521–9

Conversation No. 521-9

Date: June 15, 1971
Time: 3:45 pm - 4:30 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with John N. Mitchell and John D. Ehrlichman.

Greetings
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Appropriations
-John J. Rooney

Pentagon Papers
-New York Times story
-Necessity of action
-The President’s view
-Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr. Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)
-Conflict expectations
-Attack on Presidency
-Lyndon B. Johnson and Nixon
-Leaks
-Department of Defense [DOD]
-Department of State
-Morality involved
-New York Times actions
-The President’s view
-Legality
-Comfort to enemy
-Punishment of Daniel Ellsberg
-Use of Judicial or Congressional oath
-Department of Justice action
-McGovern-Hatfield decision
-Convening of grand jury
-Action against Times
-Times action
-Disclosure of sources
-Contempt of court action
-Focus of articles
-Johnson administration
-\"Family quarrel\"
-Ronald L. Zeigler
-Vietnam
-Bombing
-Department of Defense plans
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**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 14s ]


DEFENSE Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Use of plans in decision making
-Johnson administration
-Role of staff
-Liberals
-Higher morality
-Rule of law
-Attacks on Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Leonard Garment
-Pragmatism
-How decision for action was made
-Ehrlichman’s role
-Mitchell role
-Possible question’s for Ziegler
-The President
-Reaction
-Access of Times to White House staff
-Ziegler
-Jack N. Anderson column leaks
-Adm. Noel Gayler’s discussion with Mitchell
-National Security Agency [NSA]
-Leaks to Anderson
-Cooperation with Justice Department
-Need for information
-Federal Bureau Investigation [FBI]
-Clearance with Secretary of Defense
-Melvin R. Laird
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-Circumstances
-DOD
-Control of copies
-Robert S. McNamara
-Clark M. Clifford
-Rand Corporation
-Ellsberg
-Brookings Institution Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)
-Leslie H. Gelb
-Neil Sheehan
-Political views
-Contact with President
-Kissinger contact with Times
-Credibility of Times
-Poll
-Use of First Amendment to cover security breaches
-Potter Stewart’s opinion
-Mary [Surname unknown] case
-Precedents

Cyclamates and drug cases
-Legal status
-Other related legal problems
-Legislation
-Government role
-Error on neglect
-Swordfish claim
-Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW] list
-Ehrlichman action on related cases
-Cranberry case
-Testing under court of claims procedure
-Use of norms
-Government action
-Approval of cyclamate use
-Effect
-Stoppage of cyclamate use
-HEW
-Amount of cyclamate ingested by mice
-Origination of cyclamate complaint
-Manufacturer role
-Results
-Effect of cyclamate complaint
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-California constituency
-Congressional action
-Gerald R. Ford calls to Mitchell
-Language of bill
-Court of claims procedure
-Swordfish contamination
-Government role
-Department of Commerce Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)
-Department of Treasury
-Compensation
-Help for constituents
-Prospects of legislation
-Administration reaction
-Letter to Judiciary committee
-Vic Landing (?) role
-Clark MacGregor role

Cranberry problem
-Department of Agriculture
-Federal money
-Cranberry constituency
-Department of Agriculture
-Appearance in court of claims
-Pursuant to current legislation

Pentagon Papers
-New York Times
-Seriousness
-Use of public statement
-Secretary of Defense role
-Classification problems
-J. Fred Buzhardt role
-Laird statement

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:45 pm.

Request to see Ronald Ziegler

Pentagon Papers
-Effect on US policy

Bull left at unknown time before 4:09 pm.
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-Classification problems
-Public statement
-Laird and Mitchell contact

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 4:09 pm.

-Court decision Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)
-Use of temporary injunction
-Cease and desist order
-Supreme Court judges
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy activities
-Administration use of leaks
-Upcoming book [The Vantage Point]
-Authorship by Johnson
-Kissinger’s role
-Revisions
-Content
-Coverage of other administrations
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Statement regarding impact of story
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Laird’s role
-Rationale
-Public perception
-Federal District Court role
-Buzhardt affidavit
-Content
-Damage to US policies
-Impact of publication of classified material on troops
-Impact on publication
-William P. Rogers statement
-Handling of material
-Ziegler’s brief
-Rogers statement
-Concern of foreign governments
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**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 58s ]


FRANCE Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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


-Public perception
-Suppression of material
-Press role
-Press corps
-President's handling of Alger Hiss case
-Total disclosure
-Perception of press corps
-History of Vietnam involvement
-Morning briefing
-Effect of court order on press
-Access of Times to White House staff
-The President’s instructions
-Excuses
-Scope of order
-George P. Shultz
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Access to press pools
-Addition of defendants
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Thomas G. Wicker
-Ziegler's briefing
-Use of term \"harassment\"
-George S. McGovern
-Impact of non-action
-Benjamin C. Bradlee role
-Dan Rather
-McGovern-Hatfield amendment
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-Prospects
-Statement of impact
-Authorship
-DOD
-John A. Scali
-Richard A. Moore
-Content
-Publication of classified material Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)
-Authorship
-Buzhardt
-President's contribution
-Hiss case precedent
-Aid to enemy
-Intent
-Credibility of DOD authorship
-Department of Justice authorship
-Impact on criminal case
-Herbert G. Klein
-White House involvement
-Rogers possible statement
-Benefits
-Emphasis on foreign reaction
-Robert J. McCloskey
-Scali
-Public relations aspects of problem
-Possible remarks by President in Rochester, New York
-Naming of papers
-Possibilities
-Johnson
-John F. Kennedy
-McNamara
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy role
-John F. Kennedy’s Vietnam policy
-Ngo Dinm Diem revelations
-Henry Cabot Lodge role
-Transmission of story on wire
-Timing
-Timing of criminal action
-Post-McGovern-Hatfield
-Kissinger
-Arrest of Ellsberg
-Responsibility for leak
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-Ellsberg
-Halperin
-Gelb
-Statement of impact
-Rogers role
-Benefits
-Background
-Associated Press [AP] Conv. No. 521-9 (cont.)
-Department of Justice
-President's schedule
-Kenneth B. Keating meeting
-Call to Rogers
-Fighting press
-Perception of administration secrecy

Mitchell et. al. left at 4:30 pm.