855–10

Conversation No. 855-10

Date: February 14, 1973
Time: 10:13 am -10:49 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Charles W. Colson and Stephen B. Bull.

Changes in speech draft

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:49 am.

[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.
1-18.]

[End of transcribed portion.]

Prisoners of war [POWs] return
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Conversation with Colson
-Support for President
-Press
-Misjudgment of public
-National remorse
-Delight
-Heroism
-“Draft dodgers”

Amnesty
-Divisiveness of issue
-National healing
-Press
-Right wing
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


-Veterans groups
-Condemnation
-Public hostility to amnesty
-Compared to black issue
-Public hostility
-Anti-elitism
-College deferments
-Hardship cases
-Law-breaking
-James R. (“Jimmy”) Hoffa
-Major crime

National pride
-Colson's memorandum
-President’s accomplishments
-Need to rebuild
-Herman Kahn
-Washington Star
-President's program
-Amnesty
-Conflicts
-Compared to 1960s
-Welfare
-“Draft dodgers”
-Responsibility
-Equal burden
-Busing
-Changes in mood
-President’s legacy

Press relations
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Stock price
-News summary
-Business Week
-Network news
-Less viewing by public
 -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


-Impact on public
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-John F. Kennedy
-Frustrations
-Indifference of President’s administration
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Pornography, permissiveness
-Peace at any price
-Hostility to administration
-Loss of control
-Washington Post
-New York Times
-Endorsement of George S. McGovern
-Compared to President
-Reporters
-Washington, DC compared to rest of country

Dollar devaluation
-Phase III
-New York Times
-Criticism of President
-Inaccuracy
-Gross national product [GNP]
-Foreign components
-Size of economy
-Trade
-Pubic understanding
-Previous devaluation decision
-Acceptance
-Price freeze
-Phase III
-Complexity
-Concerns
-Utilities, rent
-Acceptance
-John B. Connally
-George P. Shultz
 -10-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


-Skill with press, public relations
-Free trade, protectionism
-President’s statements
-Photograph opportunity
-Catch phrases
-Connally

POWs
-Congratulations for President
-Statements upon return
-Support for President
-Today Show
-Credit to President
-Press relations

Vietnam settlement
-John A. Scali’s statement


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

Party changes
-Connally
-Mickey Gardner
-Conflicts[?]
-Press reaction
-Democrats
-Albert E. Sindlinger[?]
-Polling
-Connally’s announcement
-Effect on Republicans

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
**********************************************************************
 -11-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)


Congress budget preparation
-News summary
-Editorials
-Poor people
-John S. (“Jack”) Knight
-Opposition to Watergate, Vietnam War
-Support for President’s position
-Expenditures
-President’s position
-Hugh Scott’s role
-Support for President
-Public attitudes
-Waste
-Poverty Programs, welfare
-Protecting tax dollars
-Compared to ideas of aid

Colson’s trip to East Europe
-Boston
-Visit with parents
-London

[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.
19-20.]

[End of transcribed portion]


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[NATIONAL SECURITY]
[DURATION: 5s ]

INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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 -12-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-10 (cont’d)




[A transcript of the following portion of the conversation may be found in RG 460, Box 172, pp.
19-20.]

Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:13 am during the transcribed portion.

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:13 am during the transcribed portion.

[End of transcribed portion.]

Colson, Bull and Sanchez left at 10:49 am.