About this recording
948–14
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Alexander M. Haig
July 11, 1973
Conversation No. 948-14
Date: July 11, 1973
Time: 4:24 pm - 5:05 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Haig’s trip
John B. Connally
-Previous meeting with President
-Connally’s schedule
-Possible trip to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-John A. Love
-Connally’s assessment
-Watergate
-Popular opinion
-Announcement
-Law firm, trip to USSR
-Coordination with Haig, Ronald L. Ziegler
-Meeting with [Shah of Iran] Mohammed Reza Pahlavi
-35-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
Haig’s speech to American Iron and Steel Institute [?] in New York, July 10, 1973
-Standing ovation
-Jacob K. Javits’s comments
-American Iron and Steel Institute
National economy
-President’s package
-Haig’s concerns
-Balanced budget provision
-Possible vetoes
-Bryce N. Harlow’s view
-Benefit
-Administration’s performance
-Impoundments, vetoes
-Advisability, timing
-President’s commitment
-Connally’s views
-Balanced budget provision
-Phase IV, 60-day freeze
-Compared with Arthur F. Burns’ views
-Effect on farmers
-Hogs
-Credibility
-Haig’s meeting
-Phase IV
-Balanced budget
-President’s paper
-Announcement
-Phase IV
-Export controls
-Strict fiscal policy
-Congress
-Haig’s view
-Compared with views of Melvin R. Laird, Harlow,
and George P. Shultz
-Papers for President’s review
-36-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-Phase IV
-Balanced budget
-Vetoes
-Layoffs
-President’s presentation
-Announcement
-Congress
-President’s experience contrasted with Harlow, Laird
-Balanced budget
-Political climate
-Possible vetoes
-Possible reaction
-Ceiling
-Watergate
-Possibility of distraction
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony of John N.
Mitchell, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, and John D.
Ehrlichman
-Haig’s conversation with Ziegler, July 10
-Possible briefings
-Congressional committees, chairman
-Businessmen, labor leaders, governors
-Congressman, Senators
-East Room
-Phase IV
-Balanced budget
-Balanced budget
-President’s disinclination
-Fiscal policy
-Spending
-Future possibility
-Harlow
-Laird’s view
-Announcement
-Format
-Possible briefings
-Businessmen, elites
-37-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-Contrasted with State of Union address
-Congressmen, Supreme Court members
-Business, labor, political leaders
-Governors
-Question-and-answer session
-Press coverage
-Duration
-Harlow, Laird’s view
-Phase IV
-Possible popular reaction
-Reassurance of businessmen, public
-President’s previous budget policy
-Previous vetoes
-Impoundment
-Balanced budget
-President’s reluctance
-Possible criticism
-Announcement
-Phase IV, balanced budget
-Possible effects
-Inflation, dollar, stock market
-Format
-Television [TV], Congress
-Advisors’ viewpoint
-Contrasted with President’s viewpoint
-National press conference
-Haig’s view
-Possible briefings
-Leaders of labor, business, Congress
-East Room
-Speech
-Phase IV
-TV
-Timing
-Evening news cycle
-Timing
-John T. Dunlop
-38-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-Need for preparation
-President’s schedule
-Cabinet meeting
-National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Announcement
-Donald McI. Kendall
-Duration
-President’s, Haig’s assessment
-Pierre Rinfret
-Controls, taxes
-Taxes
-Burns
-Charles H. Percy
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Production controls, incentives
-Rinfret
-Support for President
-President’s package
-Garnering support
-Shultz
-Laird
-Production controls, need for legislation
-Harlow
-Kendall
-Price
-Business
Watergate
-White House response
-Haig’s conversation with [First name unknown] Liebman [sp?], July 10,
1973
-[Horace] Chapman (“Chappie”) Rose
-J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
-Size of counsel’s staff
-Recommendations
-President’s concerns
-Haig’s conversation with Liebman
-39-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-President’s possible statement
-Connally’s view
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Democrats’ strategy
-Robert H. Abplanalp
-Democrats’ role
-Anti-trust suit
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Conversation with Haig
-Richardson’s meeting with Archibald Cox, July 10, 1973
-Spokesman’s role
-Compared with Cox’s role
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Witness list
-John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Charles W. Colson
-Plumbers [Watergate burglars]
-Colson
-Conversation with Haig, July 10, 1973
-Colson’s mood
-Telephone call to Rose Mary Woods
-Mitchell’s Ervin Committee testimony
-Reaction
-George McGovern
-Ervin Committee hearings
-New articles
-Witness list
-Witness list
-Notification
-Cox
-Wiretaps
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
-President’s schedule
-Possible meeting with Clarence M. Kelley, Haig
-Timing
-Instructions
-40-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
President’s schedule
-Joints Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer [?]
-Dr. James R. Schlesinger
-Laird
National economy
-President’s package
-Development meetings
-Harlow, Haig
-President’s schedule
-William E. Timmons, Peter M. Flanigan
-Roy L. Ash, Laird, Harlow, Anne M/ Armstrong
-Armstrong
-Sequoia
-Balanced budget
-Laird
-Announcement
-Congress
-Format
-Briefings
-Leaders of business, labor, Congress
-Governors’ conference
-Question-and-answer period
-Press briefing
-Speech
-Timing
-Press coverage
-TV
-Primetime
-Public reaction
-Balanced budget
-President’s concern
-Cost of living
Shultz
-Tenure in office
-41-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-President’s reaction
-Schedule
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Henry A. Kissinger’s reaction
Watergate
-Richardson
-Connally’s view
-Investigations
-President’s supporters
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Cox
-Richardson
-President’s assessment
-Haig’s assessment
-Views regarding Cox
-Cox’s support for Richardson’s election
-Cox
-Democrat
-Harvard University
-President compared to George S. McGovern
Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
-Russell E. Train’s appointment
-William D. Ruckelshaus
National economy
-President’s package
-Congress
-Roy L. Ash
-Balanced budget
-Announcement
-Phase IV
-East Room
-Briefings
-Leaders of business, labor, Congress
-Connally’s view
-42-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
The President and Haig left at 5:05 pm.
Date: July 11, 1973
Time: 4:24 pm - 5:05 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Haig’s trip
John B. Connally
-Previous meeting with President
-Connally’s schedule
-Possible trip to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-John A. Love
-Connally’s assessment
-Watergate
-Popular opinion
-Announcement
-Law firm, trip to USSR
-Coordination with Haig, Ronald L. Ziegler
-Meeting with [Shah of Iran] Mohammed Reza Pahlavi
-35-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
Haig’s speech to American Iron and Steel Institute [?] in New York, July 10, 1973
-Standing ovation
-Jacob K. Javits’s comments
-American Iron and Steel Institute
National economy
-President’s package
-Haig’s concerns
-Balanced budget provision
-Possible vetoes
-Bryce N. Harlow’s view
-Benefit
-Administration’s performance
-Impoundments, vetoes
-Advisability, timing
-President’s commitment
-Connally’s views
-Balanced budget provision
-Phase IV, 60-day freeze
-Compared with Arthur F. Burns’ views
-Effect on farmers
-Hogs
-Credibility
-Haig’s meeting
-Phase IV
-Balanced budget
-President’s paper
-Announcement
-Phase IV
-Export controls
-Strict fiscal policy
-Congress
-Haig’s view
-Compared with views of Melvin R. Laird, Harlow,
and George P. Shultz
-Papers for President’s review
-36-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-Phase IV
-Balanced budget
-Vetoes
-Layoffs
-President’s presentation
-Announcement
-Congress
-President’s experience contrasted with Harlow, Laird
-Balanced budget
-Political climate
-Possible vetoes
-Possible reaction
-Ceiling
-Watergate
-Possibility of distraction
-Forthcoming Ervin Committee testimony of John N.
Mitchell, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, and John D.
Ehrlichman
-Haig’s conversation with Ziegler, July 10
-Possible briefings
-Congressional committees, chairman
-Businessmen, labor leaders, governors
-Congressman, Senators
-East Room
-Phase IV
-Balanced budget
-Balanced budget
-President’s disinclination
-Fiscal policy
-Spending
-Future possibility
-Harlow
-Laird’s view
-Announcement
-Format
-Possible briefings
-Businessmen, elites
-37-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-Contrasted with State of Union address
-Congressmen, Supreme Court members
-Business, labor, political leaders
-Governors
-Question-and-answer session
-Press coverage
-Duration
-Harlow, Laird’s view
-Phase IV
-Possible popular reaction
-Reassurance of businessmen, public
-President’s previous budget policy
-Previous vetoes
-Impoundment
-Balanced budget
-President’s reluctance
-Possible criticism
-Announcement
-Phase IV, balanced budget
-Possible effects
-Inflation, dollar, stock market
-Format
-Television [TV], Congress
-Advisors’ viewpoint
-Contrasted with President’s viewpoint
-National press conference
-Haig’s view
-Possible briefings
-Leaders of labor, business, Congress
-East Room
-Speech
-Phase IV
-TV
-Timing
-Evening news cycle
-Timing
-John T. Dunlop
-38-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-Need for preparation
-President’s schedule
-Cabinet meeting
-National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Announcement
-Donald McI. Kendall
-Duration
-President’s, Haig’s assessment
-Pierre Rinfret
-Controls, taxes
-Taxes
-Burns
-Charles H. Percy
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Production controls, incentives
-Rinfret
-Support for President
-President’s package
-Garnering support
-Shultz
-Laird
-Production controls, need for legislation
-Harlow
-Kendall
-Price
-Business
Watergate
-White House response
-Haig’s conversation with [First name unknown] Liebman [sp?], July 10,
1973
-[Horace] Chapman (“Chappie”) Rose
-J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr.
-Size of counsel’s staff
-Recommendations
-President’s concerns
-Haig’s conversation with Liebman
-39-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-President’s possible statement
-Connally’s view
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Democrats’ strategy
-Robert H. Abplanalp
-Democrats’ role
-Anti-trust suit
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Conversation with Haig
-Richardson’s meeting with Archibald Cox, July 10, 1973
-Spokesman’s role
-Compared with Cox’s role
-Ervin Committee hearings
-Witness list
-John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Charles W. Colson
-Plumbers [Watergate burglars]
-Colson
-Conversation with Haig, July 10, 1973
-Colson’s mood
-Telephone call to Rose Mary Woods
-Mitchell’s Ervin Committee testimony
-Reaction
-George McGovern
-Ervin Committee hearings
-New articles
-Witness list
-Witness list
-Notification
-Cox
-Wiretaps
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
-President’s schedule
-Possible meeting with Clarence M. Kelley, Haig
-Timing
-Instructions
-40-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
President’s schedule
-Joints Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer [?]
-Dr. James R. Schlesinger
-Laird
National economy
-President’s package
-Development meetings
-Harlow, Haig
-President’s schedule
-William E. Timmons, Peter M. Flanigan
-Roy L. Ash, Laird, Harlow, Anne M/ Armstrong
-Armstrong
-Sequoia
-Balanced budget
-Laird
-Announcement
-Congress
-Format
-Briefings
-Leaders of business, labor, Congress
-Governors’ conference
-Question-and-answer period
-Press briefing
-Speech
-Timing
-Press coverage
-TV
-Primetime
-Public reaction
-Balanced budget
-President’s concern
-Cost of living
Shultz
-Tenure in office
-41-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
-President’s reaction
-Schedule
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Henry A. Kissinger’s reaction
Watergate
-Richardson
-Connally’s view
-Investigations
-President’s supporters
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-Cox
-Richardson
-President’s assessment
-Haig’s assessment
-Views regarding Cox
-Cox’s support for Richardson’s election
-Cox
-Democrat
-Harvard University
-President compared to George S. McGovern
Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]
-Russell E. Train’s appointment
-William D. Ruckelshaus
National economy
-President’s package
-Congress
-Roy L. Ash
-Balanced budget
-Announcement
-Phase IV
-East Room
-Briefings
-Leaders of business, labor, Congress
-Connally’s view
-42-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. November-2012)
Conversation No. 948-14 (cont’d)
The President and Haig left at 5:05 pm.