Secret White House Tapes

651–12

About this recording

651–12
  • Stephen B. Bull
  • Alexander P. Butterfield
  • H. R. Haldeman
  • President Richard M. Nixon
  • Manolo Sanchez
  • Bryce N. Harlow
January 19, 1972
Conversation No. 651-12

Date: January 19, 1972
Time: 11:19 am - 1:15 pm
Location: Oval Office

Stephen B. Bull met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

The President’s schedule
-Rehearsal of State of the Union Address
-Podiums

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 11:19 am.

-Roosevelt Room
-Set-up
-Barber
-Speech draft

Bull and Butterfield left at an unknown time before 12:47 pm.

The President and Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 11:19 am.
12

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Weather

-Fina Sanchez
-Return to the White House


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Privacy]
[Duration: 35s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

******************************************************************************


Sanchez left at an unknown time before 12:47 pm.

Economy
-Figures
-Herbert Stein
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Gross National Product [GNP]
-Fourth quarter, 1971
-Rise
-Inflation rate
-Real growth rate
-Comparisons to first and second quarters, 1971, and third quarter, 1965
-Real growth rate
-Performance
-Second quarter, 1968
-General Motors [GM] strike of first quarter, 1968
-Effect on unemployment rate
-Third quarter, 1971
-Stein’s statement at White House staff meeting, January 19, 1972
-Invitation to White House dinner, January 20, 1972
-Paul W. McCracken
-Federal Reserve Board [FRB]
-Report of January 18, 1972
13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Budget deficit

The President’s schedule
-Page Belcher
-Possible call from the President
-Clark MacGregor
-John C. Whitaker’s and Bryce N. Harlow ‘s possible meeting
-Desire for meeting with the President
-Work for administration
-Letter to the President
-Possible release to press
-Previous contacts with the President
-Tulsa trip on Air Force One
-Farm Bill
-Golf
-Whitaker’s and Harlow’s meeting
-Letter to the President
-Delivery to Harlow
-Publication
-Tone
-The President’s reading and disposal of letter
-Possible ending to farm legislation work
-Letter to the President
-Delivery to Haldeman
-Haldeman’s talk with Harlow
-Previous meeting with the President aboard Air Force One
-Length

Air Force One
-Congressional use
-Contact with the President
-Instruction to Haldeman
-Jack R. Miller
-Belcher
-Donald N. Rumsfeld
-Congressional use
-March and April 1972
-Alternate transportation and arrangements

The President’s schedule
-Trips around nation
14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Departure from Florida
-Accompanying congressmen
-Return to Washington, DC
-Charles H. Percy
-Chicago
-Reasons for flying Air Force One
-Belcher
-Letter to the President
-Harlow
-Timing
-Cabinet dinner
-Golf
-Harlow
-MacGregor
-Golf
-Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope
-The President’s talk with Belcher
-Belcher
-Age
-Leslie C. Arends
-Miller
-MacGregor
-Harlow
-Location
-Belcher’s letter to the President

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:19 am.

Harlow
-Meeting with the President
-Letter
-Schedule

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:47 pm.

-Butterfield

Rose Bowl tickets
-Recipient [Unknown Long Beach City College Student]
-Publicity
-Heroism
15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Peter J. Pitchess recognition program
-Commendation
-Call from White House
-University of Michigan-Stanford University football game
-Stanford University
-Publicity
-Introduction by Attorney General [John N. Mitchell]

Herbert G. Klein
-Stories
-Publicity

The President’s telephone calls
-Possible story
-Memorandum from the President to Haldeman
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Helen A. Thomas
-Memorandum
-Location
-Publicity value

Middle East
-Negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-Negotiations
-Yitzhak Rabin
-Forthcoming meeting with Joseph J. Sisco, January 19, 1972
-Rabin
-Talk with Kissinger
-Kissinger’s view
-Soviet Summit
-Soviet summit
-Planes
-Sisco
-Rabin
-Kissinger
-Possible agreement
-Timing
-Egypt
-Soviet Union
16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)



Kissinger
-Attitude
-Tenure
-John N. Mitchell’s and Haldeman’s action
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Self criticism
-Previous conversation with Haldeman
-The President’s interests

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:19 am.

Harlow
-Schedule
-Presentation at Madison Hotel
-Return to White House
-Meeting with Donald Rumsfeld
-Meeting with the President

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:47 pm

Kissinger
-Self criticism
-Views on Israeli situation
-State Department
-Meeting with Moshe Dayan, 2/72
-Haig
-Attitude

Jordan
-Planes [F-104s] to Pakistan
-Story in Indian press


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 25s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]
17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)



END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

******************************************************************************

-U. Alexis Johnson’s meeting with Haig, January 17, 1972
-Legality of sending planes
-Press interest
-J. William Fulbright and associates
-US aid to Pakistan
-Restrictions on use of US aid by other countries

******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[National Security]
[Duration: 7m 58s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9

******************************************************************************

-Press story
-Liberia or Nigeria
-Rogers

Joseph W. Alsop column
-Kissinger leak
-Rogers
-Mitchell and Haldeman
-Rogers’ view
-Mitchell’s and Haldeman’s views
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Sources
-Alsop’s conversation with Haig
-[Forename unknown] Elkins [?] of State Department


******************************************************************************
18

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)



BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National Security]
[Duration: 24s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

******************************************************************************


-Rogers’ reaction
-Kissinger’s reaction
-Other columnists’ columns
-Kissinger’s possible contact with Alsop
-San Clemente
-Rogers’ view
-Alsop

Kissinger’s conflict with Rogers
-Memorandum from the President to Rogers and Kissinger
-Rose Mary Woods’ preparation
-Haldeman’s conversation with Mitchell
-Mitchell’s views
-Foreign policy and political concerns
-Woods
-State of the Union Address

[Haldeman talked with Woods at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 12:47 pm.]

[Conversation No. 651-12A]

-Status

[End of telephone conversation]

-Mitchell
-Rogers
-Kissinger
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Schedule
-Rogers
Kissinger directive
-Mitchell and Haldeman
-Informing the President
-Rogers’ negotiations
-Rabin
-Dobrynin
-Egypt
-Dobrynin
-Kissinger


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 01s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5

******************************************************************************


Chile
-Loan
-John B. Connally
-Salvador Allende Gossens
-White House


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[National Security]
[Duration: 43s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]
20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10

******************************************************************************


-Information to the President
-Procedure
-Treasury Department

Alsop column
-Alsop’s possible contact with Kissinger
-Kissinger’s protests

******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[National Security]
[Duration: 50s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11

******************************************************************************


-Rogers’ meeting with Mitchell and Haldeman, January 18, 1972
-Return to White House
-Kissinger conflict with Rogers
-Mitchell
-Relations with Kissinger


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[National Security]
[Duration: 4 m 18s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]
21

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12

******************************************************************************


Anderson Papers
-News summary
-Patrick J. Buchanan’s views
-Kissinger’s office
-Buchanan’s memoranda to the President
-Haldeman’s talk with Buchanan
-Distribution of copies
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Haldeman
-MacGregor
-Ehrlichman
-Kissinger
-Buchanan’s analysis
-Distribution
-Kissinger
-Harry Reasoner
-Kissinger’s knowledge of event
-Buchanan’s analysis
-Kissinger
-Kissinger
-Knowledge of reports
-Relations with White House staff
-Buchanan

News summary
-Buchanan
-Work
-Distribution
-Timing
-Leaders meetings
-White House staff
-Television talk shows
-Television reports
-Perspective quality
-Newspaper reports
22

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


White House staff
-Schedule
-January 18, 1972

The President’s schedule
-January 18, 1972
-Raymond K. Price, Jr., William L. Safire

Safire
-Speech on Vietnam peace plan
-Work with the President
-Contacts with Kissinger
-Kissinger’s view
-Television
-Background
-Relations with Kissinger
-Speech on Vietnam
-Compared with Kissinger’s first draft
-Relations with Kissinger

People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Staff
-Safire
-Possible communiqué
-Kissinger, Rogers
-Price
-Buchanan
-Insertion of personal opinions in communiqués

Safire
-Contact with Kissinger and Rogers
-Vietnam speech draft
-Compared with Kissinger’s
-Credit for negotiations
-Agent role

Kissinger
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] special
-Timing
-PRC trip
-Possible handling
23

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Opening for “China special”
-Charge of favoritism
-Recognition for Kissinger
-White House control
-Possible value
Prime time broadcast
-Rogers

Rogers
-Conflict with Kissinger
-Effect of Kissinger’s involvement in CBS special
-The President’s interest
-Haldeman’s and Mitchell’s views
-The President’s concerns
-Kissinger’s reaction
-Effect on work
-Appearance on TV specials on PRC
-Accomplishments
-Cultural and trade aspects of trip
-Political aspect

Cabinet
-Relations with Kissinger
-Rogers and Connally

Connally
-Administration role
-Value
-Compared with Rogers

Peter M. Flanigan
-Administration role
-Haldeman’s conversation with Connally, January 15, 1972
-Peter G. Peterson’s views

Connally
-Role as economic spokesman
-Policy-making
-Feasibility
-Monetary and trade issues
-Cabinet’s reaction
24

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Trade
-Rogers’ views
-Flanigan’s role
-Value of Connally’s judgment
-Compared with Flanigan

Government reorganization
-Major economic issues/problems
-Delegation of responsibility to departments
-Interaction
-Treasury Department
-Connally’s role as Secretary versus private role

Connally
-Role in international and domestic economic matters
-Delegation from the President
-Flanigan
-Council on International Economic Policy [CIEP]
-Interference with role as Treasury Secretary
-Staff
-Reductions
-Interference with role on Cost of Living Council [COLC]
-Effect on CIEP
-George P. Shultz and Ehrlichman
-Relations with the President and Connally-Workload
-Shultz’s role
-Relations with the President
-Commerce-State Department decision
-Reporting to Connally
-Connally’s responsibility compared with the President’s
-Relations with White House staff
-Flanigan
-Gold statement in Rome
-The President’s need for staff reports on issues
-Shultz
-Knowledge of trade
-Flanigan
-Connally’s talk with Haldeman
-Peterson
-Flanigan
-Acceptance by Connally
25

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Haldeman’s possible meeting with Connally
-Relations with White House staff
-Haldeman
-Lt. William L. Calley, Jr. decision
-Connally’s views

White House staff
-Relations with the President
-Decision-making
-Connally

Courts
-Reconfirmation of judges
-Connally’s views
-Precedent
-Theodore Roosevelt
-Forcible retirement of judges
-Supreme Court
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Court packing scheme
-Congressional views
-Otto E. Passman
-Hugh Scott

Connally
-Value to administration
-Increased monetary role
-Effect on bureaucracy
-Ehrlichman’s view
-George W. Romney
-Flanigan
-Drug issue
-Ehrlichman’s work
-Treasury Department
-Eugene T. Rossides
-Coordination with other departments
-Compared with Ehrlichman

The President left and returned at an unknown time before 12:47 pm.

Peterson
26

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Role with administration
-Flanigan
-Connally

Connally
-Role with administration
-Drug issue
-The President’s reliance on Connally’s political judgment
-Budget
-Compared with Shultz’s judgment
-Shultz’s knowledge of issue
-Economic and monetary matters
-Publicity
-Advisors
-CEA
-Shultz
-White House staff
-Treasury Department staff
-Flanigan
-Relations with bureaucracy
-Connally’s sensitivities
-Relations with the President
-Flanigan
-Trade
-Shultz’s views on free trade
-Political effect
-Protectionism
-Congress, American public
-Monetary settlements
-State Department
-Shultz
-Political effect
-State Department
-London negotiations
-Possible resignation
-Meetings with the President in California
-Relations with Cabinet and White House
-Japanese dinner
-The President’s reliance on Connally’s judgment
-Compared with Shultz
-Compared with Rogers and Melvin R. Laird
27

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Compared with Mitchell
-Campaign work
-Reconsideration
-Conversation with Idanell (“Nellie”) Connally
-Ranch
-Democrats’ attacks
-Relations with Cabinet and White House staff
-Haldeman
-Flanigan
-Bureaucracy
-Ehrlichman
-Shultz
-Paul A. Volcker
-Flanigan
-Dwight L. Chapin
-Possible resignation
-Flanigan
-Richard V. Allen
-Possible appointment as acting director of CIEP
-Confirmation
-Kissinger
-Peterson
-Flanigan
-Role
-Connally’s view

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:19 am.

Harlow
-Arrival
-Location

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:47 pm.

Connally
-Possible meeting with Haldeman
-Resignation
-Conversation with the President
-Necessity for confidentiality
-Ehrlichman
-Leaks
28

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Meeting with Haldeman
-Staff assistant
-Flanigan
-Allen
-Loyalty
-Responsibility
-Flanigan
-Previous work on oil issue

Harlow

Connally
-Forthcoming meeting with Haldeman

Bryce N. Harlow entered at 12:47 pm

White House dinner, January 20, 1972
-Speakers
-Harlow
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Maurice H. Stans
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Walter J. Hickel
-Presence
-Winton M. Blount, Jr.
-Harlow and Moynihan
-Stans and Hardin
-Alcohol

Belcher
-Golf game with the President
-The President’s previous game with Hope
-Charity
-Relations with the President
-Golf
-Hope
-Health
-Attitude
-Secretary
-Agricultural legislation work
-Earl L. Butz
29

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Cooperation
-Possible meeting with the President
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Butz’s presence
-Duration
-Harlow’s presence
-Previous meeting with the President on plane
-Duration
-Compared with Thomas J. (“Tom”) Steed
-Agricultural legislation work
-Importance
-Meeting with the President
-Butz
-MacGregor
-Butz
-Relations with Belcher
-The President’s schedule
-Explanation of workload
-The President’s friends
-Congressmen
-Committees
-Letter to the President
-Delivery by Harlow
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-Meeting with the President
-Schedule
-Congress
-Alcohol preferences

Harlow’s schedule
-White House dinner, January 20, 1972
-Remarks

Harlow left at 12:56 pm.

Belcher
-Contact with White House
The President’s schedule
-John C. Whitaker
-Harlow
-MacGregor
30

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Work on agricultural legislation
-Desire to see the President

Kissinger conflict with Rogers
-Relations with the President
-Memorandum from the President
-Informing the President
-Mitchell’s view
-Rogers’ and Kissinger’s meetings with Rabin
-Exchange of information between Rogers and Kissinger
-Need to know
-Memorandum from the President
-Promises regarding informing procedures

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:56 pm.

Milton Pitts
-Arrival

Podium set-up
-Roosevelt Room

Bull left at an unknown time before 1:15 pm.

Kissinger conflict with Rogers
-The President’s memorandum
-Haldeman’s delivery to Kissinger
-Kissinger’s reaction
-Mitchell
-Clearance of information
-Kissinger’s position
-Administrative machinery
-1972 election
-The President’s memorandum
-Rogers’ possible question
-Routing of information
-Routing of information to the President
-Haldeman
-Maggie C. Runkle’s channel with Woods
-Kissinger’s reaction
-National Security Council [NSC] system
31

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Rogers
-Receipt by the President
-Laird
-Receipt by the President
-Kissinger
-Bulk
-Omission of tabbed items
-Kissinger
-Haldeman’s responsibility
-Cuba
-Soviet Union
-Middle East
-Cuba and Chile
-Jews
-PRC
-Chilean loan situation
-Rogers
-Connally


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[National Security]
[Duration: 6s ]

[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8

******************************************************************************


-Sidney Weintraub
-Renegotiation
-Cuban representatives
-Meetings
-Chile

Connally
-Role in international economic matters
32

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Haldeman’s concern
-Flanigan meeting
-Relations with Cabinet
-The President’s instructions
-White House staff assistance-Flanigan
-Allen
-Trade
-COLC
-International monetary and credit operations
-Chilean loan
-Trade
-National security matters
-Connally’s staff
-Liaison with White House
-Budget ceiling statement
-Flanigan
-Connally’s views
-Allen
-Connally’s views
-Flanigan
-Work with the President on policy-making decisions
-Monetary affairs
-Trade
-Expropriation
-Loans
-Effect on Cabinet
-Liaison on White House staff
-Broker role
-Independence
-Rome meeting
-Loyalty
-Resignation
-Dealings with Haldeman
-Flanigan
-Flanigan
-Subservient role
-Staff work and coordination with other Departments
-Trade
-Flanigan
-Allen
-Flanigan
33

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)


-Allen
-Peterson
-Rogers
-Execution and implementation of policy
-CIEP
-Rogers
-Peterson

Peterson
-Secretary of Commerce position
-Announcement
-Delay
-Portfolio
-Work with Ehrlichman

Flanigan

Peterson
-Meeting with the President

White House Staff

Cabinet
-Relations with the President
-Romney

Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:56 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Barber
-Rehearsal of State of the Union Address
-Draft of speech
-Woods
-Reading copy
-Appearance
-Lighting
-Podium
-Lighting
-Congress
-Electrician
-Podium
34

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 651-12 (cont.)



The President, Haldeman and Bull left at 1:15 pm.
Secret White House Tapes |

651–12

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