About this recording
418-005a
- President Richard M. Nixon
- H. R. Haldeman
- Charles G. "Bebe" Rebozo
- Henry A. Kissinger
- White House operator
- Ronald L. Ziegler
March 9, 1973
Conversation No. 418-5
Date: March 9, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:15 pm and 3:05 pm
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-3 (cont’d)
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
President’s schedule
The President talked with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo between 2:15 pm and 2:18 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5A]
[See also Conversation No. 37-69]
[End of telephone conversation]
Public relations
-Crime speech
-Name of slogan
-Clean Air Act, Safe Streets Act, New Federalism
-Patrick J. Buchanan, William L. Safire, [unintelligible name]
-Legislative package
-Request for capital punishment
-Congress
-Criminal code revision
-Need for phrasemaker
-Herbert G. Klein [?]
-Editor
-Work with Ehrlichman
-Crime speech
-Ehrlichman’s edits
-Cop killers
-Criminal penalties
-Ehrlichman's work load
-Importance of work
-Hugh Scott
-Cabinet meetings
-Compared to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cabinet
-William P. Rogers [?]
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-President’s use of rhetoric
-John A. Scali
-John A. Volpe
-Phrasemaking
-Scali
-Domestic Council
-Speech writing
-Crime speech
-Ehrlichman
-Taxes and spending
-Education
-Family budget
-Phrasemaking
-Spiro T. Agnew's contributions
-Television [TV]
-Rogers
-Critique
Agnew
Problems of leadership
-Compared to John B. Connally, Nelson A. Rockefeller
-President as Vice President under Eisenhower
-Role of Vice President
-Cabinet
Crime Speech [?]
Appointments
-New appointments
-Ambassadors
-Pool of 40 candidates
-New career appointees
-Blacks
-Labor unionists
-Black appointments
-Compared to State Department
-Foreign Service Officers [FSO]
-Career compared to non-career appointments
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Limits
-Iceland, Malta, Yugoslavia, Venezuela,
-Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Dominican Republic
-Difficult assignments
-Hold-overs
-Australia
-Marshall Green
-Belgium
-Robert Strauz-Hupe
-France
-John Irwin
-India
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Iran
-Richard A. Helms
-Italy
-Volpe
-Spain
-Adm. Horacio Rivero
-Turkey
-William B. Macomber, Jr.
-Contributors
-Problem for Maurice H. Stans
-Careerists
-Rogers
-Contributors
-Priority
-Replacements
-Strausz-Hupe'
-Conservatives
- Rivera
-Philip K. Crowe, John D. J. Moore
-Thomas Burns
-Career Service
-Labor Background
-George Meany
-Blacks
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Careerist from State Department
-Strausz-Hupe, Rivero [?], Burns
-Replacements
Manolo Sanchez and Fina Sanchez
-Pay
-Source of funds
-Residence appropriations
-Interior Department
-Civil Service
-GS level
-Base pay
-Room and board
-Overtime
-Total pay
-Fina Sanchez
-Compared to domestic work
-Starting pay
-Increases
******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Bonus
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
-Total pay
-Increase
Kissinger entered at 2:35 pm.
John Downey
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Mother’s illness
-President’s message
-Chou En-lai
-Release from prison
Call to Downey’s brother
Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:46
pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5B.]
[See Conversation No. 37-70]
[End of telephone conversation]
-Release from prison
-Hong Kong
-Press statement
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Ronald L. Ziegler
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Release of prisoners
-Robert J. Flynn, Philip E. Smith
-Downey
Pay raises
-Sanchez, Kissinger
-PRC Dr. K. E. Bruce appointment
Head of liaison office
-State Department’s recommendation
-Edwin W. Martin
-Ambassador to Burma
-President’s experience
-Latin America
-Brazil
-Malcolm Smith, “John F. Kennedy’s 13 Great Mistakes in the
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
White House”
-Liaison office
-Transportation
-Military plane
-Peking
Edwin Martin
-Misidentification
Bruce
-Appointment to the liaison office
-Back channel communication
-State department officers
-Alfred L. Jenkins, John H. Holdridge
-Announcement
Press conference
-Announcements
-Liaison office appointments
-USSR visit
-State visits
-Tanaka
-Connection with PRC announcement
-Prisoners’ release compared to liaison office
-Bruce’s appointment
Bruce
-Age
-Compared to Chou En-lai
Messages
-President’s letter
-Kissinger’s letter to Chou En-lai
-Bruce
Announcement
-Bruce
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
The President talked with William Downey at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:46 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5C]
[See Conversation No. 37-71]
Health of Downey’s mother
Announcement
-Kissinger call to Ziegler
Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:46
pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5D]
[See Conversation No. 37-72]
Announcement
-Prisoners’ release
-Downey
-Timing
-Wording
-Request to Chou En-lai
-Downey's mother
-Illness
-Thomas J. Meskill
-Connecticut
-Appeal
-Ziegler
Telephone call to Meskill
The President talked with the White House operator at 2:46 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5E]
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
[See Conversation No. 37-73]
[End of telephone conversation]
Call to Meskill
-Reasons for call
Announcement
-Downey
-Ziegler
Kissinger talked with Ziegler at an unknown time between 2:46 pm and 2:53 pm. The President
can be heard in the background.
[Conversation No. 418-5F]
[See Conversation No. 37-74]
Downey
-Private message to Chou En-Lai
[End of telephone conversation]
Release of Downey
-Announcement
-State Department’s role
-Method of Appeal
-Edward Kennedy
-Letters, telephone calls
-Meskill
-Telephone calls
-Credit
-Announcement
-Ziegler
-Telegram
-Announcement
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-PRC
-Announcement
-Selective release
-[unintelligible name]
-Howard K. Smith
-New York Times
-Washington Post
-New York Times
-Call to Charlie Daniel
-Handling
-President's message to Chou
Meeting with. Rogers
-Reasons
-Report on trip
-Cabinet meeting
-Rogers’ statement
-US commitment
-Ehrlichman
-Spiro T. Agnew
Foreign Aid
-Congress
-Pakistan
-India
-Weapons
-Armored personnel carriers [APCs]
-Spare parts, repaired equipment
-David Packard
-Contract
-Delegation
-Kenya
-Uganda
-Size
-Evacuation
-Thomas P. Melady
-Idi Amin
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Letters
-Melady’s return
Ziegler's Announcement
Kissinger left at an unknown time after 2:46 pm.
Downey release
-Kissinger’s skills
Kissinger entered at an unknown time before 2:53 pm.
President's press conference
-Timing
-Announcement
-PRC
-Bruce
Kissinger left at 2:53 pm.
******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Public relations
-Strategy
-Plan
-Vetoes
-George H. W. Bush
-Spokesperson
-Janet Johnson
Bush
-New York City mayoral election
-Primary
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-William T. Cahill
-John N. Mitchell
House Campaign Committee
-Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-Resignation
-Clarence (“Bud”) Brown, Jr.
-Succession struggle
-Wilson’s staff
-Compared to Agnew’s staff
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
President's schedule
-Republican Congress members
-Meeting with President
-Cabinet room, Oval Office [?]
-Freshmen
-Function on Saturday
-William E. Timmons
-Evening at the White House
-Camp David
-Church service
-Shamrock presentation
-Gift
-Ashtray
The President talked with Meskill between 3:00 pm and 3:02 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5G].
[See Conversation No. 37-75]
[End of telephone conversation]
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
Public relations
-Budget
-Statements
-Cabinet meeting
-Plan
-President's public appearances
Advance work
-Press conferences
-Radio speeches
-Meetings with Congress members
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
-Outside assistance
-Meeting with Charles W. Colson
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman left at 3:05 pm.
Date: March 9, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:15 pm and 3:05 pm
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-3 (cont’d)
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
President’s schedule
The President talked with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo between 2:15 pm and 2:18 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5A]
[See also Conversation No. 37-69]
[End of telephone conversation]
Public relations
-Crime speech
-Name of slogan
-Clean Air Act, Safe Streets Act, New Federalism
-Patrick J. Buchanan, William L. Safire, [unintelligible name]
-Legislative package
-Request for capital punishment
-Congress
-Criminal code revision
-Need for phrasemaker
-Herbert G. Klein [?]
-Editor
-Work with Ehrlichman
-Crime speech
-Ehrlichman’s edits
-Cop killers
-Criminal penalties
-Ehrlichman's work load
-Importance of work
-Hugh Scott
-Cabinet meetings
-Compared to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s cabinet
-William P. Rogers [?]
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-President’s use of rhetoric
-John A. Scali
-John A. Volpe
-Phrasemaking
-Scali
-Domestic Council
-Speech writing
-Crime speech
-Ehrlichman
-Taxes and spending
-Education
-Family budget
-Phrasemaking
-Spiro T. Agnew's contributions
-Television [TV]
-Rogers
-Critique
Agnew
Problems of leadership
-Compared to John B. Connally, Nelson A. Rockefeller
-President as Vice President under Eisenhower
-Role of Vice President
-Cabinet
Crime Speech [?]
Appointments
-New appointments
-Ambassadors
-Pool of 40 candidates
-New career appointees
-Blacks
-Labor unionists
-Black appointments
-Compared to State Department
-Foreign Service Officers [FSO]
-Career compared to non-career appointments
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Limits
-Iceland, Malta, Yugoslavia, Venezuela,
-Indonesia, Malaysia, Afghanistan, Dominican Republic
-Difficult assignments
-Hold-overs
-Australia
-Marshall Green
-Belgium
-Robert Strauz-Hupe
-France
-John Irwin
-India
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Iran
-Richard A. Helms
-Italy
-Volpe
-Spain
-Adm. Horacio Rivero
-Turkey
-William B. Macomber, Jr.
-Contributors
-Problem for Maurice H. Stans
-Careerists
-Rogers
-Contributors
-Priority
-Replacements
-Strausz-Hupe'
-Conservatives
- Rivera
-Philip K. Crowe, John D. J. Moore
-Thomas Burns
-Career Service
-Labor Background
-George Meany
-Blacks
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Careerist from State Department
-Strausz-Hupe, Rivero [?], Burns
-Replacements
Manolo Sanchez and Fina Sanchez
-Pay
-Source of funds
-Residence appropriations
-Interior Department
-Civil Service
-GS level
-Base pay
-Room and board
-Overtime
-Total pay
-Fina Sanchez
-Compared to domestic work
-Starting pay
-Increases
******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Bonus
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
-Total pay
-Increase
Kissinger entered at 2:35 pm.
John Downey
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Mother’s illness
-President’s message
-Chou En-lai
-Release from prison
Call to Downey’s brother
Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:46
pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5B.]
[See Conversation No. 37-70]
[End of telephone conversation]
-Release from prison
-Hong Kong
-Press statement
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Ronald L. Ziegler
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Release of prisoners
-Robert J. Flynn, Philip E. Smith
-Downey
Pay raises
-Sanchez, Kissinger
-PRC Dr. K. E. Bruce appointment
Head of liaison office
-State Department’s recommendation
-Edwin W. Martin
-Ambassador to Burma
-President’s experience
-Latin America
-Brazil
-Malcolm Smith, “John F. Kennedy’s 13 Great Mistakes in the
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
White House”
-Liaison office
-Transportation
-Military plane
-Peking
Edwin Martin
-Misidentification
Bruce
-Appointment to the liaison office
-Back channel communication
-State department officers
-Alfred L. Jenkins, John H. Holdridge
-Announcement
Press conference
-Announcements
-Liaison office appointments
-USSR visit
-State visits
-Tanaka
-Connection with PRC announcement
-Prisoners’ release compared to liaison office
-Bruce’s appointment
Bruce
-Age
-Compared to Chou En-lai
Messages
-President’s letter
-Kissinger’s letter to Chou En-lai
-Bruce
Announcement
-Bruce
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
The President talked with William Downey at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:46 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5C]
[See Conversation No. 37-71]
Health of Downey’s mother
Announcement
-Kissinger call to Ziegler
Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:46
pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5D]
[See Conversation No. 37-72]
Announcement
-Prisoners’ release
-Downey
-Timing
-Wording
-Request to Chou En-lai
-Downey's mother
-Illness
-Thomas J. Meskill
-Connecticut
-Appeal
-Ziegler
Telephone call to Meskill
The President talked with the White House operator at 2:46 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5E]
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
[See Conversation No. 37-73]
[End of telephone conversation]
Call to Meskill
-Reasons for call
Announcement
-Downey
-Ziegler
Kissinger talked with Ziegler at an unknown time between 2:46 pm and 2:53 pm. The President
can be heard in the background.
[Conversation No. 418-5F]
[See Conversation No. 37-74]
Downey
-Private message to Chou En-Lai
[End of telephone conversation]
Release of Downey
-Announcement
-State Department’s role
-Method of Appeal
-Edward Kennedy
-Letters, telephone calls
-Meskill
-Telephone calls
-Credit
-Announcement
-Ziegler
-Telegram
-Announcement
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-PRC
-Announcement
-Selective release
-[unintelligible name]
-Howard K. Smith
-New York Times
-Washington Post
-New York Times
-Call to Charlie Daniel
-Handling
-President's message to Chou
Meeting with. Rogers
-Reasons
-Report on trip
-Cabinet meeting
-Rogers’ statement
-US commitment
-Ehrlichman
-Spiro T. Agnew
Foreign Aid
-Congress
-Pakistan
-India
-Weapons
-Armored personnel carriers [APCs]
-Spare parts, repaired equipment
-David Packard
-Contract
-Delegation
-Kenya
-Uganda
-Size
-Evacuation
-Thomas P. Melady
-Idi Amin
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-Letters
-Melady’s return
Ziegler's Announcement
Kissinger left at an unknown time after 2:46 pm.
Downey release
-Kissinger’s skills
Kissinger entered at an unknown time before 2:53 pm.
President's press conference
-Timing
-Announcement
-PRC
-Bruce
Kissinger left at 2:53 pm.
******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Public relations
-Strategy
-Plan
-Vetoes
-George H. W. Bush
-Spokesperson
-Janet Johnson
Bush
-New York City mayoral election
-Primary
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
-William T. Cahill
-John N. Mitchell
House Campaign Committee
-Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-Resignation
-Clarence (“Bud”) Brown, Jr.
-Succession struggle
-Wilson’s staff
-Compared to Agnew’s staff
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************
President's schedule
-Republican Congress members
-Meeting with President
-Cabinet room, Oval Office [?]
-Freshmen
-Function on Saturday
-William E. Timmons
-Evening at the White House
-Camp David
-Church service
-Shamrock presentation
-Gift
-Ashtray
The President talked with Meskill between 3:00 pm and 3:02 pm.
[Conversation No. 418-5G].
[See Conversation No. 37-75]
[End of telephone conversation]
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 418-5 (cont’d)
Public relations
-Budget
-Statements
-Cabinet meeting
-Plan
-President's public appearances
Advance work
-Press conferences
-Radio speeches
-Meetings with Congress members
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
-Outside assistance
-Meeting with Charles W. Colson
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman left at 3:05 pm.