s meeting with private citizens
-Mrs. Matheson [?]
-Women with placards
-UPI reporter’s interaction with Shapp
-Shapp’s possible meeting with women
-Romney’s reaction
-Romney’s view
-Report on visit
-Destruction
-Houses destroyed
-Commercial establishments destroyed
-Lenore L. Romney's presence
-Industrial establishments destroyed
-Ineffective local governments
-Unemployment
-Level of disaster
-Population of area
-Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] actions
-Housing accommodations
-Campers for dislocated
-Elderly
-Hotels
-Dormitories
-Lodges
-Red Cross
-Leasing of hotels and motels
-Home repair program
-Modular structures
-Areas for attention
-Rehabilitation
-Mobile home areas
-Lack of services
-Fire stations
-Schools
-Transportation
-Redevelopment planning
-HUD problems
-“Red tape”
-The President’s directive to Romney
 33

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Shapp
-The President’s letter to Romney
-The Administration’s public statements
-Delegation of authority to officials in the area
-Bureaucratic conflicts
-Communication problems
-Need for sole authority figure
-The President’s view
-Frank C. Carlucci
-Lincoln
-Romney
-Department of Defense
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Shapp
-Possible Federal Disaster Director of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania
-Authority over Federal effort
-Candidates
-Office of Emergency Preparedness [OEP] organization
-Past disasters
-Lack of precedent for Wilkes-Barre situation
-OEP representative in Wilkes-Barre
-Lack of authority over long-range development
-Authority
-Local government action
-Paralysis
-Private organization action under Rosen [first name unknown]
-Federal Regional Council
-Recommendations
-Need for federal leadership
-Direction for private organizations
-Rosen
-Provision of housing materials
-Federal disaster director
-Authority to act
-Lincoln
-Temporary emergency efforts
-Permanent rehabilitation efforts
-Candidates
-Carlucci
-Local ties
-Political acumen
 34

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Work with local leadership
-Local desire for plan on “Real City” basis
-Need for local initiative
-William W. Scranton
-Mary (Chamberlin) Scranton
-Knowledge of housing
-Experience
-Carlucci and Scranton
-Carlucci’s knowledge of government agencies
-Scranton
-Long range plan for future of Wilkes-Barre
-Citizens committee
-Carlucci
-Romney
-Lincoln
-Melvin R. Laird
-Compared to Cost of Living Council [COLC]
-Importance of public perception
-Federal disaster aid
-Mississippi
-South Dakota
-San Francisco earthquake
-Peru
-Japan
-Material aid
-Local morale
-Material assistance
-Morale in Wilkes-Barrre
-Romney's visit to Wilkes-Barre
-Need for visit from Cabinet member
-James D. Hodgson’s and Peter G. Peterson's previous visits
-Shapp
-Financial assistance
-Morale building
-Carlucci and Scranton
-Roles in aid program
-Carlucci
-Operations
-Scranton
-Long range plan
-Counter to Shapp
 35

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Appointment of Federal disaster director
-Effect on morale
-Federal expenditures
-Romney's recommendations
-Possible visit by the President
-Romney's trip
-Misinterpretation
-Romney as possible Federal disaster director
-Temporary housing efforts
-Hurricane Camille compared with Hurricane Agnes
-Programs
-Land
-Sites
-Trailers
-Need for speed
-Onset of cold weather
-Gas system
-Follow-up
-Appointment of disaster director
-Carlucci, Scranton
-Romney’s previous conversation with Scranton
-Carlucci
-Private organization
-Rosen
-Work with Scranton
-Romney's schedule
-Forthcoming meeting with Scranton and Ehrlichman
-Experience of OEP personnel
-Francis X. Tobin
-Robert Connor

Romney’s request for additional employees
-Office of Management and Budget [OMB]

Lincoln, Watson, Jackson and Ehrlichman left at 11:44 am.

Romney’s request for additional employees
-Budget problems
-[Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger]
-Personnel
-Use in disaster areas
 36

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Detroit
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Savings in HUD
-The President’s approval
-Weinberger

Situation in Wilkes-Barre
-Statement released to the press
-Washington Post
-Romney’s meeting with Scranton
-Possible firing of Romney
-Federal officials in disaster areas
-Effect on morale

Romney's status in administration
-Romney’s declining status
-Conflicts with OMB
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-[First name not known] Helms
-Reports about problems in relief efforts
-Housing
-US Army Corps of Engineers
-Trailers
-Sites for trailers
-Washington Star article
-The President’s statement
-Romney’s trip to Wilkes-Barre
-Romney’s attempts to meet with the President
-Cole
-Charges of “red tape” and “bureaucratic haggling”
-Reflection of Romney’s status in the Administration
-Romney’s relationship with OMB and the White House staff
-Lack of voice in policy and operation of HUD
-Wilkes-Barre situation
-Helms
-Romney's relationship with the White House
-Example of clean-up of riot areas
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Cabinet Committee
-Role of mayors
-Romney’s view
 37

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Helms
-Romney’s role in housing policies
-1972 election
-Issues
-Central cities and suburbs
-Race relations in housing
-Busing
-Compared to housing approach
-Romney’s view
-1964
-Private power in prices and wages issue
-Problems of central cities and suburbs
-Revenue sharing
-Romney’s work on governors’ committee
-“Balkanization”
-Efforts by suburbs to confine poor and minorities
-Zoning
-Building codes
-Property taxes
-Revenue sharing
-Need for fiscal and monetary management
-Abuse of private power
-George P. Shultz

Stephen B. Bull entered and left at an unknown time before 12:22 pm.

The President’s schedule

1972 election
-Union support for the President
-Public support for urban policies

Romney's possible resignation
-Impact on campaign
-Romney’s possible work for the President’s re-election
-Private capacity
-Comparison with John B. Connally
-Romney’s organization [Citizens for America]
-Romney’s cooperation with the administration
-Possible White House staff criticism
-Example of criticism of Arthur F. Burns
 38

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Romney’s pledge to defend himself
-Romney's resignation letter
-Timing
-Richard C. Van Dusen

An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 12:22 pm.

The President’s forthcoming meeting with Donald E. Johnson
-Designation of Administrator of Veterans Affairs as member of COLC [Domestic
Council]
-The Administration’s efforts on behalf of veterans
-Vietnam veterans
-Johnson

Romney’s resignation
-Loyalty
-Romney’s support for the Administration’s economic policy
-Wages and price control
-August 15, 1971
-Romney’s view
-Congressional support
-Example of transportation bill
-International Brotherhood of Teamsters
-Lack of support for the Administration’s position
-Handling of resignation
-Possible misinterpretation
-Wilkes-Barre situation
-Timing
-The President’s previous meeting with Romney
-Romney’s finances compared with unknown person’s finances
-Van Dusen
-Completion of work on Wilkes-Barre
-Carlucci
-Scranton
-Republican National Convention
-Walter J. Hickel
-Political implications
-Michigan
-Demonstration of mutual confidence between the Administration and
Romney
-Romney’s trip to Wilkes-Barre
 39

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Romney’s recommendations
-Cole
-Possible press briefing
-Ehrlichman
-Discussion of Romney’s long range plans
-Romney’s work in a private capacity
-Interest of press
-Wilkes-Barre program
-Romney’s recommendations
-Carlucci
-Romney’s work in a private capacity
-Timing
-Desire to avoid linkage of Wilkes-Barre to Romney’s resignation
-White House staff conflicts with the Cabinet
-Domestic Council
-Exclusion of Cabinet from policy-making
-Possibility of misinterpretation
-Press announcement
-Connally
-Romney’s future plans
-Press speculation
-Romney’s discussion with the President
-Romney’s work in a private capacity
-Wilkes-Barre work
-Timing
-Republican National Convention
-Romney’s work in a private capacity
-[Citizens for America]
-The President’s possible assistance
-Roger M. Blough
-Labor
-John W. Gardner’s organization [Common Cause]
-Romney’s view

Bull entered and left at an unknown time before 12:22 pm.

The President’s schedule

Romney’s resignation
-Romney’s possible visit to San Clemente
-President's forthcoming trip to Hawaii
 40

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-1972 election
-Michigan
-Busing issue
-Robert P. Griffin
-Possible campaigning by Romney
-Press relations
-Romney’s tenure at HUD
-Starts in housing
-Romney’s other interests

Housing problems
-John J. Rhodes
-Romney’s discussion with Republican platform committee
-The President’s view
-The Committee’s possible resistance to Romney
-National party platforms

Romney's plans
-Start of new organization
-1972 election
-Fundraising
-Announcement of resignation
-Romney’s new organization
-The President’s support
-Compared to Gardner’s organization
-Press interest
-Foundation for future work
-Romney’s previous conversations with the President
-Romney’s work in a private capacity
-Public service
-Romney’s tenure at HUD
-Housing program importance
-Completion of Wilkes-Barre relief
-Romney’s future at HUD
-Thomas E. Dewey
-Long-range interests
-Romney’s previous talk with the President
-Romney’s tenure at HUD
-Housing
-Wilkes-Barre situation
-Post Republican National Convention plans
 41

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Publicity for Romney’s organization
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-New version of Romney’s resignation letter
-Accomplishments in housing
-Romney’s forthcoming meeting with the President
-The President's schedule
-California
-Republican National Convention
-Forthcoming meeting in Hawaii with Kakuei Tanaka

Romney left at 12:22 pm.