About this recording
484–5
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Henry A. Kissinger
- Ronald L. Ziegler
- Graham B. Steenhoven
- John A. Scali
- White House photographer
- UNKNOWN
April 21, 1971
Conversation No. 484-5
Date: April 21, 1971
Time: 11:35 am - 12:27 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler, Graham B. Steenhoven, and John
A. Scali; the White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning
of the meeting
Greetings
-Steenhoven's photograph in newspaper
-Trip to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Seat offered
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Introductions
-Scali
-Kissinger
Photo session
-Press
-[Machine noise]
General conversation
Table tennis
-Experience
-National association [?]
President's meeting with Muscular Dystrophy Association of America, April 15, 1971
-Presentation of awards
-[Richard and Robert Santin]
-Nebraska
Steenhoven's family
President's unknown meeting with Republican governors/wives
-Two unknown sisters
-Ages
Chrysler Corporation
-Steenhoven’s father
-Pride
-Loyalty
-Press
-Steenhoven's conversation with Lynn A. Townsend, April 20, 1971
-Publicity
-Steenhoven's career
-Tenure at Chrysler
-Birthplace
US table tennis team
-Background of members
-Selection of team
-Criteria
-Japan
-Money
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Japan/PRC
-Members
-Fifteen-year-old girl [Judy Bochenski]
-Hungarian-born girl [Olga Soltasz]
-Housewife [Connie Sweeris]
-Grand Rapids, Michigan
-Rufford Harrison
-Great Britain Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Black player [George Brathwaite]
-Guyana
-Errol Resek
-Dominican Republic
-Frank Allen
-California
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 11:35 am
Refreshment
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 12:26 pm
US table tennis team
-Members
-Visit to PRC
-John Tannehill
-Middletown, Ohio
-Health
-Interview with reporters
-Steenhoven's visit to hospital
-Request
-Wish to stay in PRC
-Responsibilities
-Health
-Hotels
-Foreign Guests
-Airport
-Private lane on runway
-Guards
-Table tennis
-Paddles
Use of team “ping-pong”
-Vice President Agnew
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Ping-pong
-Grip on paddle
-Athletes
-Control
-Grip on paddle
-Comparison with golf
-Control
-Chinese players Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Steenhoven's schedule
-Visit to Tokyo
-Contract
-Visit to PRC
-Camera
-Photographs
-Gift of television film and script
-Copies
-Chrysler
-State Department
-English script
-Sound
-Description
-Chinese writing
-Commentary
-Chou En-lai
-Appearance
-Intellect
-George Yeh
-Meeting with US players
-Orientation
-Other teams
-Canadian team
-Marge Baldwin
-Knowledge of English language
-Interpreter
-Knowledge of each group
-Memory
-Solicitation of criticism
-Comments to Steenhoven
-Luncheon
-Chinese chefs
-Menu
-Food
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cities
-Steenhoven’s travels
-Polytechnic College
-Trucks assembled by students
-Gasoline
-Description
-Chrome
-Chrysler Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Welding
-Chrome
-Professors
-Comments on students
-Peasants
-Workers
-Soldiers
-Unknown professor's comments
-Mao Tse-tung
-Carbon Steel
-Shanghai
-Chinese people
-Steenhoven’s view
-Wire service report
-Thomas J. Riley
-Chinese Language
-Clothing
-Women
-Pants
-People
-Steenhoven’s view
-Health
-Curiosity
-Children
-Babies
-Mothers
-Adults
-Shanghai
-Crowd
-Steenhoven's US Table Tennis Association [USTTA] Pin
-Unknown young man
-Gifts
-Buildings
-Streets
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cleanliness
-Animals
-Trees
-People
-Work
-Sleeping in streets
-Shanghai
-Population Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Automobiles
-Plymouths
-Railroad station
-Subway entrance
-Pictures
-Importance
-Underground Shelter
-Steenhoven's schedule
-Trip to Canton
-Gift for Wife
-Exchange
-US dollars
-Money
-Rate
-Gifts
-Loans
-Press
-Canadians
-Money
-US team
-Steenhoven's leadership
-Dick Miles
-Shanghai
-Shopping
-Tailors, interpreters, and officials
-Dresses
-Payment
-Cost of material
-Bill
-Gifts for tailors
-Cunningham [Forename unknown]
-Pins for Gifts
34
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Return Visit by PRC Table Tennis Team
-Timing
-US position
-Importance
-Young people
-Swimming team
-Basketball team
-Planning Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Acceptance of Steenhoven’s invitation
-Announcement
-Timing of acceptance of Steenhoven’s invitation to PRC
-Steenhoven's arrival in US
-Chou En-lai
-Other teams
President's Meeting with American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE] , April 16, 1971
-PRC
-Chou En-lai
-Number of phone calls by US editors
Return Visit of PRC table tennis team
-Travel
-Visit of US table tennis team
-Possible visit to US by PRC ping-pong team
-Chinese
-Reciprocation
-Visit of US table tennis team
-Return visit of PRC table tennis team
-Visits
-Return visit of PRC team
-Importance
-Chinese
-US response
-US press
-Scali
-Pressure
-Trip to Japan
-Demonstrations
-South Koreans
-Demonstrations
-Photographers
-President's visits to communist countries
35
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Lack of demonstrations
-Warsaw
-Planning
-Chrysler Corporation
-William T. Gossett
-Gossett's role
-Funding
-Significance Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Kissinger
-Visit to PRC of US table tennis team
-Steenhoven's initiatives
-Date
-Steenhoven's forthcoming letter to unknown Chinese person
-Possible itinerary
-Visit of US team to PRC
-Itinerary
-School
-Commune
-Great Wall of China
-Chou En-lai
-Press coverage
-Nikita Khrushchev's visit to US
-Treatment
-Visit of US team to PRC
-Treatment
-Possible visit to Detroit
-Bloomfield Hills
-Hotel
-Isolation
-Visit of US team to PRC
-Hotels
-Stores
-Opera
-Ballet
-Guidance
-Gossett's role
-US Government participation
-Press coverage
-Gossett
-Administration's position regarding foreign visits to US
-Cooperation
-Experience
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Invitation
-Publicity
-Scali and Gossett
-Press
-Gossett
Media
-Forthcoming \"Issues & Answers\" program Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Steenhoven's possible participation
-Fay Weeden [?]
-Steenhoven's possible participation
Chrysler Corporation
Presentation of gifts by the President
-Mrs. Steenhoven
-USTTA
-Presidential seal
-Cuff links
-Presidential pen
-Press
-President's table tennis game
-Golf balls
Chrysler Corporation
-Townsend
The President's forthcoming conversation with Kissinger
Farewells
Ziegler, Steenhoven, and Scali left at 12:26 pm.
Steenhoven
-Praised
-Integrity
-Press conference
Kissinger's schedule
-Meeting with John N. Mitchell
The President's schedule
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Events
-Meeting with Kissinger
Kissinger left at 12:27 pm
Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
Date: April 21, 1971
Time: 11:35 am - 12:27 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler, Graham B. Steenhoven, and John
A. Scali; the White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning
of the meeting
Greetings
-Steenhoven's photograph in newspaper
-Trip to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Seat offered
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Introductions
-Scali
-Kissinger
Photo session
-Press
-[Machine noise]
General conversation
Table tennis
-Experience
-National association [?]
President's meeting with Muscular Dystrophy Association of America, April 15, 1971
-Presentation of awards
-[Richard and Robert Santin]
-Nebraska
Steenhoven's family
President's unknown meeting with Republican governors/wives
-Two unknown sisters
-Ages
Chrysler Corporation
-Steenhoven’s father
-Pride
-Loyalty
-Press
-Steenhoven's conversation with Lynn A. Townsend, April 20, 1971
-Publicity
-Steenhoven's career
-Tenure at Chrysler
-Birthplace
US table tennis team
-Background of members
-Selection of team
-Criteria
-Japan
-Money
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Japan/PRC
-Members
-Fifteen-year-old girl [Judy Bochenski]
-Hungarian-born girl [Olga Soltasz]
-Housewife [Connie Sweeris]
-Grand Rapids, Michigan
-Rufford Harrison
-Great Britain Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Black player [George Brathwaite]
-Guyana
-Errol Resek
-Dominican Republic
-Frank Allen
-California
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 11:35 am
Refreshment
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 12:26 pm
US table tennis team
-Members
-Visit to PRC
-John Tannehill
-Middletown, Ohio
-Health
-Interview with reporters
-Steenhoven's visit to hospital
-Request
-Wish to stay in PRC
-Responsibilities
-Health
-Hotels
-Foreign Guests
-Airport
-Private lane on runway
-Guards
-Table tennis
-Paddles
Use of team “ping-pong”
-Vice President Agnew
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Ping-pong
-Grip on paddle
-Athletes
-Control
-Grip on paddle
-Comparison with golf
-Control
-Chinese players Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Steenhoven's schedule
-Visit to Tokyo
-Contract
-Visit to PRC
-Camera
-Photographs
-Gift of television film and script
-Copies
-Chrysler
-State Department
-English script
-Sound
-Description
-Chinese writing
-Commentary
-Chou En-lai
-Appearance
-Intellect
-George Yeh
-Meeting with US players
-Orientation
-Other teams
-Canadian team
-Marge Baldwin
-Knowledge of English language
-Interpreter
-Knowledge of each group
-Memory
-Solicitation of criticism
-Comments to Steenhoven
-Luncheon
-Chinese chefs
-Menu
-Food
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cities
-Steenhoven’s travels
-Polytechnic College
-Trucks assembled by students
-Gasoline
-Description
-Chrome
-Chrysler Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Welding
-Chrome
-Professors
-Comments on students
-Peasants
-Workers
-Soldiers
-Unknown professor's comments
-Mao Tse-tung
-Carbon Steel
-Shanghai
-Chinese people
-Steenhoven’s view
-Wire service report
-Thomas J. Riley
-Chinese Language
-Clothing
-Women
-Pants
-People
-Steenhoven’s view
-Health
-Curiosity
-Children
-Babies
-Mothers
-Adults
-Shanghai
-Crowd
-Steenhoven's US Table Tennis Association [USTTA] Pin
-Unknown young man
-Gifts
-Buildings
-Streets
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cleanliness
-Animals
-Trees
-People
-Work
-Sleeping in streets
-Shanghai
-Population Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Automobiles
-Plymouths
-Railroad station
-Subway entrance
-Pictures
-Importance
-Underground Shelter
-Steenhoven's schedule
-Trip to Canton
-Gift for Wife
-Exchange
-US dollars
-Money
-Rate
-Gifts
-Loans
-Press
-Canadians
-Money
-US team
-Steenhoven's leadership
-Dick Miles
-Shanghai
-Shopping
-Tailors, interpreters, and officials
-Dresses
-Payment
-Cost of material
-Bill
-Gifts for tailors
-Cunningham [Forename unknown]
-Pins for Gifts
34
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Return Visit by PRC Table Tennis Team
-Timing
-US position
-Importance
-Young people
-Swimming team
-Basketball team
-Planning Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Acceptance of Steenhoven’s invitation
-Announcement
-Timing of acceptance of Steenhoven’s invitation to PRC
-Steenhoven's arrival in US
-Chou En-lai
-Other teams
President's Meeting with American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE] , April 16, 1971
-PRC
-Chou En-lai
-Number of phone calls by US editors
Return Visit of PRC table tennis team
-Travel
-Visit of US table tennis team
-Possible visit to US by PRC ping-pong team
-Chinese
-Reciprocation
-Visit of US table tennis team
-Return visit of PRC table tennis team
-Visits
-Return visit of PRC team
-Importance
-Chinese
-US response
-US press
-Scali
-Pressure
-Trip to Japan
-Demonstrations
-South Koreans
-Demonstrations
-Photographers
-President's visits to communist countries
35
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Lack of demonstrations
-Warsaw
-Planning
-Chrysler Corporation
-William T. Gossett
-Gossett's role
-Funding
-Significance Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Kissinger
-Visit to PRC of US table tennis team
-Steenhoven's initiatives
-Date
-Steenhoven's forthcoming letter to unknown Chinese person
-Possible itinerary
-Visit of US team to PRC
-Itinerary
-School
-Commune
-Great Wall of China
-Chou En-lai
-Press coverage
-Nikita Khrushchev's visit to US
-Treatment
-Visit of US team to PRC
-Treatment
-Possible visit to Detroit
-Bloomfield Hills
-Hotel
-Isolation
-Visit of US team to PRC
-Hotels
-Stores
-Opera
-Ballet
-Guidance
-Gossett's role
-US Government participation
-Press coverage
-Gossett
-Administration's position regarding foreign visits to US
-Cooperation
-Experience
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Invitation
-Publicity
-Scali and Gossett
-Press
-Gossett
Media
-Forthcoming \"Issues & Answers\" program Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)
-Steenhoven's possible participation
-Fay Weeden [?]
-Steenhoven's possible participation
Chrysler Corporation
Presentation of gifts by the President
-Mrs. Steenhoven
-USTTA
-Presidential seal
-Cuff links
-Presidential pen
-Press
-President's table tennis game
-Golf balls
Chrysler Corporation
-Townsend
The President's forthcoming conversation with Kissinger
Farewells
Ziegler, Steenhoven, and Scali left at 12:26 pm.
Steenhoven
-Praised
-Integrity
-Press conference
Kissinger's schedule
-Meeting with John N. Mitchell
The President's schedule
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Events
-Meeting with Kissinger
Kissinger left at 12:27 pm
Conv. No. 484-5 (cont.)