658–10

Conversation No. 658-10

Date: January 27, 1972
Time: 11:47 am - 1:03 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

Maurice H. Stans
-Loyalty
-Responsibilities
-Preferences in assignments
-Performance
-Previous assignments

George Meany
-Possible telephone call from the President
-Report from Murray M. Chotiner’s source
-Labor relations with Administration
-George P. Shultz
-Charles W. Colson
-John B. Connally
-Alleged anti-labor feelings
-Relations with the President
-Treatment of the President at union convention in Miami, November 19,
1971
-Reasons
-Schedule
-Meany’s mood
-Gift from the President
-Telephone call by the President
 29

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Meany’s health
-Reluctance by Meany to initiate call
-Reason

Colson entered at 11:49 am.

-Shultz
-John F. O’Connell
-Talk with Meany
-Meany’s health
-Productivity Commission meeting
-Treasury Department
-O’Connell
-Meany’s view of administration relations
-James D. Hodgson, Connally
-Possible telephone call from the President to Meany
-1972 election
-Budget briefing by Shultz
-Defense
-Relations right-wing Republicans
-Common views
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Defense
-Communism
-Health
-Golf
-Administration strategy
-Telephone call from the President
-Shultz briefing

Richard M. Scammon
-Recent meeting with the President
-Observations
-Qualities
-Polling
-Social science
-Compared with Elmo Roper
-Intelligence
-Friendship with Colson
-Political views
-View of meeting with the President
 30

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Intellectuals
-Domestic Council
-Labor relations
-Alexander E. Barkan, Meany

Meany strategy
-Attack on administration
-Severity

Scammon
-Recent meeting
-Social issues
-Perception of Administration action
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Meetings with John D. Ehrlichman
-Busing
-Law and order
-Scatter housing
-Colson's talk with Scammon
-Democrats
-Scatter housing
-Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]
-Busing
-Amendment
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Possible George W. Romney resignation

Social issues
-HUD
-Romney resignation
-Possible Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger appointment
-Qualifications
-Instructions
-Scammon’s arguments
-Quality
-Busing
-White supremacy
-Richmond decision
-Canada analogy
-Roman Catholic minority
-School system
 31

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Parochial schools
-Tax exemption
-Connally
-Ehrlichman’s position
-Difficulties
-Washington, DC
-Integration
-Haldeman’s view
-Colson’s view
-Background
-Boston
-Haldeman’s view
-Blacks
-Administration’s treatment
-Scammon’s views
-Possible paper
-Book, The Real Majority
-Effect on 1970 election
-Adlai E. Stevenson III
-Peter Williams
-Visit with the President
-Effect on Scammon
-Reason


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 5m 51s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

******************************************************************************
 32

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


Social issues
-Perception of administration action
-Haldeman possible conversation with Ehrlichman
-Need for administration action
-Integration
-Richmond decision
-Court appointments
-Possible administration action
-Suburbs
-Charlotte-Mecklenberg decision
-HUD, HEW
-Judge Robert R. Merhige, Jr.
-Court appointments
-Edward L. Morgan
-Politics
-Attorney General’s [John N. Mitchell] role
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Ehrlichman
-Law compared to politics question
-Amendment possibility
-Decision of people
-Scammon’s view
-Effect on other issues
-Schools, housing
-Authors of Declaration of Independence, Constitution


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 40s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

******************************************************************************
 33

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


Social issues
-Youth group
-White House visit
-Media coverage
-Memoranda
-1972 campaign
-Henry A. Kissinger and Robert H. Finch meeting
-Result
-White House tour
-Meetings at White House
-The President’s availability
-Kissinger’s availability

Vietnam War issue
-Reaction to the President’s January 25, 1972 speech
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Texas
-Telegrams
-Favorable
-Unfavorable
-Details
-Majority sentiment
-Unfavorable
-Dr. Carl McIntyre
-Liberals
-Surrender
-New York Times story
-John Finney
-Content
-Republicans
-Democrats’ stand
-Surrender
-Administration reaction
-Attack on Democrats
-McCarthyism
-Communism in South Vietnam
-Administration strategy
-Democrats’ remarks
-Humphrey, Muskie
-Statements
 34

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Wire service coverage
-Washington Post
-New York Times

Dinner, January 26, 1972
-Colson’s reaction to the President’s telephone call
-Position of Colson’s table
-Others’ reaction
-Rose Mary Woods
-Tape
-Woods’s action
-Kissinger
-Washington Post

The President’s relations with Meany
-Possible telephone call to Meany from the President
-Meany’s health
-George P. Shultz meeting
-Meany support for the President
-Michael J. Mansfield amendments
-The President’s appreciation
-Meany reaction

Social issues
-Effect on administration
-Child care veto, December 10, 1971
-Scammon’s view
-Nationality of social issues
-Possibility
-Federal Government involvement
-Crime
-Local problem
-Education
-Housing
-Dinner [for DeWitt Wallace], January 28, 1972
-The President’s Reader’s Digest article on Vietnam
-Timing of appearance
-Speech
-John Wayne’s movies
-Popularity
-Heckling of Jackson
 35

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Florida universities
-Defense spending
-Perception
-Accuracy

Edith Efron’s book, The News Twisters (1971)
-Staff
-1972 campaign
-1968 campaign
-Media coverage
-Receptions
-Jackson
-Scammon
-Leonard Garment
-Sales
-Testimony by Efron
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr. committee
-Testimony
-Daniel L. Schorr
-Colson’s schedule
-Ervin
-Roman L. Hruska
-Strom Thurmond
-Viewers
-Book sellers
-Book publication
-Promotion
-Re-orders
-Compared to Scammon’s book, The Real Majority (1970)
-Efron’s appearance on Today show
-Broadcasters’ view
-Irving Kristol’s article in Fortune

Public relations
-Circulation of information
-Q&A circulation
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Consistency of line
-William P. Rogers
-Refinement
-Haldeman’s and Colson’s effort
 36

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-William L. Safire
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Readability
-Simplification
-Kissinger’s speech draft
-Negotiating points
-Editing
-Purpose
-Main point
-The President’s efforts for peace
-North Vietnam’s recalcitrance

Colson left at 12:26 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Camp David

Colson
-Public relations

The President’s schedule
-Announcement of cancer panel
-Administration strategy
-Make-up of panel
-Photograph opportunity
-Details
-Brevity
-Benno C. Schmidt
-Pearl Bailey visit
-Award
-Elmer H. Bobst
-Timing
-Oval Office press conference
-Camp David visit
-Reading
-Visit with US attorneys
-Benefits
-Drug programs
-Benefit of public relations from visits
-Dr. Jerome H. Jaffe
-Athletes
 37

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-News coverage
-Domestic programs
-Reception for athletes
-Attendance
-Preparation
-Governors dinner
-Brevity
-Attendees
-Purpose
-Timing
-Jaycee leadership conference
-The President’s attendance
-Length of conference
-Attendance
-Political considerations
-Location
-Reception
-Volunteers dinner
-Need for brevity
-Long range schedule
-Kissinger’s office, State Department
-Set visits
-State visits
-Nihat Erim of Turkey
-Canada
-Connally
-Postponement
-Trade
-US retaliation
-Possible pickets
-Erim
-Dinner
-Duration of visit
-Scheduling strategy
-Open days
-Luis Echeverria Alvarez visit
-Timing
-Moscow summit
-Television anchormen reception
-George Putnam
-Briefing
 38

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Receiving line
-Photographs
-Attendees
-Radio disc jockeys
-Benefit
-Timing
-Gridiron dinner
-Edgar A. Poe
-Timing
-California visit
-Timing
-Congressional recess
-Correspondents’ dinner [?]
-Press attendance
-Writing press
-White House correspondents and photographers, radio and television corespondents
-Overseas visits
-Rogers
-San Francisco
-Latin America
-Connally
-Tehran
-Soviet Union trip

Ambassadorial appointment to Iran
-Rogers’s recommendation
-Walter J. Stoessel, jr.
-Armin H. Meyer
-Herman Idles [?], War College Advisor
-William H. Sullivan
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-Sullivan
-Reasons
-Southeast Asia
-Stoessel
-Sullivan
-Meyer
-State Department experience
-Previous experience

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 12:26 pm.
 39

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)



The President’s schedule

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 1:03 pm.


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 24s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

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


The President’s possible address to black group
-Patrick J. Buchanan’s recommendation
-Purpose
-Political possibilities
-Black feeling for Muskie
-Busing
-Black middle class
-Possible forums
-Editors, publishers
-United Negro College Fund [UNCF]
-Whites
 40

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 46s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

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


Presidential citizens medal
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-History
-Intent
-Awardees
-Amputees, medical people, adoption program for Korean children
-Voluntarism
-Awarding
-Public ceremony
-Publicity
-Cabinet officer
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox
-Publicity
-East Room
-Contrast to Congressional medals

The President’s schedule
-Preparation for PRC trip
-Political staff
-Instructions to Haldeman
-Harry Dent, Buchanan
-Staff access to the President
-Congressional relations
-Page Belcher
-Access to the President
-Compared to Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Plane trip
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Church trip
 41

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Clark MacGregor
-Compared to Bryce N. Harlow
-Telephone calls to Congressmen
-Birthday greetings
-Votes
-Letters

Personnel
-Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Departure
-Qualities
-Performance as military aide
-Accomplishments as military aide
-Women
-Arrivals
-Interservice competition
-History
-Delivery of reports
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Contact with dead congressmen’s families
-Transition of power
-Prospects
-Replacement
-New command
-Austin, Texas
-Responsibilities
-Prospects
-Vietnam
-Reconnaissance

Butterfield entered at 12:46 pm.

-Herbert G. Klein operation
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Colson

Butterfield left at 12:47 pm.
 42

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Counselor to the President
-Finch
-Arthur F. Burns
-Daniel P. Moynihan
-Finch
-Future
-Congress
-California
-Campaigning
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Abolition
-Expansion of Cabinet
-David M. Kennedy
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Richard V. (“Dick”) Allen
-Job preferences
-Ambassadorship
-Portugal
-Klein
-Stoessel
-European Economic Community [EEC]
-Brussels
-EEC
-Kennedy, Allen, Robert Strausz-Hupe
-Portugal
-Value to the President’s reelection
-Haldeman’s view
-Foreign policy
-Domestic political impact
-Colson
-National security
-Responsibilities
-Political attacks
-Monitoring opposition
-Post-reelection possibilities
-Stoessel
-Portugal
-Allen’s fears
-Kissinger
-Location
-White House
 43

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 658-10 (cont.)


-Colson
-Campaign organization
-Stoessel
-1972 election
-EEC
-Connally
-Strausz-Hupe
-Qualifications
-Franklin D. Murphy
-President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [PFIAB]

Haldeman left at 1:03 pm.