81–2

Conversation No. 81-2

Date: October 27, 1971
Time: 3:48 pm - 5:22 pm
Location: Cabinet Room

The President met with John D. Ehrlichman, John N. Mitchell, John B. Connally, George P.
Shultz, Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger, Charles W. Colson, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Edwin L.
Harper, Lewis A. Engman, and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
[Recording begins while the conversation is in progress]

Polls
-National issues
-Economy
-Vietnam
-Other issues
-Louis Harris,George H. Gallup
-Comparison
-Personal issues
-Economy, Vietnam
-Other issues
-Taxes, education


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 57s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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National economy
-Harris poll
-Unemployment projections for 1973

Projected 1972 domestic issues
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Possible new programs for 1972

Research and development
-Vocational education

Proposals and programs before Congress

Polls
-Federal budget spending
-Program areas
-Education
-Taxes
-Types

Taxes
-Problem areas
-Property taxes
-Parochial school aid
-Value-added Tax [VAT]
-Education
-Equal Protection
-California Supreme Court decision
-Federal budget
-Support for schools
-Property taxes
-Crime, health
-Percentage of local taxes
-Federal
-VAT
-Percentage to states
-Effect on school funding
-Property tax
-New York
-Use
-Rate
-Effect on families
-Income redistribution
-Progressive compared with a flat rate
-Key states
-Advantages
-Disadvantages
-Areas eliminated
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

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-Effect on property taxes
-Political accountability
-Effect on state taxes
-Income tax
-Sales tax
-Effect on constituency

Aid to parochial schools
-Possible Congressional actions
-Tax credit
-Constitutionality
-Cost

Taxes
-VAT
-Non-residential property
-Effect on state and local taxes
-Possible use of tax credits
-Popular perceptions
-The President
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Russell B. Long
-Possible Congressional action
-Compared to welfare reform and revenue sharing

Welfare reform
-Popular opinion
-Work requirements, family assistance

Revenue sharing
-Popular opinion
-State and local government interest

Government reorganization

Possible Congressional actions
-Welfare reform, revenue sharing, reorganization
-The President’s opponents
-VAT

Parochial school aid
-Popular opinion
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



-Importance
-Political value
-Department of Health, Education, and Welfare’s [HEW] views
-National Education Association’s [NEA] views
-The President’s constituency
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Blue-collar Catholics
-The President contrasted with possible Democrat opponents
-Value

The President’s programs
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Popular appeal
-Economic issues
-Changing political values
-Taxes
-The President’s constituency
-Domestic programs
-Foreign policy

Polls
-Catholics
-Harris


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Parochial school aid
-Compared to tax credits
-Bible-belt Congressmen
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 55s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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Education
-Spending
-Budget concerns
-Significance as an issue
-Lobby
-Public concern
-Taxes
-”Gut” issues
-VAT approach
-Effect on state taxes
-Parochial school aid
-Report
-Popular opinion
-Supporters
-Effect of post-World War II baby boom
-Teacher shortage
-Current situation
-Votes on bond issues
-Compared with other issues
-Property taxes
-MacElroy Commission
-California Supreme Court decision

Property taxes
-As an issue
-Effect on local officials
-Education
-Blue-collar Catholic voters
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 57s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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Taxes
-VAT
-Balanced federal budget
-Other taxes
-VAT
-Sales tax
-Property taxes
-Education
-Titling of legislation
-”Property Tax Relief Act”
-Aid to parochial schools
-Taxes on farm property
-Property taxes
-State taxes
-Titling of legislation

Education
-Public and private schools
-University of California
-Whittier College
-Catholic schools
-Fordham University
-School prayer
-Effect of possible closing of parochial schools
-University of Texas’ investments
-Private versus public schools
-Prayer, busing
-Southern white schools

National economy
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)



-Balanced federal budget
-VAT
-Uncontrollable expenses

Taxes
-VAT
-State taxes
-Political effect
-California

Federal judges

Taxes
-VAT
-Business community
-Effect on other taxes
-Popular opinion

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 3:48 pm

The President’s schedule

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 5:22 pm

Taxes
-VAT
-Fiscal responsibility
-Effect on local property taxes

Congressional vote

The President’s law firm
-Bonds

[General conversation/Unintelligible]

The President, et al. left at 5:22 pm
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)