707–10

Conversation No. 707-10

Date: April 12, 1972
Time: 11:33 am - 1:40 pm
Location: Oval Office

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

Fishing rights
-Three mile limit
-Department of Justice suit against Texas
-Responsibility
-Price Daniels
-Meeting with the President
-Call to John B. Connally
-Connally's views

The President talked with Connally between 11:33 and 11:36 am.

[Conversation No. 707-10A]

[See Conversation No. 22-117]
 7

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)



[End of telephone conversation]

John D. Ehrlichman entered at 11:36 am.

Fishing rights
-Three mile limit
-Suit against Texas
-The President's previous support
-California
-1960 and 1968 promises
-Department of Justice
-Lawyers
-Jews
-Previous tidal lands suit
-Suit against Texas
-Suppression
-The President’s order
-John C. Whitaker
-Ehrlichman's involvement
-Knowledge of White House staff
-Whitaker

Republican leaders meeting
-Ehrlichman's briefing
-The President’s view
-Henry A. Kissinger's briefing on Vietnam
-Length
-Basic points
-Deficiencies
-The President's presence
-Need to sell congressional leaders
-Briefings
-Elliot L. Richardson on busing
-Connally
-George P. Shultz on food prices
-Earl L. Butz
-Points to make
-Drugs
-Problems
-Details
 8

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-White House staff
-Domestic issues
-Shultz, Herbert Stein and Cabinet
-Questions
-Leaders' concerns
-Richard H. Poff
-Peter H. Dominick
-Republican leaders
-Lack of depth and expertise
-The President’s view
-Staff
-Briefings
-Kissinger
-Length
-Curtailment
-Papers
-Preparation
-Charles W. Colson and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Effectiveness
-Compared with William P. Rogers
-Compared with Melvin R. Laird
-Problems
-Salesmanship
-Kissinger's staff briefings
-Points made
-Quality
-Kissinger
-Positive results
-US Vietnam policy
-Negotiations
-US record
-Preparation
-Length
-Limitations
-The President’s view
-Troop withdrawals
-Hugh Scott's remarks
-The President’s view
-Intellectual range
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Kissinger
 9

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Press briefings
-Simplicity
-Sophistication of newsmen

The President's speeches
-A memorandum
-Speechwriters
-Strengths and weaknesses
-Dullness
-Illustrations, anecdotes and colorful language
-William L. Safire
-Public attention
-Winston S. Churchill
-Model as speaker
-Burke Cochran
-Observations on speechwriting
-Simplification
-Criticism
-Substance and style
-Improvement of quality of writing
-Cochran's advice to Churchill
-Use of illustrations
-Use of colorful phrases
-\"Iron Curtain\" phrase
-Impact
-Canadian Parliament speech
-Quotations
-The President’s view
-Shortcomings
-Audience response
-Illustrations
-Lack

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.

-Canadian Parliament speech
-Delivery to the President
-Kissinger
-Typing
-Copies
-Kissinger
 10

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Secretary

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.

-Effectiveness
-Elements
-Preachers
-Use of stories
-Illustrations
-Quality of drafts by speechwriters
-Problems
-William Pitt's speech
-Brevity
-Speech in Canada
-Raymond K. Price's version
-The President’s view
-Conclusion
-Pitt's speech
-The President's rewording
-Pitt and Horatio Nelson
-Churchill
-Cochran
-Background
-Speechwriters
-Quality of writing
-Drugs speech
-Memorable phrases and colorful terms
-Safire

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.

-Canadian Parliament speech
-Kissinger's draft
-Sixth draft
-Delivery to the President
-Secretary

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.

Beverly J. Kaye entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.
 11

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Typing of draft
-Sixth draft
-The President's mark-ups and notes

Kaye left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.

-Drafts
-Statements on US-Canadian relations
-Wording
-The President’s view
-Versions
-Speech staff
-Inadequacies
-The President’s view
-Speechwriting
-Need for examples
-Canadian Parliament speech
-US-Canadian relations
-Kissinger
-Versions and rewrites
-Simplicity and memorable phrases
-The President as speechwriter
-Speechwriting staff
-Price
-James Keogh
-Quality
-Problems
-Compared with writing

Busing
-Richard H. Poff's proposition
-Constitutional amendment
-The President’s view
-Passage
-Chances
-Moratorium
-Democrats
-Responsibility
-Publicity
-Poff
-Memorandum from Edwin L. Harper
 12

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Political liabilities of issue for administration
-Value of memorandum
-Hubert H. Humphrey's position
-Changes
-Support
-Reasons
-Voting issue
-Superficiality
-Robert P. Griffin
-Public apathy on issue
-Administration's position
-Change
-Democrats
-Dilemma on issue
-Exploitation by administration
-Divisions over platform

Domestic issues
-Arthur F. Burns
-The President's meeting with John B. Connally
-Tax withholding issue
-Drug program
-Head
-Myles J. Ambrose
-Job performance

Taxation
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Extra agents
-Shultz
-Tax return assistance
-Visibility
-Training
-Customs agents
-Increase in numbers
-Benefits
-IRS
-Withholding assistance
-Benjamin C. Bradlee
-Agents
-Tax return assistance
 13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Visibility
-Withholding
-Forms
-Refund checks
-Timing of release
-Mailings
-Programs
-Credit for administration
-Checks to taxpayers
-Implementation
-Connally
-Mailing

Busing
-David J. Armor
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Public opposition
-Press
-Support
-Hypocrisy
-Criticism
-Congress
-Democrats
-Hypocrisy

Taxation
-Program before House Ways and Means Committee
-Barber B. Conable, Jr.
-House Resolution 1
-Presidential veto

Busing
-Kenneth R. Cole and Shultz
-Note from Griffin
-Detroit judge, Stephen J. Roth's order
-Appeal
-Cole
-Call from White House
-Speech
-Phrasing
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


Taxation
-Loopholes
-Connally's previous speech in Chicago
-Circulation to congressmen
-The President’s order
-Support
-Municipal bonds
-State and local taxes
-Copies
-Circulation

Republican leaders meeting
-Kissinger's briefing
-The President’s view
-Length
-Discussion
-Simplification
-Compared with Churchill's speeches
-Margaret Chase Smith
-Comments on Kissinger's fact sheets
-Fact sheets
-Congressmen
-The President’s view
-Use of aides
-Simplification
-Brevity
-Clark MacGregor
-Arrangements
-White House staff
-Tables

The President's schedule
-Press conference

National economy
-Food prices
-White House efforts
-Farmers
-Butz
-Cultivation of support
-Middlemen
 15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Criticism
-Retailers
-Conflicts
-Clarence Adams [?]
-Supplies
-Price increase
-Retail competition
-Administration position
-Image

Busing
-Administration's position
-Image of opposition
-Public’s image
-Benefits of controversy
-Attacks from blacks
-Attacks from liberals
-Attacks from Strom Thurmond
-Drawbacks

Drugs
-Hotline
-Publicity
-Story in newspapers

Forthcoming election campaign
-\"Players\" and speakers
-The President's previous memorandum
-Discussions
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman and MacGregor
-Shultz
-Political group
-John N. Mitchell
-Involvement
-Role in campaign
-\"Players\"
-Colson
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Samuel L. Devine
-First Family
-Public appearances
 16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)



Harry D. Steward
-Legal action
-Nature
-Possible dismissal

Peter G. Peterson
-Interest in job
-Public appearances
-The President’s view
-Quality of life programs
-Change of positions
-Productivity Council
-Radio program
-Shultz
-Previous meetings
-Events
-Peterson speech
-Michael P, Balzano, Jr.
-Colson's protege
-Italian background
-Belief in work ethic
-Compared with the President’s background
-Peterson's ideas
-Minority business enterprise
-Value
-Political uses
-Blacks
-Maurice H. Stans
-Speeches
-Peterson’s possible contribution
-Stans
-Political efforts
-Inner cities program
-Drawbacks
-Erhlichman’s forthcoming meeting with George W. Romney

Vietnam
-Romney's speech
-The President’s view
 17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


Minorities
-Blacks
-White House staff
-Programs
-Press response
-Integration
-President’s position
-Credit to administration
-Criticism

Hugh Scott
-Age

Churchill
-Age
-Prime Minister
-Second term
-Activities
-Early career
-Travel


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 39s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5

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


Jennie by George F. Kennan
-Jennie (Jerome) Churchill
-The President’s view
-British politics
-Marriage
-Age factor
 18

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


Burns
-Preference for Federal Reserve Board position
-Age

Republican leaders
-Norris Cotton
-Meeting
-Alertness

Richard G. Kleindienst
-Confirmation hearings
-Samuel J. Ervin, Jr.’s position
-Peter M. Flanigan's testimony
-Ehrlichman's testimony
-White House staff testimony
-James O. Eastland
-Proposal
-Conversation with Michael J. Mansfield
-John N. Mitchell
-Cancellation until after elections
-Kleindienst as Acting Attorney General
-Problems
-Indictment
-Political issue
-Mitchell's opinion
-Options
-Withdrawal of nomination
-Flanigan's testimony
-Substitute candidate
-Kleindienst as Deputy Attorney General
-Lewis F. Powell
-Ehrlichman
-MacGregor
-Problems
-Caspar W. Weinberger
-Robert H. Bork
-Charles A. Wright
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Political future
-Capabilities
-Loyalty
 19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Weinberger
-Confirmation chances
-Advantages
-Court appointment
-Desire for job
-Jewish background
-Conservatism
-Busing
-Standing on Capitol Hill and with American Bar Association
[ABA]
-Deputy Attorney General post
-Retention
-Confirmation
-Withdrawal
-Edward M. Kennedy and Ervin

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 12:41 pm.

US-Soviet relations
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Forthcoming meeting with Kissinger
-Butz
-Visit to Moscow
-Meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Remarks
-Vietnam bombing
-Brezhnev’s reaction
-The President's trip to Soviet Union
-Brezhnev
-Stay in Kremlin
-Airplane

Vietnam
-B-52 strikes
-Inaccurate target charts
-Targets
-Railways
-Binh
-Reaction of North Vietnam
-Airfields
-Weather
 20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Military Region One
-Air cavalry
-Photograph on Washington Post
-Violation of orders
-South Vietnam
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] reports on performance
-John F. Hollingsworth
-Americans in battle zones
-Pictures
-Restrictions
-Gen. John W. Vogt and Haig
-The President's orders
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Walt W. Rostow
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Stakes for US
-Negotiations
-B-52 strikes
-Targets
-The President's orders
-Concerns
-Civilian casualties
-US response
-Congressional support
-PRC
-Intensity of bombings
-Connally’s view
-Possible impact on negotiations
-Air strikes
-Weather
-Naval gunfire
-Destroyers
-Number
-Cruisers
-Intensity
-Impact
-Dong Hoi
-President’s previous experience in World War II
-Accuracy
-Air strikes
 21

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Ehrlichman's experience in World War II
-Inaccuracies

Kissinger's schedule
-Meeting with Dobrynin
-Time
-Meeting with PRC representatives
-Departure

The President's Canadian speech
-Kissinger's review
-Soviets
-Dobrynin
-Summit
-PRC

Vietnam
-Negotiations
-French appeal
-State Department
-Talks with North Vietnam
-H. Ross Perot
-Detente
-The President's Canadian speech
-Soviets
-Timing
-Future statements
-Scott's remarks
-Soviets
-Troop withdrawals
-The President's forthcoming announcement
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Failure
-Kissinger’s view
-Air strikes
-Naval power
-Kissinger's call to the President
-President’s trip to Camp David
-Air strikes
-B-52s
-Airfields
 22

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Safety of crews
-Abrams
-Navigation
-Targets
-Civilian casualties
-Blockade
-The President’s view
-Implementation
-Kissinger’s view
-Public opinion

Kissinger left at 12:55 pm.

International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT] case
-Kleindienst
-Confirmation
-Problems
-Retention in office
-Mitchell's opinion
-Hearings
-Cancellation
-Eastland
-Mansfield's agreement
-Votes
-Robert C. Byrd
-San Diego convention site controversy
-Flanigan's testimony
-Kissinger's testimony
-Alger Hiss case precedent
-Flanigan's testimony
-Precedents in other cases
-Ehrlichman's recommendation
-Judiciary Committee
-Eastland
-Loss of control
-Withdrawal of nomination
-Justification
-ITT hearings
-Colson and MacGregor
-San Diego
-C. Arnholt Smith
 23

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Investigations
-Kennedy's subcommittee
-Charges of harassment
-Investigations
-San Diego
-Henry E. Petersen
-C. Arnholt Smith
-Post as acting Attorney General
-Political problems
-Mental reservations
-Impact on performance
-Indictment against Kleindienst
-Substitute
-Weinberger
-Acting appointment
-Busing problem
-Benefits
-Confirmation chances
-Background
-MacGregor and Colson

An unknown person entered after 12:55 pm and left before 1:15 pm.

-Executive Committee
-MacGregor's report
-Number of votes
-Executive privilege
-Ervin's attacks
-Use of leverage
-Confirmation
-Mitchell's opinion
-MacGregor's recommendation
-Withdrawal
-Support for Weinberger
-Candidates
-Loyalty
-Weinberger
-Desire for court seat
-San Francisco
-Jane (Dalton) Weinberger
-Compared with Martha Mitchell
 24

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-The President’s view
-James T. Lynn
-Age
-Record
-Weinberger
-Compared with Lynn
-Experience
-Federal Trade Commission [FTC] and California posts
-[Forename unknown] Hillums [sp?]
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Confirmation
-Failure
-Losses to administration
-Problems
-Indictment
-Colson and MacGregor
-Eastland
-Post as acting Attorney General
-Candidates
-Weinberger
-Eastland's objections
-Confirmation
-Democratic attacks
-ITT
-Clement F. Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell
-Withdrawal
-Losses to administration
-Vietnam
-Discussion with Mitchell
-Weinberger
-Willingness to take position
-Mitchell's opposition
-Loyalty to the Administration
-The President’s view
-Jewish vote
-Mitchell’s view
-Ronald W. Reagan's support
-Supreme Court
-Jews
-Northern California support
-Jewish background
 25

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Compared with Barry M. Goldwater
-Jewish identification
-Cyril Magnin
-Appearance compared with Goldwater
-Competence
-Relations with Kleindienst
-Alternative appointment
-Chances of confirmation
-Withdrawal
-Statement
-Attacks on critics
-Separation of powers
-Importance of issues
-Busing
-Ervin
-Mitchell
-Eastland's investigation of Department of Justice [DOJ]
-Antitrust cases
-Kennedy's subcommittee
-Confirmation
-Ehrlichman
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Losses
-Claire Boothe Luce
-Lewis L. Strauss
-Consequences
-Timing
-Soviet summit
-Vietnam War
-Democratic convention
-Food prices
-Kleindienst
-Mitchell
-Meeting with the President

The President's schedule
-Trip to Camp David
-Jews and blacks
-Taft Schreiber
-Herbert G. Stein
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
 26

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Meeting with the President
-Connally
-Time
-Youth group
-Departure for Camp David
-Return to Washington
-Meeting
-Time

ITT case
-Public understanding
-Press questions
-Charges
-White House dismissals for wrongdoing
-Number
-Integrity
-Charges of wrongdoing
-Ehrlichman's investigation
-Press queries
-Meet the Press
-Political wrongdoing
-Democrats
-New Jersey
-Cornelius E. Gallagher
-Convictions
-1968 election

Unemployment
-California figures
-Increase in employment
-Decrease in unemployment
-Quarters
-Current levels
-Labor market
-Fluctuations
-Employment figures
-Meat prices
-Permanently unemployed
-Lay-offs
-Register for jobs
 27

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


Vietnam
-Talking points for leaders meeting
-Haig
-Location

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 12:55 and
1:15 pm.

[Conversation No. 707-10B]

Request for a call to Ronald L. Ziegler

[End of telephone conversation]

Connally
-Speech to National Association of Broadcasters
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham remarks
-News summary
-Phrase
-Bearing

Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-The President’s view
-Knowledge
-Foreign and domestic policies
-Patriotism
-Knowledge of foreign policy
-The President’s view
-Agnew’s questions in a previous National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Agnew’s NSC liaison
-Air strikes
-North Vietnamese
-US control of air
-Control of sea
-Compared with Edmund S. Muskie
-Public demeanor

Kleindienst
-Handling
-Mitchell
-Confirmation
 28

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Withdrawal
-Timing

-Ervin and Byrd
-Vote in committee

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 1:15 pm.

The President's Canadian speech
-Seventh draft
-Clearance
-Butterfield’s opinion
-Haig and Kissinger
-Circulation
-Haig
-Kissinger
-Review
-The President’s view

Butterfield left at 1:17 pm.

Kleindienst confirmation
-Withdrawal of name
-Timing
-The President's Canadian trip

Anne Mansfield
-The President's previous call
-The President’s view
-Marriage

Vietnam
-The President's conversation with Kissinger
-Haig's trip
-Negotiations
-The President's radio talk
-Timing

The President's forthcoming Soviet trip

Mitchell
 29

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 707-10 (cont.)


-Meeting with the President

Ehrlichman left at 1:34 pm.

Rose Mary Woods
-Camp David
-Schedule

Vietnam
-Negotiations
-William P. Rogers
-Kissinger
-Timing

The President's meeting with Republican leaders
-Briefings
-Ehrlichman
-Shultz, Stein and Richardson
-Kissinger
-Length
-Wordiness

Vietnam
-Rogers
-Actions
-The President’s view

The President's schedule
-Meeting with Mitchell
-Location

The President and Haldeman left at 1:40 pm.
 30

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)