890-008b

Conversation No. 890-8

Date: March 30, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:50 am and 10:18 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

Rose Mary Woods
-Schedule

George P. Shultz, Helmut (“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt and John D. Ehrlichman entered and Bull left at
9:07 am.

President's speech
-March 29, 1973

Ehrlichman
-Conversation with Ronald L. Zielger
-Report for President
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Proposed changes
-President’s meeting with state legislators

An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 9:07 am.

Private file
-Woods

The unknown woman left at an unknown time before 10:18 am.

International economics
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Briefing by Shultz
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] and European summits
-Importance of economics
-European side
-Kissinger's weak area
-Learning speed
-Shultz’s knowledge
-Trade legislation
-Monetary issue
-US interests in European views
-Linkage with security
-Shultz’s concession
-Trade and national security
-President’s view
-Kissinger’s views
-Trade with Europe
-Conditions
-Possible results for US
-Isolationism
-Sonnenfeldt
-Bridge between National Security Council [NSC] and Treasury
Department
-Role in treasury
-Kissinger
-Shultz
-Study of trade
-Linkage between trade and national security
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Trade with USSR
-President’s view
-Sonnenfeldt's plans
-Confirmation hearing
-Scope of work at Treasury Department
-Trade with USSR
-Kissinger’s role
-National security
-East-West negotiations
-Shultz’s knowledge of national security
-Willy Brandt’s message
-Shultz’s telephone call to President
-Insolence
-Japan’s response
-Edmund R. G. Heath’s response
-Sonnenfeldt’s role
-Political costs
-President’s response
-Problems
-Bureaucratic problems
-Psychological problems
-Personal problems
-Peter M. Flanigan's office
-Strategic terms
-Economic advice in Treasury Department report
-Flanigan's views
-Kissinger's view
-Sonnenfeldt's role
-Risks
-Negotiations
-USSR
-Working groups
-Europe
-Advantages
-Formal, public position
-East-West negotiations
-Under Secretary of Treasury
-Entitlements
-Paul A. Volcker, William E. Simon
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Kissinger
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] negotiations
-Sonnenfeldt's role
-Middle East involvement

Shultz's report to President
-Domestic economy
-Labor issues
-Shultz’s trip abroad
-USSR
-Reception by Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Brezhnev's relationship with President and US
-Importance
-Nostalgia
-Shultz's meeting with Brezhnev
-Picture
-Carving
-Picture of Brezhnev and President at SALT I signing ceremony
-Accessibility
-Trade compared with economic policy
-Distinction noted by Brezhnev
-Trade
-Vodka, Pepsi Cola
-Economic policy
-Long time span
-Gas deals
-Brezhnev
-US-USSR relationship
-Transitory relationship
-Most Favored Nation [MFN] status
-Discussion between Shultz, Kissinger and President
-Messages
-Brezhnev's view of issue
-Test issue of US-USSR relations
-US economic organization
-Peter G. Peterson
-Brezhnev's meeting with Shultz
-Shultz’s competence
-Shultz's closeness to President
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Theme of Brezhnev’s personal relationship with President
-SALT
-Kissinger
-Impact of trip to Moscow on Europeans
-US-USSR relations
-Europe
-Reaction to present state of US-USSR relations
-Peace issue
-Monopoly position with USSR and People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-US involvement
-Gas deals
-Aggressive stance
-Conception of role as bridge in East-West relations
-US-Europe relations
-Avoidance of confrontation
-Brandt's message to President
-Response
-Heath, Brandt
-Monetary conferences
-Paris, France
-Sense of community
-Avoidance of confrontation with US
-Trade bill in US
-Apprehension by Europe
-US involvement
-First Paris meeting
-US role
-European confusion
-Closure of exchange markets
-Giscard D’Estaing’s luncheon
-Compared to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s action
-Central bankers
-Concerns for free market
-Second Paris meeting
-Draft communiqué
-Helmut H. W. Schmidt
-Giscard D'Estaing
-Adoption of US draft at meeting
-US influence
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-European attitude
-Shultz’s reaction
-Energy problems
-Importance to Europeans
-Rates of inflations
-International Monetary and Balance of Pay
-US involvement
-President's message
-Energy users
-International cooperation
-Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries [OPEC]
-Cartel
-International flavor
-Shultz's talk to bankers
-Paris, France
-Schmidt
-Energy as subject
-Preoccupation with economic problems
-Rates of inflation
-Great Britain
-West Germany
-France
-Japan
-Italy
-Italy
-Political situation
-Schmidt
-Finance minister
-Central banker
-Great Britain
-Labor situation
-Confrontations with Heath
-Comparison with US
-US cooperation

Steel Agreement
-Shultz's work with I[lorwith W[ilbur] Abel
-Possible telephone calls by President to Abel and R. Heath Larry
-Constructive atmosphere in US
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Industry
-Labor Management Committee

Labor in US


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

President’s father, Frank Nixon
-Liberal view
-Belief in work ethic
-Comment on Industrial Workers of the World [IWW]

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


US-Europe relations
-Political atmosphere
-Drift to left
-Tension
-Investment capital
-Flow to US from Europe
-Increase
-Flow to Europe from US
-Image
-Shultz’s table
-Common Agricultural Policy [CAP]
-Common markets
-US policy
-Earl L. Butz
-Visit to Europe
-Need for negotiations
-President’s standing in Europe
-Mao Tse-Tung
-Quality of world leadership
-Great Britain
-Heath
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Stature
-Prospects for European unity
-Compared with PRC and USSR
-Chou En-lai

US foreign policy
-Lee Kuan Yew
-Meeting with President
-Robert Menzies
-Great Britain
-Potential as leader

Shultz's trip
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Kissinger's negotiations with USSR
-US economic policy
-Political impact

US foreign policy
-Problem with balance
-US leadership
-European advocates
-Shultz’s view
-International monetary problems
-US responsibility
-Newspaper column
-Milton Friedman [?]
-Dollar prices
-Compared to mark prices
-Inflation rates
-Industrial nations
-Social issues
-Europe
-Dependence on US leadership
-reaction
-Resentment
-Left-Wing youth in West Germany
-President’s future discussion with Sonnenfeldt and
Kissinger
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Unrest
-Great Britain
-France
-West Germany
-Brandt
-Party conference
-US-USSR relations
-Perception of US-USSR deals by Europe
-Détente delays criticized
-Need for balance
-European isolationism
-Brezhnev's motives
-US, PRC, Japan, Europe
-Demoralization
-SALT, Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
-Common Market
-USSR-US relations
-1972 meeting between Brezhnev and Peterson
-Brezhnev
-Longevity
-Age
-Long-range goals
-Gas deals
-PRC
-Succession
-Europe
-Balance
-Germany, Great Britain, France, Netherlands
-Comparison with US
-Leadership responsibilities
-Vietnam War
-US responsibilities
-Colleges and universities
-Professors
-Blacks
-Chicanos
-Whites
-Germany
-Italy
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Netherlands
-Belgium
-Scandinavians
-Cheese, women
-Big Powers
-Decline of power
-Unity of Europe
-Meaning
-Generation in power
-Youth
-Bureaucrats
-Values
-Illusions
-Academics
-Frustrations

Economy
-Unemployment insurance
-Pension reform
-Termination insurance
-Reasons
-Expense
-Benefits
-Link with Trade Bill
-Peter J. Brennan
-Support for reform
-Public speeches
-Roy L. Ash
-Talk with Shultz
-Termination insurance
-Reaction of management
-Big companies
-Premiums
-Small companies
-Unknown results
-Areas of controversy
-Minimum wage
-Administration of funds
-Labor Department
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Treasury Department
-Labor Department
-Management's objections
-Judgment of pension fund quality
-Fear of government intervention
-President’s opinion
-Bureaucrats
-Staffing
-Link with other bills
-Trade bill
-Pension package
-Unemployment insurance package
-Presentation to Congress
-Pros and cons
-Link with Trade Bill
-Study by President
-Balance of equities
-Problems
-Labor compared with management
-Trade
-Brennan
-Chamber of Commerce
-Business representation
-Budget
-Balance
-Agriculture
-President's policies
-Need for farm state congressmen’s support on vetoes
-Termination insurance
-Management's concerns
-Labor
-Management of assets
-Unemployment insurance
-Extensions of coverage
-Farm workers
-1969 recommendation
-Ronald W. Reagan's support
-California
-Butz's support
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Major problem
-Federal standards for benefit levels
-Dwight D. Eisenhower's action as President
-Republican opposition
-Ways and Means Committee
-Union support
-Arthur F. Burns's support
-Business opposition
-States
-Controversy
-Raising of benefits
-Coordination with William E. Timmons
-Government relations
-President’s meeting with state legislators
-Support
-Economic advisors
-Ash, Brennan, Butz, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Peter M.
Flanigan, Herbert Stein, Herbert G. Klein
-Budget battle
-California
-Paper
-Unemployment insurance package
-Study for President
-Meeting with Nguyen Van Thieu
-Major problems on economic issues
-Federal standards for benefit levels
-Brennan's support
-Insurance for strikers
-State laws
-New York, Rhode Island
-Union support
-George Meany
-Shultz’s actions as Labor Secretary
-Unemployment insurance for strikers
-Brennan's support
-Intensity
-Special relationship with President
-Letter to President
-Unintelligible name
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Duration of benefits
-Increases
-Trigger mechanism
-Labor support
-Controversy
-Brennan compared with economic advisors
-Brennan's attitude
-Swearing-in of Willie J. Usery
-Meany's attendance at ceremony
-Remarks by Brennan
-Labor Unionists in Labor Department
-Commerce Department
-Brennan
-President's handling
-President's study of economic package
-Minimum wage
-Testimony by Brennan
-Coverage
-Extension
-Level
-Brennan's attitude

Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:07 am.

President's meeting with state legislators

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:18 am.

Economic policy
-Minimum wage
-Coverage
-Level
-Youth differential
-Brennan's position
-Amount
-Two dollar bill
-Bargaining
-John N. Erlenborn
-Citizenship [?]
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-16 and 17 year olds
-19 year olds
-18 year olds
-Erlenborn bill
-Vote
-Brennan’s testimony
-Congress
-Administration’s stance
-Conservatism
-Budget
-Leadership
-Youth differential
-Brennan’s testimony
-Problems
-Brennan
-Handling
-Discussion with the President, economic advisors
-Politics
-Problems
-Budget
-Constituency
-Testimony to Congress
-Preparation
-San Clemente visit
-Minimum wage issue
-Meeting with President
-Confrontation
-Minimum wage
-Talk with Ehrlichman, Shultz
-Shultz’s skill
-Direction by President
-Need to control
-Congressional opposition
-Republicans
-Southern Democrats
-Termination insurance
-Opposition lobby
-Financial contributors
-Unemployment insurance
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Brennan
-Need to control
-Congress’s position
-Liberals
-Minimum wage
-Bargaining of levels
-Extension of coverage
-Youth differential
-State and local government workers
-Cole
-Coverage
-Problems with issue
-Need to sell
-Next year’s package
-Local governments, revenue sharing
-Unemployment insurance
-Federal standards
-Persuasion of President
-Strikers
-Meeting with President
-Preparation
-Labor leader
-Bargaining
-Trade Bill
-Surcharge
-Application
-General compared with selective basis
-International obligations
-Unilateral decision
-Internationally-developed Most Favored Nation [MFN]
principles
-Guidelines

Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:07 am.

President's meeting with state legislators

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:18 am.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


Economic policy
-Trade bill
-Surcharge
-International obligations
-Kissinger
-State Department
-Special Drawing Rights [SDRs] [?]
-President's powers
-Treasury Department
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Congress
-Reaction of other countries
-Canada, Great Britain, Europe
-Wilbur D. Mills's view
-Kissinger's reaction to August 15, 1971 monetary measures
-Bargaining power
-Increases
-“Fuzzy language”
-MFN status for communist countries
-Kissinger's strategy
-Presidential authority in trade bill
-USSR
-Jacob K. Javits's proposal
-Mills's opposition
-Fallback position in Committee
-Administration strategy
-Kissinger
-Meeting with Dobrynin
-Problems
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson, Charles Vanik, Mills
-Amendments on immigration
-Vetoes
-Immigration issue
-USSR
-Pattern of performance
-Jackson
-Suspicions
-Administration strategy
-Bargaining
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2010)
Conversation No. 890-8 (cont’d)


-Jackson amendment
-Javits's view
-Veto procedure
-Jackson’s opposition
-Mills’s view
-Unemployment insurance
-Negotiations with unions
-Federal government bailout
-Brennan
-Deal
-Jackson amendment
-President’s reaction
-Jewish community in the US
-Initiatives with USSR
-Blame

Shultz, Sonnenfeldt and Ehrlichman left at 10:18 am.