824–3

Conversation No. 824-3

Date: December 15, 1972
Time: 12:45 pm - 1:54 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler and John D. Ehrlichman.

Second term reorganization
-Wallace H. Johnson
-Assistant Attorney General, Land and Natural Resources Division
-Ambassadorship to the United Nations [UN]
-John A. Scali
-Announcement
-Leaks
-Washington Star
-Ziegler’s conversation with I. William Hill
-George H. W. Bush
-Trips to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
and the Soviet Union
-UN, White House, State Department coverage
-Trips to the PRC
-Hill
-Radio
-Timing
-[American Broadcasting Company] [ABC]
-Scali’s conversation with Leonard H. Goldenson
-Timing
-Washington Star

Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s briefing
-Timing
-Ziegler’s meeting with Kissinger
-The President’s memorandum
-Tone
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Cease-fire
-Imposition of Communist government in South Vietnam
 -49-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Long war, short peace
-Ziegler’s meeting with Kissinger

Ziegler left at 12:46 pm.

Second term reorganization
-Johnson
-Assistant Attorney General, Land and Natural Resources Division
-Condemnations
-Bureau of Land Management [BLM]
-Relationship with the administration
-Sallyanne Payton
-Plans
-Banking
-Supreme Court
-Age, experience
-General Counsel
-Banking
-Treasury Department
-Federal Home Loan Bank Board
-Banking
-Length of term
-Supreme Court
-Banking
-Money making
-Marital status
-Appreciation
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with the President
-District of Columbia
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr. appointment
-Blacks
-Problems
-Pressures
-Edwin L. Harper
-Conversation with Ehrlichman
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s offer
-Agnew
-Bicentennial
-Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.
 -50-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA]
-George P. Shultz
-Condition
-Ehrlichman’s conversation with Shultz
-Atomic Energy Commission [AEC]
-Departure
-[Dixy Lee Ray]
-AEC
-Publicity
-NASA
-James C. Fletcher
-[Lide A. Iacocca]
-Italian-American background
-Chrysler Corporation
-Scali
-Announcement
-Ethnic considerations
-Polish-American
-Reception for 1972 election supporters
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with Malek
-Refusal of jobs
-Under Secretaries
-White House mess
-New approach
-Ehrlichman’s schedule
-Haldeman’s schedule
-Refusal of jobs
-Malek
-Claude S. Brinegar
-George D. Webster
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Audit
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with Krogh
-Meetings with Krogh
-Confirmation
-Krogh’s view
-Prospects
-Krogh
 -51-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

The President’s picture
-The President’s conversation with Peter J. Brennan at reception for 1972 election
supporters
-The President’s conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Flag lapel pin
-Jingoism
-Labor Department offices
-James D. Hodgson, Shultz
-Brennan’s background
-Irish Democrat
-US embassies
-Sweden
-Ehrlichman’s schedule
-Instruction
-State Department
-Inspector General
-Foreign Service Officer [FSO]
-Residences
-Public buildings
-General Services Administration [GSA]

Second term reorganization
-GSA
-Hugh Scott’s recommendation [Arthur F. Sampson]
-Relationship with the administration
-[Robert L. Kunzig]
-Alternative
-Loyal businessman-politician
-The President’s picture
-Public buildings
-List
-Ethnics
-Businessmen
-Kunzig
-1972 campaign
-Rights

Ehrlichman’s schedule
-Budget meeting
 -52-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)


Paraplegics
-Budget
-Cuts
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-News summary
-Ehrlichman’s reading
-Weinberger
-The President’s view

Vietnam War
-Charles H. Percy
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Chicago Tribune
-White House access

Veterans
-Vietnam veteran Robert Muller’s appearance on Today show
-Veterans’ Health Care Expansion Act of 1972
-The President’s veto
-Reason
-Congressional fiscal responsibility
-Vietnam War
-US bombing
-Veterans Administration [VA] hospitals
-Changes since World War II, 1950s
-Timing
-1972 election
-[October 27, 1972]
-Paraplegics
-Response
-Equal time
-Donald E. Johnson
-Disabled Veterans of America
-Paraplegics
-Muller
-Veteran benefits legislation
-Signature
-Veterans organizations
 -53-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Response
-Johnson
-The President’s actions
-Bills
-Veterans’ Affairs Committee
-Olin E. (“Tiger”) Teague
-Change of committees
-Space and Technology Committee

Second term reorganization
-Ethnics
-Polish-Americans
-Black
-Woman
-Ray
-Ivy Baker Priest
-Symbolism
-AEC
-Compared to Jean Westwood
-David
-NASA
-Condition
-Policy implications
-1972 election
-The President’s conversation with Ehrlichman
-The President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Problem
-Responsibility
-Self-imposed discipline

Press relations
-Washington Post
-White House coverage
-Meeting with White House staff
-Kissinger
-New Republic

Second term reorganization
-Control
 -54-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Two party system
-Republicans

Congressional relations
-The President’s conversation with Michael J. Mansfield
-Republican leadership and bipartisanship meetings
-Scott
-The President’s conversations with William E. Timmons and Tom C.
Korologos
-Mansfield
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Russell B. Long
-Second term reorganization
-Chet Holifield
-Need for cooperation
-Voting for man
-Compared to voting for party
-[Republican] control of White House
-Compared to [Democratic] control of Congress
-Mansfield’s views
-Need for secrecy
-Leaks
-Partisans
-Possible problems
-Meetings
-Republicans
-Percy
-Samuel L. Devine
-Scott
-Meetings with Democrats
-Mansfield
-George H. Mahon
-Mills
-Compared to meetings with Charles McC Mathias, Jr., Percy,
Edward W. Brooke
-New Majority
-Split government
-Harry S. Truman
-80th Congress, 1946-48
 -55-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Issues
-Robert A. Taft, Sr.- Fred A. Hartley Act
-Wage and price controls
-Domestic policy
-Foreign policy
-Domestic policy
-Wage and price controls
-Achievements
-Nonpartisanship
-Republicans
-Partisanship
-Governors
-Request for quarterly meetings with the President
-Gerald R. Ford
-Breakfast meetings with the President
-The President’s obligations
-National interest
-State of the Union speech
-1973 Inaugural speech
-State of the Union speech
-Delivery
-Length

Speechwriting
-Domestic policy
-Briefing paper
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-1972 campaign
-Problem solving
-Proposed projects
-Legislation
-1973 Inaugural speech
-Previous speeches
-Word count
-The President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Theodore Roosevelt
-The President, 1969
-Roosevelt
 -56-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Franklin D. Roosevelt, 193[7]
-John F. Kennedy, 1961
-The President’s view
-Brevity
-Kissinger
-Price
-Gettysburg Address
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip announcement
-1973 Inaugural speech
-Proposed length
-Price’s draft
-Briefing papers
-Domestic policy
-Messages to Congress
-Brevity
-Vetoes
-Speechwriters
-Teaching of writing
-Discipline
-Book length
-Winston S. Churchill
-Use of language
-Problem of time
-Theodore Roosevelt as writer
-1905 Inaugural speech
-Churchill as writer
-Compared to the President as writer
-Theodore Roosevelt
-Speechwriter
-Price’s view
-Price
-Tone
-Kissinger’s view
-The President’s natural style
-Theodore Roosevelt
-The President’s writing
-November 3, 1969 speech
-May 8, 1972 speech
-Cambodia speech
 -57-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Effectiveness
-Work with the President
-Speech construction
-Outline
-The President’s frame of mind
-Outline
-Reading
-Introduction
-Conclusion
-Price
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-Style
-Experience
-William L. Safire
-Style
-The President’s radio address on the Philosophy of Government
-The President’s writing style
-Lawyers
-Acceptance speeches
-Quotes
-Use
-Speech construction
-Work required
-Outline
-Introduction
-Conclusion
-Lee W. Huebner
-Anecdotes
-Appropriateness
-Hiring
-Background
-Rockefeller Foundation
-William E. Brock, III
-Type of writer
-Comparison
-Buchanan
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Style
 -58-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-1973 Inaugural speech
-The President’s trip to Florida
-Problem

Second term
-Domestic policy
-Briefing paper
-Accomplishments in first term
-Issues
-Race
-Focus
-Administration actions
-Media relations
-Revenue sharing
-Importance
-Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations [ACIR]
meeting
-Governors, mayors, Congressmen
-Property tax
-Cities, states
-Budget surpluses
-Ehrlichman’s press briefing
-Urban crisis
-Riots
-Crime rates
-Drug rates
-Mass transit
-Revenue sharing
-Dan Rather’s conversation with Herbert G. Klein, Kenneth W.
Clawson
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Ehrlichman’s possible briefings
-Frequency
-Revenue sharing
-Kennedy
-Kennedy’s foreign policy
-Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
-Importance
-US, Soviet Union
 -59-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Domestic policy
-Press relations
-Revenue sharing
-Passage
-Corruption
-Local action
-City councils, county supervisors
-Taxes
-Lighted streets, schools, police
-Race [blacks]
-Tokenism
-Payton
-Job
-Possible meeting with the President
-Walter E. Washington
-National recognition
-Relationship with the Administration
-Washington, DC
-Housing and school integration
-Welfare
-Family Assistance Plan [FAP]
-Food stamps
-Sickle cell anemia
-Possible programs
-Assistance
-Black-White confrontation
-Education
-Disadvantaged neighborhood schools
-Financial help for physical plants, faculty, books
-Moynihan’s view
-Hereditary and environment
-Schools
-Tokenism
-Minority business
-Previous legislation of 92nd Congress
-Possible visits by the President
-Neutral ground
-Reading programs
-Truism
 -60-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Minority advancement
-FAP
-Department of Housing, Education and Welfare [HEW]
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Weinberger
-Ehrlichman’s press briefing
-1972 election
-Mandate for tougher work requirement
-Congressional relations
-Senate
-Deadlock
-1972 election
-Welfare reform
-The President’s platform
-Administration proposals
-Elimination of Aid to Families
with Dependent Children
[AFDC]
-Employment
-Fraud elimination
-Experiments
-AFDC

Race relations
-Blacks
-The President’s concern
-Abraham Lincoln’s views
-Equality with whites
-Slavery
-Fairness
-The President’s views
-Liberals
-University of Southern California [USC] and Stanford University
football teams
-Entrance requirements
-Black athletes
-Recruitment
-Black leaders, children, waiters
-Intelligence
-Payton
 -61-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Jewell S. Lafontant
-Whites
-Empathy
-Equality with whites
-Intelligence
-School and housing intergration
-Need for honesty
-Rewards
-Tokenism
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Schools
-Improvement
-Minority business
-Cost
-Mexian-Americans
-Expectations during first term
-Deflation
-Cabinet appointments
-General Motors [GM]
-Judgeships
-Ambassadors
-Ambassadors
-Sweden
-Liberia
-Norway
-Denmark
-Jerome H. Holland
-Achievements
-The President’s appointments
-Merit
-Schools
-Assistance to blacks
-Civil rights leaders
-Rev. Theodore S. Hesburgh
-Civil rights community
-Georgetown elite
-Views

Second term reorganization
-Hesburgh
 -62-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Departure
-J. Stanley Pottinger
-Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division
-Background
-Commission on Civil Rights
-Intellectual
-John B. Connally
-National Center for Voluntary Action [NCVA]
-George W. Romney
-Ehrlichman’s meeting with Robert H. Finch
-Conversation with the President
-The President’s meeting with Romney and W. Clement Stone
-Finch’s performance
-Second phase
-The President’s meeting with Romney, Ehrlichman
-Fundraising
-The President’s role
-The President’s meetings with Romney, Stone
-Dinners
-Stone
-John W. Gardner
-Fundraising
-Use of White House
-Dinners
-Boys Clubs

The President’s schedule
-Business Council
-Future meetings
-New people
-Compared to old elite
-John W. Gardner
-Urban Coalition
-National Alliance of Businessmen [NAB]
-Donald McI. Kendall
-Representation from Sears Roebuck
-Unknown person
-Chicago
-NAB
-Subsidies
 -63-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Use of White House
-Fundraising
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Brennan
-Labor Department
-Instruction to Ehrlichman
-Eastern establishment
-Lyndon B. Johnson administration
-Great Society
-Ehrlichman’s record
-Dinners
-Congressional relations
-Breakfast meetings
-Ford
-Compared to telephone calls
-White House contact
-Wives, staffs, news letters
-Frequency
-Hand-shaking
-Democrats, Republicans
-Passage of revenue sharing
-Mayors
-Need for allies
-John A. Tower
-Attitude
-Peter H. Dominick
-Attitude
-Gordon L. Allott
-Brock
-Value

Congressional relations
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Timmons
-Meetings
-Clark MacGregor
-Timmons
-Presence
-Personality
-Second term reorganization
 -64-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-James E. Smith
-Treasury Department
-Korologos
-Senate
-Effectiveness
-Smith
-Presence
-Possible meetings with the President

The President’s schedule
-Cabinet dinner
-Seating arrangements
-Departures
-Mrs. Brennan
-The President’s right
-Under Secretary’s wife
-The President’s left
-Adele (Langston) Rogers
-[Suzanne (Lowell) Krogh]
-Background
-Japan
-Under Secretary’s wife
-William E. Simon
-[Carol (Girard) Simon]
-Background
-New York
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Maurice H. Stans
-John N. Mitchell
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Romney
-John A. Volpe
-Romney
-Volpe
-Stans
-Under Secretary’s wife
-Invitations
-Blacks
-Cabinet, Under Secretaries, White House staff
-Blacks
 -65-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)

Conversation No. 824-3 (cont’d)

-Under Secretaries
-Samuel L. Jackson
-Robert J. Brown
-Price
-Klein
-Finch
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Jackson

The President’s schedule
-Congressional relations
-Social affairs
-Effect
-Meetings with the President’s supporters
-Senate Finance Committee
-Effect
-FAP
-Cabinet dinner
-Haldeman

Press relations
-Ziegler
-The President’s meeting with Ehrlichman
-Duration
-Domestic programs

Ehrlichman left at 1:54 pm.