483–17

Conversation No. 483-17

Date: April 20, 1971
Time: 3:35 pm - 4:10 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Clifford M. Hardin, General George A. Lincoln, and Peter M. Flanigan;
the White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.

[General conversation]

Texas drought
-Oklahoma
-George H. Mahon
-Support
-Robert D. Price
-John G. Tower

Press
-Sarah McLendon
-Location

Texas drought
-Political implications
-Concern
-Lack of rain
 51

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Issue
-Hay
-Politics over economics
-Farm act
-Impact
-Hay
-Availability
Conv. No. 483-16 (cont.)
Refreshments

Texas drought
-Hay
-Montana
-Idaho
-Wisconsin
-Illinois
-Nebraska
-Grain
-Sheep
-Cattle
-President's position
-Hay
-Farm act
-Crop acreage
-Authority
-Oklahoma
-Precedent
-Possible disaster loans
-South Dakota
-Congress
-Agriculture Department
-Crops
-Cost
-Political problem
-Land
-Possible Congressional resolution
-Administration's options
-Emergency credit
-Small Business Administration [SBA]
-Operating loans
-Budget
-Congress
 52

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Funds
-John B. Connally
-Connally's view
-Hardin and Lincoln
-Tower's and Connally's forthcoming visit to Texas
-Governor Preston Smith
-Unemployment compensation
-Migrant workers Conv. No. 483-17 (cont.)
-Rio Grande valley
-Cost
-Loans
-Farmers
-Rains
-Problem
-Possible disaster declaration
-Hardin's previous conversation with Connally
-Hardin's forthcoming conversation with Connally

The President talked with the White operator at an unknown time between 3:35 pm and 3:47 pm.

[Conversation No. 483-17A]

[See Conversation No. 2-7]

[End of telephone conversation]

Texas drought
-Budget
-Connally's recent visit to Texas
-Rains
-Oklahoma
-South Texas

The President talked with Connally between 3:47 pm and 3:48 pm.

[Conversation No. 483-17B]

[See Conversation No. 2-8]

[End of telephone conversation]

-Credit bill before Congress
 53

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Impact
-Administration's position
-Connally
-Administration proposals
-Credit bill
-Clark MacGregor
-Connally
-Agriculture committees Conv. No. 483-17 (cont.)
-Problem
-Budget
-Appropriated money
-Export-Import Bank
-MacGregor
-Connally
-Administration's concern
-President's conversation with unknown agricultural editor from Texas
-Farmers
-Emergency funds
-Smith
-Oklahoma Governor David Hall
-Schedule
-President’s regards
-President's scheduled visit to Oklahoma
-Tulsa
-Concern
-Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben F. Barnes
-Tower
-Price
-Plane for visit
-Visit to Texas
-Price
-Mahon
-Thomas J. (“Tom”) Steed
-Mahon
-W.R. Poage
-Plane
-Jetstar
-Capacity
-Size
-Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 3:48 pm and
 54

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



3:54 pm.

[Conversation No. 483-17C]

[See Conversation No. 2-9]

[End of telephone conversation]
Conv. No. 483-17 (cont.)
Schedule
-Lincoln and Hardin

Texas drought
-Texas and Oklahoma
-Hardin's and Lincoln's trip to Texas
-Mahon

The President talked with Hughes between 3:54 pm and 3:55 pm.

[Conversation No. 483-17D]

[See Conversation No. 2-10]

[End of telephone conversation]

-Plane for trip
-\"970\"
-Price
-Mahon

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and
4:04 pm.

[Conversation No. 483-17E]

[See Conversation No. 2-11]

[End of telephone conversation]

Clark MacGregor entered at 3:55 pm.

-Texas drought
-Forthcoming trip by Hardin and Lincoln
 55

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Press
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Number
-Size of plane
-Press
-McLendon
-Money
-Press Conv. No. 483-17 (cont.)
-McLendon
-Steed
-Plane for trip
-Availability
-Steed
-Oklahoma Senators
-Henry L. Bellmon
-Fred R. Harris
-Location
-Bellmon
-Schedule
-Ezra Taft Benson
-Possible invitation
-Tower's view
-Statements critical of the President
-Tower
-Text in Texas papers
-Poage and Mahon
-Tower
-Benson’s criticism of administration's activities
-Lincoln’s conversation with Tower
-Politics
-Hardin and Lincoln's trip to Texas
-San Antonio
-Amarillo
-Liberal Democrat Congressmen
-Plane
-Itinerary
-Alice
-Kingsville
-King Ranch
-Size
-Itinerary
-Gonzales
 56

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Southern area
-Eligio de la Garza
-Helicopters
-San Antonio
-Benson
-Connally
-Administration's activities
-Benson's criticism of the President Conv. No. 483-17 (cont.)
-Disaster declaration
-Assistance
-Possible disaster declaration
-Hay/grain
-Search
-Montana
-Possible story
-Disaster declaration effects
-Unemployment compensation
-SBA loans
-Agriculture declaration
-Limits
-Food stamps
-Food stamps
-Distribution
-Farms and ranches
-Crops
-Money
-Loans
-Unemployment
-Agriculture Department's study
-Administration’s possible action
-Unemployment compensation
-Administration's position
-Disaster declaration
-Precedent
-Dust bowl
-Other drought areas
-New Mexico and Arizona
-Southern California
-Florida
-Governor Reubin O. Askew
-Dust bowl
 57

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



The President talked with Mahon between 4:04 pm and 4:07 pm.

[Conversation No. 483-17F]

[See Conversation No. 2-12]

[End of telephone conversation]
Conv. No. 483-17 (cont.)
-President's conversation with Mahon
-Disaster declaration
-Rain
-Mahon's view
-Amarillo
-Dryness
-Price
-Hardin’s and Lincoln's trip to Texas
-Plane
-Press
-Department of Agriculture officials
-Plane
-Food
-Flanigan
-Agriculture
-Flanigan

Schedule
-Lincoln and Hardin
-Directions

Harden, Lincoln, Flanigan, and MacGregor left at 4:10 pm.