About this recording
700–3
- President Richard M. Nixon
- H. R. Haldeman
- White House operator
- Tricia Nixon Cox
- Henry A. Kissinger
April 3, 1972
Conversation No. 700-3
Date: April 3, 1972
Time: 9:18 am - 9:59 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President's trip to Philadelphia
-Plans
-Uncertainty
-Value
-Announcements
-Programs
-George P. Shultz
-John B. Connally
-Judgment of value
-Plans
-Day and time
The President's schedule
-Problem with unknown activity
-Publicity
-Announcement
-Changes
-Invitations
-News reports
-Cancellation
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s appearance
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-The President's visit to Kentucky
-Vietnamization
-Timing
-Problems
-Catholic school event in Philadelphia
-Haldeman's conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
-A speech
Vietnam
-US propaganda efforts
-Deficiencies
-News summary
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Predictions of losses
-Cities
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-North Vietnamese attacks
-Need for US response
-Kissinger
-Media coverage
-Bad news
-Significance of loss of cities
-Kontum
-Laos and Cambodia
-North Vietnam
-Media departure
-The President's trip to Kentucky
-Welcome to Airborne Division
-Timing
-The President’s schedule
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Propaganda efforts
-Prediction of offensive
-Timing
-Criticism
-Ronald L. Ziegler's involvement
-The President's credibility
-Kissinger
-Talk with David Kraslow
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Pentagon
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Comments on offensive
Staff morale
John D. Ehrlichman's schedule
-Editorial boards
-Telecision events
International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] case
-Public attitudes
-Interest
-Concern
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Howard R. Hughes case
Economy
-Ehrlichman
-Food prices
-Connally
-Decline
-Giant Food Stores
-Meat prices
-Government pressure
-Publicity
-Cost of Living Index
-Release
The President's schedule
-Vietnam
-Amount of time
-Meeting with Moorer, Melvin R. Laird and [David] Kenneth Rush
-Domestic issues
-Schools
-The President's meeting with John N. Mitchell and Connally
Vietnam
-William P. Rogers and Laird
-Cambodia and Laos
-Aggressiveness
-Possible actions
-Press conferences
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Military action
-Bombing campaign
-Bombing
-Weather
ITT case
-George S. McGovern charges
-Taxes
-Effect on election chances
-Publicity
-Wisconsin primary
-Peter Lisagor's report
-Liberal bias
-Honesty
-Annoyance with Democrats
-John F. Osborne on 1970 demonstrators
-Publicity
-Dita D. Beard
-Interview on 60 Minutes
-Testimony
-Senate investigation
-Life photograph
White House staff
-Schedules
-Charles W. Colson
-Meeting with unknown people
Edward M. Kennedy
1972 election
-Secret Service coverage
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Kennedy
-Connally's interpretation
-Kennedy
-Status as candidate
-Protection
Agnew
-Attack on Jules Witcover
-Book on Agnew
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Patrick J. Buchanan
The White House operator talked with Haldeman at 9:33 am.
[Conversation no. 700-3A]
[See Conversation no. 22-63]
Haldeman conferred with the President at an unknown time.
Call from Tricia Nixon Cox
Tricia Nixon Cox talked with the President between 9:33 and 9:34 am; one item has been
withdrawn from the conversation.
[End of telephone conversation]
Witcover
-Criticism of Agnew
ITT case
-New York Times editorial
-Conclusion of case
-Decline in interest
-Editorials
-New York Time
-Washington Post
-Beard memorandum
-Media efforts
-Impact on Vietnam offensive
-Public interest
-Role of newspapers and networks
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-The president's statement
-Abrams
-Initial successes
-Gains by North Vietnam
-Cambodia
-ARVN losses
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Press reports
-News summary
-Emphasis on negative
-Negotiations
-Chances
-Weather
-US bombing attacks
-US election
-Casualty rates
-Distortions by press
-White House staff
-Morale
-Press attacks
-ITT
-Congress
-Critics of the president
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Easter egg hunt
-Noise
-Weather
Agnew
-Gridiron Dinner
-Trip to Kentucky
-Greetings to 101st Airborne
-Publicity
-Problems for Vietnam offensive
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
The President's schedule
-Speech to Catholics
-[National Catholic Education Association]
-Trip to Kentucky
-Speech in Philadelphia
-Connally
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
*****************************************************************
-Camp David trip
-Problems
-Gridiron Dinner
-Time and day
-Canadian trip
-Gridiron Dinner
-Importance
-Compared with Bohemian Grove event
-Trip to Camp David
-Departure
-Return day
-Trip to Kentucky
-Agnew as substitute
-Arrangements
-101st Airborne division
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal returnable]
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
[Duration: 1m 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
*****************************************************************
Kissinger entered at 9:49 am.
Vietnam
-Pentagon briefing of Kissinger
-Kentucky event
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Destruction of ARVN regiments
-Superiority
-Defensive line
-Sense of urgency
-Moorer
-Lack of US reaction
-Laird
-Stakes of war
-US bombing
-Air sorties
-Number
-Limitations
-B-3 area
-Purpose
-North Vietnamese forces
-ARVN re-enforcements
-Marine brigades
-Saigon
-ARVN defeats
-US reaction
-Moorer and Rush
-Meeting with the President
-Arrangements
-Washington Special Actions Grip [WSAG]
-Talking points
-Informing the President
-Moorer
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Responsibilities
-Air strikes
-Number
-Limitations
-B-52s
-Orders
-North Vietnam
-Dong Hoi
-Importance
-Moorer
-Military
-Current attitudes
-Abrams
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Return to Saigon
-Conversation with Abrams and Thieu
-Abrams
-Promotion
-Laird
-Gen. Robert E. Pursley
-Aggressiveness
-Message to Moorer
-Message To Laird
Haldeman left at 9:55 am.
-Publicity
-WSAG meeting
-Problems with public relations
-Predictions of losses
-Cities
-Public relations efforts
-Abrams
-Anticipated Losses
-Abrams
-Kissinger’s talk with Ziegler and John A. Scali
-Cities
-Quang Tri and Kontum
-Supply problems
Kissinger left at 9:59 am.
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
Date: April 3, 1972
Time: 9:18 am - 9:59 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
The President's trip to Philadelphia
-Plans
-Uncertainty
-Value
-Announcements
-Programs
-George P. Shultz
-John B. Connally
-Judgment of value
-Plans
-Day and time
The President's schedule
-Problem with unknown activity
-Publicity
-Announcement
-Changes
-Invitations
-News reports
-Cancellation
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s appearance
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-The President's visit to Kentucky
-Vietnamization
-Timing
-Problems
-Catholic school event in Philadelphia
-Haldeman's conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
-A speech
Vietnam
-US propaganda efforts
-Deficiencies
-News summary
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Predictions of losses
-Cities
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-North Vietnamese attacks
-Need for US response
-Kissinger
-Media coverage
-Bad news
-Significance of loss of cities
-Kontum
-Laos and Cambodia
-North Vietnam
-Media departure
-The President's trip to Kentucky
-Welcome to Airborne Division
-Timing
-The President’s schedule
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Propaganda efforts
-Prediction of offensive
-Timing
-Criticism
-Ronald L. Ziegler's involvement
-The President's credibility
-Kissinger
-Talk with David Kraslow
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Pentagon
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Comments on offensive
Staff morale
John D. Ehrlichman's schedule
-Editorial boards
-Telecision events
International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] case
-Public attitudes
-Interest
-Concern
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Howard R. Hughes case
Economy
-Ehrlichman
-Food prices
-Connally
-Decline
-Giant Food Stores
-Meat prices
-Government pressure
-Publicity
-Cost of Living Index
-Release
The President's schedule
-Vietnam
-Amount of time
-Meeting with Moorer, Melvin R. Laird and [David] Kenneth Rush
-Domestic issues
-Schools
-The President's meeting with John N. Mitchell and Connally
Vietnam
-William P. Rogers and Laird
-Cambodia and Laos
-Aggressiveness
-Possible actions
-Press conferences
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Military action
-Bombing campaign
-Bombing
-Weather
ITT case
-George S. McGovern charges
-Taxes
-Effect on election chances
-Publicity
-Wisconsin primary
-Peter Lisagor's report
-Liberal bias
-Honesty
-Annoyance with Democrats
-John F. Osborne on 1970 demonstrators
-Publicity
-Dita D. Beard
-Interview on 60 Minutes
-Testimony
-Senate investigation
-Life photograph
White House staff
-Schedules
-Charles W. Colson
-Meeting with unknown people
Edward M. Kennedy
1972 election
-Secret Service coverage
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Kennedy
-Connally's interpretation
-Kennedy
-Status as candidate
-Protection
Agnew
-Attack on Jules Witcover
-Book on Agnew
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Patrick J. Buchanan
The White House operator talked with Haldeman at 9:33 am.
[Conversation no. 700-3A]
[See Conversation no. 22-63]
Haldeman conferred with the President at an unknown time.
Call from Tricia Nixon Cox
Tricia Nixon Cox talked with the President between 9:33 and 9:34 am; one item has been
withdrawn from the conversation.
[End of telephone conversation]
Witcover
-Criticism of Agnew
ITT case
-New York Times editorial
-Conclusion of case
-Decline in interest
-Editorials
-New York Time
-Washington Post
-Beard memorandum
-Media efforts
-Impact on Vietnam offensive
-Public interest
-Role of newspapers and networks
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-The president's statement
-Abrams
-Initial successes
-Gains by North Vietnam
-Cambodia
-ARVN losses
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Press reports
-News summary
-Emphasis on negative
-Negotiations
-Chances
-Weather
-US bombing attacks
-US election
-Casualty rates
-Distortions by press
-White House staff
-Morale
-Press attacks
-ITT
-Congress
-Critics of the president
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Easter egg hunt
-Noise
-Weather
Agnew
-Gridiron Dinner
-Trip to Kentucky
-Greetings to 101st Airborne
-Publicity
-Problems for Vietnam offensive
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
The President's schedule
-Speech to Catholics
-[National Catholic Education Association]
-Trip to Kentucky
-Speech in Philadelphia
-Connally
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
*****************************************************************
-Camp David trip
-Problems
-Gridiron Dinner
-Time and day
-Canadian trip
-Gridiron Dinner
-Importance
-Compared with Bohemian Grove event
-Trip to Camp David
-Departure
-Return day
-Trip to Kentucky
-Agnew as substitute
-Arrangements
-101st Airborne division
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal returnable]
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
[Duration: 1m 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
*****************************************************************
Kissinger entered at 9:49 am.
Vietnam
-Pentagon briefing of Kissinger
-Kentucky event
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Destruction of ARVN regiments
-Superiority
-Defensive line
-Sense of urgency
-Moorer
-Lack of US reaction
-Laird
-Stakes of war
-US bombing
-Air sorties
-Number
-Limitations
-B-3 area
-Purpose
-North Vietnamese forces
-ARVN re-enforcements
-Marine brigades
-Saigon
-ARVN defeats
-US reaction
-Moorer and Rush
-Meeting with the President
-Arrangements
-Washington Special Actions Grip [WSAG]
-Talking points
-Informing the President
-Moorer
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Responsibilities
-Air strikes
-Number
-Limitations
-B-52s
-Orders
-North Vietnam
-Dong Hoi
-Importance
-Moorer
-Military
-Current attitudes
-Abrams
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Return to Saigon
-Conversation with Abrams and Thieu
-Abrams
-Promotion
-Laird
-Gen. Robert E. Pursley
-Aggressiveness
-Message to Moorer
-Message To Laird
Haldeman left at 9:55 am.
-Publicity
-WSAG meeting
-Problems with public relations
-Predictions of losses
-Cities
-Public relations efforts
-Abrams
-Anticipated Losses
-Abrams
-Kissinger’s talk with Ziegler and John A. Scali
-Cities
-Quang Tri and Kontum
-Supply problems
Kissinger left at 9:59 am.
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
Secret White House Tapes |