784–13

Conversation No. 784-13

Date: September 21, 1972
Time: 11:30 am - 11:48 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with F. Edward Hebert, Leslie C. Arends, Charles E. Bennett, Durward G.
Hall, Melvin R. Laird, Richard S. Wilbur, Louis M. Rousselot, Frank M. Slatinshek, William E.
Timmons, and John E. Nidecker.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

Greetings
-Request that Laird make a statement [for House
Resolution] [HR] [10670]

Laird’s suit

Photograph session

Senate

[Photograph session]

Signing ceremony for HR 2 [Uniformed Services Health Provisions Revitalization
Act]
-Distribution of pens
-Vietnam
-Casualties
-The President’s staff recommendation for veto
-Memorandum
-The President’s commitment to Hebert
-The President's view
-Reassurance for more uniformed doctors in medical services

Departure for Cabinet Room
-Laird

HR 2 bill
-Timmons view

Stephen B. Bull entered and left at an unknown time before 11:48 am.

Hebert, et al., except Laird, left at 11:36 am.

HR 2 bill
-The President’s recent conversation with Hebert
-Perceptions of bill
-Congressional Relations staff
-Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW]
-Bureau of the Budget [Office of Management and Budget] [OMB]

The tape stopped and restarted at an unknown time between 11:36 and 11:48 am.
 17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

The President's program
-Medical school

The tape stopped and restarted at an unknown time between 11:36 and 11:48 am.

-1973, 1974

Ceremony for HR 10670
-The President's opening comments
-Laird's comments
-Duration
-Importance of bill
-Bipartisanship
-Public interest in bill

1972 election
-George S. McGovern's defense plan
-Response
-Campaign strategy
-September 20, 1972
-Debate
-Cuts in defense
-Carriers, Air Force, Navy, Army, missile force
-Press coverage
-News summary
-London Economist
-Abram Chayes
-Talks in Europe
-Withdrawal of US troops in Europe
-Reintroduction by airlift
-Timeframe
-World Wars II and I
-North Atlantic Treaty
Organization [NATO]
-Air bases
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Costs
-Effect on Allies
-Timing of discussion of plan
-Laird's forthcoming appearance on Meet the Press

The tape stopped and restarted at an unknown time between 11:36 and 11:48 am.
 18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)


Brig. General Daniel (\"Chappie\") James, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Defense for Public Affairs
-Public appearances
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Centennial Commission
-Laird
-Today show appearance
-Future
-1972 election
-Promotion to Major General
-Laird’s effort
-Public appearances
-San Francisco
-Television
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Foreign policy
-Support of Richard M. Nixon Doctrine
-Sense of humor
-Singing
-Laird’s schedule
-Presbyterian Church
-Demonstrators

Vietnam demonstrations
-Casualties
-Draft issue
-POWs
-Bombings
-Dikes
-Organization
-Sizes of groups

1972 election
-Laird's possible schedule
-Massachusetts
-Wisconsin
-West Virginia
-The President's schedule
-Atlanta
-Laird's schedule
-Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Texas, California,
 19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

Oklahoma
-Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
-Budgetary concerns
-Navy
-William P. Rogers
-Laird’s schedule
-Massachusetts
-Cambridge
-Harvard University
-Ethnic areas, hardhats, defense
-Quincy shipyards
-Naval contracts
-Merchant cargo ships
-Announcement
-Timing
-Edith N. Rogers
-Veterans Affairs Committee
-Jeannette Rankin
-Chowder and Marching Club

Forthcoming signing of HR 10670

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:36 am.

Departure for Cabinet Room
-The President’s schedule

Laird and Bull left at 11:48 pm.