801–4

Conversation No. 801-4

Date: October 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:36 am and 9:59 am
Location: Oval Office


The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

Greetings

H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 8:37 am.

Vietnam Negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s trip to Paris
-William H. Sullivan
-Participation in negotiations
-The President’s view
-W[illiam] Averell Harriman
-Haig’s view
-Possible bombing halt
-1972 election
-Kissinger’s previous meeting with Haldeman
-Possible trip to Hanoi
-Possible bombing halt
-Political aspects
-Effect on 1972 election
-Results of polling
-Kissinger’s political instincts
-The President’s view
-Liberals
-Forthcoming message to Kissinger
 6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Agreement to end war
-Possible trip to Hanoi by Kissinger
-Kissinger’s possible trip to Hanoi
-North Vietnamese desire for visit
-Kissinger’s desire to go
-Necessity of successful agreement to end war
-Interval between Kissinger’s trip and successful cease-fire
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Resistance to settlement
-Refusal to see Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Thieu’s meeting with advisors
-Cease-fire
-Political issues in possible settlement
-Possible coercion by the Administration
-Possible delay of settlement
-Kissinger’s possible trip to Hanoi
-Thieu’s refusal to see Bunker
-Haig’s view
-Settlement
-Thieu’s support for settlement
-Settlement chances
-1972 election
-Potential for bombing after the election
-Kissinger’s possible trip to Saigon
-Public relations
-Thieu’s view of Kissinger
-Report of Haig's meeting with Thieu

US - Israel relations
-Postponement of decision on US military aircraft
-Jewish vote
-Kissinger
-Middle East settlement
-1972 election
-Kissinger’s political instincts
-The President’s view
-Yitzak Rabin [?]
-Max M. Fisher
-Domestic Jewish action
-Soviet Jewry issue
-Rabin
-Possible message to Rabin
 7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-State Department
-Defense Department
-Perception of political motivation for aircraft deal

[South Korea]
-Declaration of martial law
-US military presence
-The President’s view
-Comparison of South Korea to South Vietnam
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Previous reduction
-US supply
-Negotiations with [North Korea]

Vietnam negotiations
-Text of the proposed settlement
-The President’s instructions
-Haldeman
-William P. Rogers’s access to the document
-No duplication or removal from the White House
-State Department
-Marshall Green
-Possible criticism of settlement
-Compared to previous agreements
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT]
-Berlin agreement
-Shanghai Communiqué
-Hangchow
-Rogers’s previous conversation with Haldeman
-South Korea
-Chung Hee Park
-Kissinger’s forthcoming trip to Saigon
-Thieu
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Trips to Saigon, Washington, and Paris
-1972 election
-Possible trip to Hanoi
-Possible bombing halt
-The President’s view
-Military situation in South Vietnam
-US casualties
-The President's foreign policy decisions
 8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Opposition
-Intellectuals, media, educators, religious groups, business elite
-Support
-Labor leaders, ethnics, farmers, military organizations, small
businessmen, prisoner of war [POW] wives
-POW families
-Compared to other groups
-Canada
-Business elite
-Husbands and sons in captivity
-National character
-Lawyers, business people
-Educated
-Government bureaucracy and Cabinet members
-The President’s November 3, 1969 speech
-Cambodia, Laos, the President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-The President’s November 3, 1969 speech
-Reaction
-Memorandum from Melvin R. Laird and Rogers
-The President’s remarks during his meeting with the National League of
Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
-Tad Szulc
-New York Times
-The President’s conversation with Ronald L. Ziegler
-New York Times
-Washington Post
-Business
-John J. McCloy
-Donald McI. Kendall
-Education's effect on US elite
-Kissinger
-White House staff
-US upper class compared to upper class of Great Britain
-US upper class compared to upper class of pre-World War II France
-Young Winston film premiere
-Winston S. Churchill's grandson [Winston S. Churchill]
-Randolph Churchill, father of Winston S. Churchill [the
elder]
-Resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer
-Possible publication of resignation letter
-London Times
-Reaction by London Times editor
 9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Comparison to US newspapers

US newspapers
-British newspapers
-Support of government
- [Arthur] Neville Chamberlain
-Winston Churchill
-Chicago Tribune, Chicago Daily News,
-James S. Copley News Service
-Paul Miller, Gannett News Service
-Martin S. Hayden
-Detroit News
-New York Daily News
-Orlando Sentinel
-Omaha World Herald
-Kissinger’s reaction to these newspapers
-Georgetown

US elite’s view of the President
-The President's relationship with lower classes
- George Meany, Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Hispanic woman [Mrs. Nellie Davis]
-The middle class as basis of US strength
-The President’s view
-Casualties from the Vietnam War
-The elite’s linkage of the President to the middle class
-Elite view of education and intelligence
-Barry M. Goldwater, Joseph McCarthy

Haig’s forthcoming position as Vice Chief Staff of the Army
-Quality of army personnel
Racial composition of US army

The President’s viewing of Green Bay – Detroit football game, October 16, 1972
-Running backs for Detroit, [Green Bay], Washington
-Blacks
-Quarterbacks
-Blacks in football
-University of Southern California [USC]
-Haldeman’s view
-The President’s view
 10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger’s forthcoming trip to Saigon
-Thieu
-The President’s previous meeting with Abrams
-Possible resistance to settlement
-Effect on relations with US
-1972 election
-Possible delay of settlement
-Announcement
-Kissinger
-1972 election
-Effect of 1972 election on the negotiations
-Kissinger
-Accomplishments
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Soviet Union
-SALT
-Desire to finalize settlement
-Settlement
-Haig’s forthcoming message to Kissinger

The President's schedule
-The President’s instructions to Haig
Haig’s contact with Rogers
-Forthcoming vetoes
-Water bill
-Forthcoming speech
-Social Security bill
-Postponement of foreign policy-related events
-The President’s previous meeting with Abrams
-Abrams’s swearing-in as Army Chief of Staff
-Newspaper photograph
-Haig’s view

Abrams’s schedule
-Announcement

Haig left at 9:06 am.

Haig
-The President’s view
-Haig’s previous meeting with Haldeman
 11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)


The President’s schedule

The President left at an unknown time after 9:06 am.

[Pause]

The President entered at an unknown time before 9:12 am.

Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger
-Haig’s previous meeting with Haldeman
-The President’s previous meeting with Haig
-Haig’s view
-Kissinger’s personal motivation to finalize the settlement
-Kissinger’s insecurity
-Haldeman’s notes
-Private file
-Timing of settlement
-1972 election
Kissinger
-Desire to finalize settlement before 1972 election
- [Nancy S. Maginnes]
-Kissinger’s previous meeting with Haldeman
-Possible successor to Haig
-Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Intellectual capacity
-Compared to Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Compared to Haig
-Personality
-Haldeman’s view
-Kissinger’s reaction to the meeting
-Implicit confirmation of role for Kissinger
-The President’s second term in office
-Post-1972 election plans
-Kissinger, Haldeman

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:06 am.

Telephone call to Ralph Marrinson

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:12 am.
 12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)


The President talked with the White House operator at 9:12 am.

[Conversation No. 801-4A]

[See Conversation No. 31-98]

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with Marrinson between 9:12 am and 9:13 am.

[Conversation No. 801-4B]

[See Conversation No. 31-99]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger
-Importance of the President’s confidence
-Haig’s view
-The President's note to Kissinger
-1972 election
-The President’s statement of confidence
-Haig’s view
-Possible settlement
-Risks
-Compared to the President’s meeting with POW wives
-Thieu
-Abrams
-Forthcoming trip to South Vietnam
-Role as advocate
-Haig
-Fear of possible blood bath
-Kissinger's trip to Saigon
-Thieu’s possible rejection of settlement
-Possible publication of settlement terms by North Vietnamese
-The President’s view
-Thieu’s possible rejection of settlement
-Possible publication of settlement terms by North Vietnamese
-Kissinger’s possible briefings
-South Vietnam
 13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-US support
-Abrams’s view
-Comparison of South Vietnam with Europe
-South Korea
-Rogers
-Possible changes to settlement
-State Department
-Kissinger

The President's schedule
-Possible radio address
-Timing
-Ziegler
-Tax issues
-John D. Ehrlichman
-William L. Safire
-Conversation with Ehrlichman
-Tax reform as an issue
-Senior citizens
-Ehrilchman
-John B. Connally
-Paternalism [Philosophy of Government]
-Forthcoming trip to Camp David


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 45s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

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


The President’s schedule
-Revenue sharing bill signing ceremony
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs's possible funeral
 14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 27s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7

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


Boggs's death
-Wiley Post, Will Rogers
-Reminiscences
-The President
-Ziegler
-Haldeman
-Beverly Hills, California

The President’s possible radio address
-Tax reform
-Ehrlichman
-Charles W. Colson
-Domestic Council

The President’s schedule
-Boggs's possible funeral
-The President’s previous trip to Louisiana
-Allen J. Ellender’s funeral
-Possible memorial service in Washington, DC

Congressional relations
-Conference reports
-House of Representatives
-Continuing resolution
-Possible adjournment sine die
-Lack of a quorum
-The President's water bill veto
-William E. Timmons
-Possibility of overriding the veto
 15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s possible appearance at event in Boston, October 31,
1972
-The President's previous conversation with John F. Collins
-Liberal Republicans
-Irish community in Boston
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon’s possible attendance

The President’s schedule
-Revenue sharing bill signing ceremony
-Guests
-Collins
-City manager of Lowell, Massachusetts [James L. Sullivan]
-Colson’s forthcoming conversation with Collins
-Philadelphia
-Mrs. Nixon’s schedule
-Colson’s forthcoming conversation with Collins


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8

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George Champion, Sr.
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Possible Ambassadorial posts
-Japan
-Champion’s drinking
-United Nations [UN]

Graham
-Communication with Haldeman
-Schedule
-Speaking engagements
-Communication with Haldeman
 16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Haldeman’s expressions of the President’s gratitude
-Graham’s suggestions

Tricia Nixon Cox previous appearance at Ethel Waters’s dinner
-Graham’s view
-Tricia Nixon Cox’s speech
-Speechwriters
-The President’s view


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 5s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10

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


The President's schedule
-The President's previous meeting with the National League of Families of
American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
-Public relations impact
-Radio reports, television [TV] coverage
-JoAnne (Horton) Haldeman’s view
-Network coverage
-National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]
-The President’s trip to Atlanta
-TV coverage
-Billy and Ruth Mc C. (Bell) Graham
-The President’s recent meeting with the National League of Families of American
Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
-TV coverage
-The President’s tone
-Issues
-Vietnam
-Amnesty for draft evaders
-George S. McGovern
 17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

McGovern
-Corruption issue
-Previous speech in Los Angeles
-Reaction to a fire marshal
-Hecklers
-McGovern’s reaction compared to the President’s
-The President’s trip to Liberty Island, New York, September 26, 1972
-Haldeman’s hypothetical plan to place hecklers in McGovern crowds
-The President’s view

Media and press relations
-The President’s recent meeting with the National League of Families
-Washington Post
- [Dwight L. Chapin] story
- [Chapin] story

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 9m 42s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11

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The President's schedule
-The President's forthcoming meeting with representatives of foreign labor unions
-Press coverage
-Writing pool
-Ziegler

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 9:59 am.