575–2

Conversation No. 575-2

Date: September 17, 1971
Time: 1:17 pm - 2:32 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

Congress
-Results of vote
-Marlow W. Cook's vote

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm.

Schedule
-Delay in arrival of other meeting participants

Bull left at an unknown time before 1:23 pm.

Supreme Court
-Call from John N. Mitchell to Haldeman
-Justice Hugo L. Black
-Resignation
-Call to Mitchell from the Chief Justice
-Black
-Letter to the President
-Resignation
-Notification of Court
-Time
-Announcement
 3

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Warren E. Burger's recommendation
-Haldeman and Mitchell's recommendation
-Speculation by reporters
-William O. Douglas
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Press briefing
-Burger
-Mitchell
-Press
-Burger
-Meeting with John N. Harlan
-Health
-Bethesda Naval Hospital
-Resignation
-Possible appointees
-Richard H. Poff
-American Bar Association [ABA]
-Law practice
-Membership on Judiciary Committee
-Mitchell's recommendation
-Lawrence E. Walsh
-William French Smith
-Harlan vacancy
-Californian
-Chairmanship of Board of Regents
-Age
-Jewish
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Philadelphian [Arlen Specter?]
-Mexican-American

Bowling
-The President's meeting with World International Bowling Federation visitors
-White House bowling alley visit
-Gutter ball
-Strike
-Comeback
-Ziegler
-Photographers
-Type of pictures
-Vida Blue
 4

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Strike
-Pictures
-Unnamed woman
-Strike
-Bowlers
-Commercial
-Gutter balls
-Strikes

Military service draft extension bill
-Vote outcome
-Response
-Administration efforts
-Gordon L. Allott
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Reaction to defeat
-Wording of statement on Vietnam War
-Phrase \"Nixon's war\"
-Reaction to Vietnam War
-Vietnam
-Beginning of war
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] speech
-Mansfield
-Wording of statement
-Phrase \"Nixon's war\"

The President's meeting with bowlers

Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm.

Charles W. Colson

Bull left at an unknown time before 1:23 pm.
 5

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 17s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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


Cabinet positions
-Secretary of Agriculture
-Replacement for Clifford N. Hardin
-Haldeman's talk with Mitchell
-Louie B. Nunn
-Timing
-Lieutenant Governor
-Requirements for Secretary of Agriculture
-Farm background
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Communication, political abilities
-Nunn

Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm.

World International Bowling Federation tournament visitors
-Bowling
-Photographers
-Bowling
-Ziegler
-Number of attempts made during the President's visit to White House bowling
alley
-Edwin Luther
-Number of attempts
-Photo
-Strike
-Consistency in the President's game
-Strategies
-Press photographers and wire service
 6

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Reactions
-Blue
-Comparison
-Actions

Press corps
-Reaction to bowling photo opportunity
-Contrast to daily routine
-Photos of the President in office setting

Bowling
-Amateur winners
-Bowling abilities
-Nervousness during White House visit
-The President's effort

Colson entered at an unknown time after 1:17 pm

Bowling
-Strike comeback analogy

Vietnam
-Military service draft amendment
-Mansfield
-Wording of statement
-Use of phrase \"Nixon's war\"
-Phrase \"Johnson's war\"
-Public exposure
-Clark MacGregor
-Observation of Mansfield's speech
-Presentation
-Vote results
-Anticipated result
-Allott
-Ziegler's statement to press
-Democrat caucus on Capitol Hill
-Collecting information
-Telephone calls
-Wire services
-Conversations with Senators
-Associated Press [AP], United Press International [UPI]
 7

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Ziegler's statement to the press
-Official comment
-William L. Safire
-Report
-Mansfield's statement
-The press
-Requesting information
-Administration's response
-Handling of Vietnam in Congress
-Senate floor
-Use of phrase \"Nixon's war\"
-Response
-Democrat responsibility
-Origins of war
-The President's role in negotiations for peace settlement
-Defense of the President
-Robert J. Dole
-Planned opposition to Mansfield
-MacGregor
-Strategy for response
-Mansfield's statement
-Press coverage
-Caucus
-Response to opposition
-Patrick J. Buchanan's views
-Perception of partisan, obstructionist behavior
-National security, Vietnam and economic issues

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 44s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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


Press briefing
 8

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Questions from press on vice presidential candidates
-[Charles W. Bailey, II]
-Ziegler's response
-Presidential candidate qualifications
-Black candidate

Vietnam
-The President's press conference of September 16, 1971
-Press response to answer
-Television
-Comment about Ngo Dinh Diem and Nguyen Van Thieu
-Pentagon Papers
-Henry Cabot Lodge
-Boston Globe's account

Economic policies
-Phase II
-Spokesperson for administration
-John B. Connally
-George P. Shultz
-William Proxmire
-Response
-Senators
-Suggestions to the President

Governors Conference

Schedule
-Wilbur D. Mills
-John W. Byrnes

Economic policies
-Profits
-Interest rates
-Bank profits
-Limits
-Possible meeting with bankers
-Prime rate
-Connally
-Labor union leaders
-J. Walter Thompson
 9

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-American Bankers Association
-Comparison in the public's perception
-Issue of business competition
-Inflation, profits
-Status of banking industry
-Radio commercials
-Federal Reserve Board [FRB]
-Interest rates
-Charls E. Walker
-Concerns
-Compared to labor, business, agricultural groups, governors group
-Control of interest rates
-Prime rate

White House public relations
-Response to perceived Democrat partisan obstructionists
-Meeting between Haldeman, Colson, and Ziegler
-Strategy
-Possible speech by Spiro T. Agnew
-Possible outcome
-Agnew's image
-Speechwriter
-Partisanship issue
-Change of focus from comments on the press

National Security Industrial Association [NSIA]
-Businessmen
-Military-industrial complex
-Response

White House public relations
-Partisanship
-Administration response
-Strategy
-UPI
-Agnew
-Media
-Unknown person
-Press conference
-Oval Office press conference
-Handling
 10

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Warfare analogy
-World War I
-World War II
-Strategy
-Effectiveness of in-office press conference
-Bailey, print media
-Lack of television footage
-Effectiveness without television
-David Brinkley
-Effectiveness
-Impact of comments from press conference
-Time element
-Newspaper, radio, and television
-Effect of message
-Reporting of press conference
-Three major television networks
-Time spent on press conference coverage
-Comparison to story on Look magazine's poll
-Immediate effect
-PRC initiative
-Draft
-Radio, local news coverage
-Prime time television
-Press conferences
-Effectiveness
-News time
-Usage by the administration
-Coverage on the President
-News time
-Prime time
-The President's use of time
-Meeting recommendations from John D. Ehrlichman
-Effectiveness of meetings
-Preparation for press conferences
-Time element involved
-Oval Office press conference
-Advantages
-Preparation
-Time element
-Amount of the President's television exposure
-Speeches
 11

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Detroit trip
-Regional or national television broadcast of speech
-Strategy in handling the press
-Media attitude
-Ziegler's conversation with William Small
-Network’s commercial interests
-Reporting on the economy
-Regional coverage
-Manipulation
-Contact with the President
-Handling, nature
-Communicating with the American people
-Press attitudes
-Effect of different types of press conferences
-Television news reporting
-Dan Rather, Robert Pierpoint, Thomas E. Jarriel, Herbert
Kaplow
-Effect of print media
-Length of press conferences
-Presidential leadership
-Newsmakers
-Connally
-Administration officials
-William P. Rogers
-Effect
-Type of news
-Effect
-Melvin R. Laird
-Troop withdrawal
-Connally
-Public perceptions
-The President's role
-Network news
-Staff role
-Television coverage
-Key points
-Time element
-Presidential leadership
-Reporting results
-Rather
-Press conference
 12

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Oval Office
-Rather's reporting
-Rather
-Types of question
-Projection of leadership
-The President's response to question on Edmund S. Muskie
comment about Vice Presidency
-Qualifications of candidates
-Race, gender
-Edith Efron
-Daughter
-Husband
-Co-author
-The President's image
-Television coverage
-Trips
-Airport landings
-Live coverage
-Impact
-Air Force One, the Spirit of ’76
-Moon landing
-Public impressions
-Press conferences
-Speeches
-Impact
-Type of impression of the President
-Office press conference
-Reasons
-Disciplining the Administration
-Amount of preparation
-Comparison to usual press conference
-Press reporters
-Individuals
-Attitude toward the President
-Type of stories
-Perceptions of presidential in-office press conference
-Handling by the President
-Comparison
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Muskie
-Hubert H. Humphrey
 13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Kennedy
-Muskie
-Press conferences
-Importance
-Office press conferences
-Impressions of the President
-Importance
-Press evaluation
-Speculation
-Question and answer session [Q&A]
-East Room setting
-Preparation
-Effect
-Members of the press
-Opponents of the administration
-Impressions
-John W. Chancellor
-News summary
-Opinion of the President expressed in speech
-Change
-Attitude
-News coverage
-Reporting on the President
-Journalism
-Issues
-Television reporters
-Questions for the President
-Jarriel
-Kaplow
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] reporters
-Speculations about the President
-Frame of mind
-Feelings
-Perceptions
-Press appearances
-Appearances on the air
-Pierpoint
-Attitude
-Type of story
-Amount of money
-Office press conference
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Time
-Location
-Announcement
-Impact
-Evening news
-Time duration
-Time of broadcast
-News time
-Network response
-Press conference
-New York network response
-Tape delay broadcast
-Regular news time
-Advantage of live broadcast
-Network coverage
-July 3, 1971; July 15, 1971; August 15, 1971 speech broadcasts
-Prime time
-Dates
-Time of day
-Previous televised news conference
-Results
-Amount of news coverage
-Television news
-Speech coverage
-American Legion
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-Live television conference
-East Room
-Time
-Type of coverage
-Amount
-Impact
-Prime time
-News time
-Timing
-Monthly
-Type of event
-Press conference
-Q&A
-Detroit trip
-Type of press coverage
 15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Speech
-Regional coverage
-New York
-Chicago
-College or university visit
-Types of audiences
-Enthusiasm
-The President's speeches
-Equal time issues in pre-election period
-Economics
-Vietnam War
-Presentation of the administration's policy
-Detroit
-Prime time press coverage
-Time duration
-Conflict with movie broadcast
-Change in time duration
-Press conferences
-Time duration
-Forthcoming election
-Impact
-American Association of Newspaper Editors [ASNE]
-Format of event
-Impact
-Economy
-Detroit
-Timing
-The President's speech before Congress, September 9, 1971
-The President’s speech of August 15, 1971
-Local and network coverage of speeches
-Presentation of speech
-Replay broadcast
-Network television shows
-National independent local news shows
- Detroit Economic Club speech
-Replay on television
-Local station
-CBS news
-\"Today\" show
-Prime time television
-East Room
 16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Newscasters
-Interest in the President
-Types of questions
-Detroit trip
-Panelists
-Economic questions
-Procedure for questioning
-Processing
-Air time
-Variety of questions
-Range
-Panel
-Network members
-Number
-Ziegler’s view
-Q&A
-Format
-Effectiveness for the President
-Various forms of reporting
-Q&A
-The President as Vice President
-The President's speeches
-Questions
-Talk shows
-Popularity
-National telethon
-Answering mail
-Television
-Prime time
-Need
-Audience
-Number
-Effectiveness
-Television
-Audience
-Number of people
-Effectiveness
-Q&A
-Time of day
-Number of people
-Effectiveness
 17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Format
-Development
-Cabinet Room
-Meeting with the President
-Labor leaders
-Business
-Agricultural leaders
-Governors
-Press conference
-Chicago
-Cleveland
-Cincinnati
-Impact
-Time of coverage
-Prime time
-Time zone
-Chicago
-Noon
-Afternoon
-Prime time
-Regional areas
-Network programming
-Live coverage
-Prime time
-National compared to local coverage
-Individuals asking questions
-Henry A. Kissinger's press contacts
-George Putnam
-Columnists
-Local networks
-Major cities
-Jerry Dumfy
-Robert G. Abernathy
-Cincinnati
-Cleveland
-Detroit
-Regional event coverage
-Impact
-Audience impact
-Regional coverage
-Network coverage
 18

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Time of day
-Press conference
-Network live broadcast
-Types of coverage
-Monthly scheduling
-Chicago
-Effectiveness of administration spokesmen
-Connally
-Agnew
-Use of time
-Oval Office meetings
-Gifts
-Impact
-Meetings with businessman
-Effectiveness
-Press coverage of Oval Office meetings
-Follow-up
-Handling of the President's meetings
-Association executives group
-Time spent on meeting
-Effectiveness
-Number of people
-Elliot L. Richardson's health issues meeting
-Effectiveness
-The President's use of time
-Thinking
Preparation for office press conference
-The President's administration
-Staff
-Meetings with groups
-Necessary meetings
-Meetings with staff members and relatives
-Usefulness
-Richardson’s health issues meeting
-The President's meeting with bowlers
-Impact
-Effectiveness
-Projected versus actual amount of press coverage
-Television coverage
-Prime time
-Use by the administration
 19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Equal time
-Impact
-The President's appearance
-Impact
-Three major television networks
-Prime time
-Coverage
-Ziegler's feedback from the press
-News conference
-East Room
-Time differences in the United States
-Cincinnati
-Time
-Ohio
-Cleveland
-Chicago
-Time
-Denver
-Press conferences
-East Room
-Time differences in eastern and western regions of US
-Amount of coverage
-Local
-Regional
-News show
-Press conferences
-John F. Kennedy's handling of press conferences
-Time
-Number
-Time of day
-Press relations
-Number
-Frequency
-Relationship with the press
-Focus
-Prime time
-Equal time
-Three major networks
-Political broadcasts
-One network
-Audience
 20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 575-2 (cont.)


-Application of equal time provision after political conventions
-Legal requirements
-The President's time
-Prime time
-Possibility of overexposure
-Ideal time for television coverage
-Benefits for the administration
-Impact
-Use of technology
-Radio
-Radio coverage
-Impact
-Time duration of statement

Ziegler and Colson left at 2:32 pm.

Trip to Thurmont, Maryland
-Helicopter ride
-Time
-Drive
-Time
-Weather
-Thunderstorms

The President and Haldeman left at 2:32 pm.