About this recording
933–5
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Clarence M. Kelley
- Oliver F. "Ollie" Atkins
June 6, 1973
Conversation No. 933-5
Date: June 6, 1973
Time: 10:05 am - 10:35 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Clarence M. Kelley. Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins was present at the
beginning of the meeting.
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
Arrangements for photo
-Oval Office
-Media coverage
-Photographs for Kelley
-Atkins
Mrs. Kelley’s health
-Bone cancer
-Cancer research efforts
-Mrs. Kelley’s health habits
Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] Director
-Number of candidates considered
-Kelley
-Qualifications and background
-Experience with FBI
-Law degree
-Progressive law enforcement record
-W. Ramsey Clark
-Skillful administrator
Watergate
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Clyde A. Tolson
-Wiretaps
-John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson years
-William C. Sullivan
-Statement concerning blackmail
-Removal of files
-Relationship with President
-Alger Hiss case
-Louis Patrick Gray, III
-Relationship with President
Kelley’s appointment
-Problems in FBI
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-Power struggle
-Hoover’s actions
-Leaks
-President’s dismay
Watergate
-FBI
-Requirements
-Young Hoover
-Possible personnel actions
-Possible transfers
-Kelley’s possible conversation with Henry E. Petersen
-Hoover’s legacy
-Confirmation hearings
-Questioning
-Gray
-Access to raw files
-Access to raw files
-Bella S. Abzug
- John L. McClellan
-Confirmation hearings
Kelley’s appointment
-Character of agents
-FBI cooperation with local officials
-President’s interaction with training classes
-Requirements
-Reestablish order and pride in FBI
Watergate
-FBI
-Use by President
-Compared to John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Requirements
Kelley’s appointment
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-Duration of appointment
-Significance
-Requirements
-Kelley’s gratitude
Watergate
-FBI Director
-Local officials, other federal agencies
-Hoover and Richard M. Helms
-Watergate
-Relationship
-White House involvement
Kelley’s appointment
-Popular desire for crime reduction
-Law Enforcement Assistance Administration [LEAA]
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Cooperation between agencies
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National security]
[Duration: 32 s ]
INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 10:35 am.
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
Refreshments
-Coffee
-Kelley’s drinking habits
An unknown person left at an unknown time before 11:35 am.
Kelley’s appointment
-Kelley’s relations with federal officials
-United States Secret Service [USSS]
-Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms [ATF]
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Certificate of cooperation
-Crime reduction
-Kansas City, Missouri Police Department
-Programs adaptable to FBI
-Discipline
-Inter-agency cooperation
-IRS, ATF, drug agencies, CIA, Customs, Justice
-Hoover and USSS
-John F. Kennedy assassination
-USSS
-Presidential protection
-Cooperation with FBI and local law enforcement
-Requirements
-Law enforcement
-Local cooperation
-Missoula, MT
-Biloxi, MS
-Work with other government agencies
-Announcement
-Confirmation hearings
-Kelley’s relations with policy chiefs
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Advantages
-Cooperation with federal agencies
-Kelley’s relations with W[illiam] Stuart Symington and Thomas F. Eagleton
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-Symington’s assistant, Stanley R. Fike
-Kelley’s relationships with Christopher S. (“Kit”) Bond and John
(“Jack”) Danforth
-President’s relations with Danforth
-Symington
-President’s visit
-Explosion
-Law enforcement officers
-Cooperation by President
Watergate
-FBI
-Confirmation hearings
-Watergate questions
-Statement
-Wiretaps
-National security
-Judicial approval
National security
-Wiretaps
-Judicial approval
-Attorney General’s approval
-Judicial review of wiretaps
-President and Kelley’s viewpoint
-1970
-Black Panthers, Weathermen
-Danger to American society
-Requirements of law enforcement strategy
-Disregard by civilian groups
-Investigatory techniques
-Wiretaps
-Surreptitious entry
-Handling of evidence
-Surveillance
-Popular opinion
-Reaction to crisis
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-National security leak
-Daniel Ellsberg
-Imprisonment
FBI Director
-Requirements
-Relationships
-President
-Attorney General
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Meetings with President
-Compared to President and chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
-Secretary of Defense
-Hoover
-Relationship with President
-Timing of announcement
-Kelley’s possible statement
-Contacts with media
-Confirmation hearings
-Interviews
-Media reaction
-Background
-Law enforcement
-Confirmation hearings
-Television coverage
-Official policy
-Role in administration
-Gray
-Hoover
-Senility
-Meeting with President
-Official policy
-Confirmation hearings
Presentation of gifts by President
-Pin
-Cufflinks
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
Kelley left at 10:35 am.
Date: June 6, 1973
Time: 10:05 am - 10:35 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Clarence M. Kelley. Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins was present at the
beginning of the meeting.
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
Arrangements for photo
-Oval Office
-Media coverage
-Photographs for Kelley
-Atkins
Mrs. Kelley’s health
-Bone cancer
-Cancer research efforts
-Mrs. Kelley’s health habits
Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] Director
-Number of candidates considered
-Kelley
-Qualifications and background
-Experience with FBI
-Law degree
-Progressive law enforcement record
-W. Ramsey Clark
-Skillful administrator
Watergate
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Clyde A. Tolson
-Wiretaps
-John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson years
-William C. Sullivan
-Statement concerning blackmail
-Removal of files
-Relationship with President
-Alger Hiss case
-Louis Patrick Gray, III
-Relationship with President
Kelley’s appointment
-Problems in FBI
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-Power struggle
-Hoover’s actions
-Leaks
-President’s dismay
Watergate
-FBI
-Requirements
-Young Hoover
-Possible personnel actions
-Possible transfers
-Kelley’s possible conversation with Henry E. Petersen
-Hoover’s legacy
-Confirmation hearings
-Questioning
-Gray
-Access to raw files
-Access to raw files
-Bella S. Abzug
- John L. McClellan
-Confirmation hearings
Kelley’s appointment
-Character of agents
-FBI cooperation with local officials
-President’s interaction with training classes
-Requirements
-Reestablish order and pride in FBI
Watergate
-FBI
-Use by President
-Compared to John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert F. Kennedy,
Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Requirements
Kelley’s appointment
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-Duration of appointment
-Significance
-Requirements
-Kelley’s gratitude
Watergate
-FBI Director
-Local officials, other federal agencies
-Hoover and Richard M. Helms
-Watergate
-Relationship
-White House involvement
Kelley’s appointment
-Popular desire for crime reduction
-Law Enforcement Assistance Administration [LEAA]
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Cooperation between agencies
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National security]
[Duration: 32 s ]
INVESTIGATIVE AUTHORITY
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 10:35 am.
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
Refreshments
-Coffee
-Kelley’s drinking habits
An unknown person left at an unknown time before 11:35 am.
Kelley’s appointment
-Kelley’s relations with federal officials
-United States Secret Service [USSS]
-Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
-Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms [ATF]
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Certificate of cooperation
-Crime reduction
-Kansas City, Missouri Police Department
-Programs adaptable to FBI
-Discipline
-Inter-agency cooperation
-IRS, ATF, drug agencies, CIA, Customs, Justice
-Hoover and USSS
-John F. Kennedy assassination
-USSS
-Presidential protection
-Cooperation with FBI and local law enforcement
-Requirements
-Law enforcement
-Local cooperation
-Missoula, MT
-Biloxi, MS
-Work with other government agencies
-Announcement
-Confirmation hearings
-Kelley’s relations with policy chiefs
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Advantages
-Cooperation with federal agencies
-Kelley’s relations with W[illiam] Stuart Symington and Thomas F. Eagleton
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-Symington’s assistant, Stanley R. Fike
-Kelley’s relationships with Christopher S. (“Kit”) Bond and John
(“Jack”) Danforth
-President’s relations with Danforth
-Symington
-President’s visit
-Explosion
-Law enforcement officers
-Cooperation by President
Watergate
-FBI
-Confirmation hearings
-Watergate questions
-Statement
-Wiretaps
-National security
-Judicial approval
National security
-Wiretaps
-Judicial approval
-Attorney General’s approval
-Judicial review of wiretaps
-President and Kelley’s viewpoint
-1970
-Black Panthers, Weathermen
-Danger to American society
-Requirements of law enforcement strategy
-Disregard by civilian groups
-Investigatory techniques
-Wiretaps
-Surreptitious entry
-Handling of evidence
-Surveillance
-Popular opinion
-Reaction to crisis
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
-National security leak
-Daniel Ellsberg
-Imprisonment
FBI Director
-Requirements
-Relationships
-President
-Attorney General
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Meetings with President
-Compared to President and chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff
-Secretary of Defense
-Hoover
-Relationship with President
-Timing of announcement
-Kelley’s possible statement
-Contacts with media
-Confirmation hearings
-Interviews
-Media reaction
-Background
-Law enforcement
-Confirmation hearings
-Television coverage
-Official policy
-Role in administration
-Gray
-Hoover
-Senility
-Meeting with President
-Official policy
-Confirmation hearings
Presentation of gifts by President
-Pin
-Cufflinks
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-2011)
Conversation No. 933-5 (cont’d)
Kelley left at 10:35 am.