826–8

Conversation No. 826-8

Date: December 19, 1972
Time: 12:08 pm - 2:00 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman at 12:08 pm.

Second term reorganization
-William D. Ruckelshaus
-Abilities
-Honesty, competence, toughness, administrative ability
-Loyalty
-Politics
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Qualifications
-Education, administrative ability, age
-Relationship with White House
-Politics
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Politics

Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Politics

Robert H. Finch
-Politics
-Primary
 -45-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

Politics
-Security

Second term reorganization
-FBI
-Ruckelshaus
-Law enforcement
-Politics
-Indiana legislature
-Qualifications
-Education
-Princeton University, Hard University
-Background
-Indiana
-New York
-Politics
-Relationship with the President
-Qualifications
-Administrative ability
-Politics
-Qualifications
-Law enforcement
-EPA
-Regulation

Joseph R. Biden
-Delaware
-Deaths of wife [Neilia (Hunter) Biden] and child [Amy Biden]
-Joseph Biden’s location
-Washington, DC
-Traffic accident description
-Ages

Second term reorganization
-Frank C. Carlucci
-Under Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]

Cole left at 12:13 pm.
 -46-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

Second term reorganization
-Cabinet
-Under Secretaries
-Commerce Department
-Donald Marron
-Compared to Robert W. Fri
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Labor Department
-Peter J. Brennan
Elliot L. Richardson
-William P. Clements, Jr.
-State Department
-William J. Casey
-Attorney General
-Joseph T. Sneed and Robert H. Bork
-Credit
-Justice Department
-Republican National Chairman
-George H. W. Bush
-Support
-News summary
-Robert J. Dole
-Congressional relations
-Peter H. Dominick

1972 election
-Reaction
-Haldeman’s conversation with Bush
-Recognition of contributors
-Complaints
-Correspondence
-White House staff
-Mail, telephone calls
-Maurice H. Stans
-Invitations
-List of names
-Rose Mary Woods
-Contributors
-Dinners
 -47-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)


Dwight D. Eisenhower College
-Walter N. Thayer’s letter to the President
-Response
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Thayer
-Flanigan

Second term reorganization
-Anne L. Armstrong
-Office location
-Office of Emergency Preparedness [OEP]
-Conversation with the President
-National Security Council [NSC]

The President talked with Joseph Biden between 12:21 pm and 12:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 826-8A]

[See Conversation No. 34-131]

[End of telephone conversation]

Second term reorganization
-Ambassadorships
-Marshall Green
-Australia
-Labor government
-Indonesia
-Businessman
-Harold B. Scott
-Business background
-Indonesia
-Edward J. Frey
-Henry A. Kissinger's conversation with the President
-Indonesia

1972 campaign
-Recognition of contributors
 -48-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-List of names
-Stans
-Dinners
-Appointments
-Boards, commissions
-Dinners
-Categories
-Social affairs
-Names
-Charles W. Colson
-Quotas
-Haldeman
-Bush
-Cabinet, labor leaders, friends
-Colson
-East Wing
Record
-Congressional relations

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 12:26 pm.

Press relations
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Tone
-Vietnam War
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-North Vietnam
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Vietnam War
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” statement
-Possible North Vietnam offensive in South Vietnam
-Enemy buildup
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Infiltration
-Vietnam negotiations
-North Vietnam’s delays (“filibuster”)
-“Peace is at hand”
-The President’s statements, October 1972
 -49-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Settlement agreement
-Timing
-North Vietnam
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-Enemy buildup
-Cessation
-Timing
-October and December 1972
-Kissinger
-Hanoi
-The President’s conversation with Adm.
Thomas H. Moorer
-B-52 losses
-Surface to air missiles [SAMs]
-Possible North Vietnam offensive in South Vietnam
-Sources
-Congressional relations
-Consultations
-Timing
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Telephone calls
-Lack of change of policy
-Previous enunciations
-Tone
-Second term reorganization
-White House staff
-Washington Post
-Ziegler’s view
-Social affairs
-Invitations
-National press
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Fair and balanced treatment
-National press
-Pools
-First Family, White House
-Press coverage
-Timing
-News magazines
 -50-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)


Press relations
-Helen Thomas
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Frances Lewine
-News scoops
-Soviets
-Work habits
-Washington Star
-Compared to Washington Post
-Leaks
-Armstrong
-Kissinger
-New York Daily News
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Jerry Greene
-Washington Post
-John G. Veneman
-Departure
-Leaks

The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Colson
-Ziegler’s schedule

Press relations
-Briefings
-Ziegler’s handling

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:26 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Colson

Bull left at an unknown time before 12:40 pm.

Press relations
-Arrogance
-1972 election
 -51-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Congressional relations
-Congressmen, Senators
-Washington Post
-Contact with the President, White House
-Press conference
-1973 Inauguration
-Budget, personnel
-Press conferences
-Confrontation
-1972 campaign
-George S. McGovern
-Poll
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Washington Post
-Social affairs
-Invitations
-Benjamin C. Bradlee
-Howard Simon
-Ziegler’s view
-Press conference
-Washington Post
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Tone
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead’s speech
-Whitehead’s recent speech
-Bias
-Local television [TV] stations
-Responsibility for programming
-Networks

Colson entered at 12:40 pm.

Broadcasting
-Local TV stations
-Responsibility for programming
-Networks
-Charles Crutchfield
-Proposal
 -52-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Meeting
-Wire services
-Licenses
-Delegation of responsibility
-New York


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

1972 election
-William S. Paley
-Contribution
-Maurice H. Stans
-[first name unknown] Gallup’s prediction
-Dwight D. Eisenhower election
-George H. Gallup
-Carroll Kilpatrick [?]
-Landslide

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Public relations [PR]
-Polls
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Whitehead’s speech
-Compared to US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Networks
-“Hawks”
-Political views
-“Hawks”

Vietnam negotiations
-US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel
-Congressional relations
-F. Edward Herbert’s statement
-“Hawks”
 -53-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-William E. Timmons’s conversation with Colson
-“Doves”
-Press relations
-Prisoners of war [POW] wives
-Haldeman’s conversation with Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Carol Hanson
-Conversation with Scowcroft
-Support for the administration
-Press conference
-Disappointment
-Unknown black woman
-Press relations
-Harry Reasoner
-News summary
-The President’s relationship with Kissinger
-“Peace is at hand”
-John A. Scali’s conversation with Colson
-Scali’s telephone call to Reasoner
-North Vietnam
-Howard K. Smith
-Sevareid
-Anthony Lewis
-Tom Wicker
-Jim Deakin
-1972 election


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

1972 election results
-Missouri
-West Virginia
-Richard M. Scammon
-Arch A. Moore, Jr.
-Victory
-New York, Pennsylvania
-Errors in tallies
-West Virginia
 -54-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Gains
-McGovern
-Missouri
-Certification
-Scammon
-Moore
-Official counts
-Scammon
-Publication of results
-Final count
-Wire services
-Percentages
-Alabama
-Scammon
-Black votes
-Third party
-New York
-Conservative, liberal parties

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Vietnam negotiations
-The President’s relationship with Kissinger
-“Peace is at hand”
-North Vietnam
-Press relations
-Reasoner
-Deakin’s article
-Reuters
-British newspaper
-Ralph Harris’s conversation with Ziegler
-Ziegler’s handling
-Public briefings
-Washington, DC
-“Peace is at hand”
-Politics
-1972 campaign
-North Vietnam’s statement, October 26, 1972
 -55-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-George S. McGovern’s statements
-Response
-McGovern’s statements
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Purpose
-Dinner party
-POWs
-End of war
-Choice
-Congressional relations
-End of war
-North and South Vietnam
-Continuation of war and delaying peace
-Enemy buildup
-Cease-fire
-Offensive
-Psychology
-Enemy buildup
-End of war
-Effect
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-US withdrawal
-Casualties
-Negotiations
-Cease-fire, POWs, free elections
-PR
-“Hawks”
-“Doves”
-Christmas
-Duration
-Casualties
-Civilians
-Purpose
-POWs
-PR
-POWs
-Kissinger’s briefings
-Return
-Timing
 -56-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam’s position
-“Pull back”
-Kissinger’s briefing

Press relations
-Washington Post
-Colson’s view
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Instructions for Ziegler
-The President’s national campaigns
-The President’s national efforts
-Travel
-Contacts
-Regional briefings
-Pools
-Wire services
-White House social affairs
-Washington, DC
-National press
-Washington Star
-National press
-Bureaus
-Pools
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Church services
-National press
-Ottomwa, Iowa
-Arlington, Texas
-Betty Beale
-Wire ser vices
-Pools
-Airplanes
-Canton, Ohio
-Walker’s Cay
-Washington Star
-National press
-Discrimination
-Buchanan
 -57-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Conversation with Ziegler
-Clawson’s background


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

1972 election
-Contributions
-Paley
-Conversation with Colson

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Ziegler’s schedule
-Meeting with Clark Mollenhoff

Press relations
-White House social affairs
-Leak
-Mollenhoff
-Schedule
-Church services
-Washington Post
-Sally Quinn’s articles
-Unknown clergyman
-Mollenhoff
-White tie

Ziegler left at 1:09 pm.

Press relations
-1972 election
-Winning percentage
-Dole
-Richard M. Scammon’s article
 -58-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Networks
-Whitehead’s speech
-Bias
-Networks
-PR
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Anti-establishment
-Wealth

Lawyers
-White House relations
-List
-Washington, DC lobbyists
-Lloyd N. Cutler
-Meetings with Peter M. Flanigan
-Second term reorganization
-Agencies
-William J. Baroody, Jr.

Second term reorganization
-Loyalists
-Colson’s schedule
-Personnel meeting
-Bureau of Labor Statistics [BLS[
-“School”
-Bureaucracy
-BLS
-Meetings
-Frequency
-BLS
-Agencies
-Appointments
-Cabinet
-Administration role
-Indoctrination
-Washington, DC
-Bureaucracy
-Republicans
Miles W. Kirkpatrick
-Philadelphia
 -59-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Credentials
-American Bar Association [ABA]
-Republican
-Colson’s conversation with Flanigan
-Unknown person
-Lawyers from New York
-Secret Service
-The President’s schedule
-The President’s trip to New York
-Much Ado About Nothing
-Two Gentlemen of Verona
-Joseph Papp’s meeting with the President
-Leonard Garment
-Demonstration
-Congress

The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Sammy Davis, Jr.
-[Telephone conversation with] Francis J. (“Frank) Sinatra
-Meeting with Davis
-Garment
-Drug program
-Robert J. Brown
-Labor leaders
-Meeting with Davis
-Trip to Florida
-Colson’s meeting with Scali
-Scali’s conversation with Kissinger
-Christmas

Vietnam War
-Negotiations
-The President’s conversation with Kissinger
-North Vietnam
-US proposals
-Polls
-Sindlinger
-Biases
-Method
-Accuracy
 -60-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Samuel Lubell
-Louis P. Harris
-George H. Gallup
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel

Press relations
-Whitehead’s recent speech
-Reaction
-Colson’s note to Haldeman
-Networks
-WAMU
-New York Times
-Networks
-Colson’s note to Haldeman
-Colson’s conversation with Whitehead
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Smith
-Whitehead
-Work with Colson
-Toughness
-PR
-Prime time access rules
-Congressional relations
-Federal Communications Commission [FCC]
-Dean Burch
Replacement


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

Burch
-Political plans
-Senate candidacy
-Age
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Health
-Indian
 -61-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

1972 election
-The President’s victory
-Landslide
-Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Future evaluations
-Compared to 1964 election
-Number of states
-Minority party
-John F. Kennedy’s assassination
-Support for Johnson
-Governors, Congress
-Press relations
-Public reaction
-Celebration
-The President’s trips
-Needs of country
-New York trip
-Daniel P. (“Pat’) Moynihan
-Reaction of staff
-Spirit
-Public mood
-1973 inauguration

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


1972 election
-Celebration
-Second term reorganization
-Cabinet and White House staff
-Departures, changes
-The President’s meetings
-Hypothetical
-1973 Inauguration
-Festivities


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
 -62-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)


1972 election
-Festivities on election night
-Shoreham Hotel
-Handshakes
-Atmosphere
-Reception with New Majority supporters
-Press relations
-Victor Riesel
-Young people
-Andrew Jackson
-Hard hats
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-The President’s supporters
-The President’s opponents
-Elitists
-Colson’s veterans hat
-Public reactions

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


Establishment
-The President’s view
-“Incestuous” nature
-Lack of courage
-Republicans, Democrats
-Social set
-Tough times


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

1972 election
-McGovern’s defeat
-Establishment’s reaction
-Poor candidate
-“Too good to be President”
 -63-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)


[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************


White House social affairs
-Cabinet dinner
-Dinner party
-Seating arrangements
-Josephine (Brickley) Brennan
-Armstrong
-Armstrong
-Texas
-Background
-Vassar College, unknown place
-Conversations with labor
-Conversation with Josephine Brennan
-Labor
-Cabinet, White House women, the President
-Education
-Professors
-Josephine Brennan
-Education
-Grandchildren
-Etiquette
-White House tour
-Peter J. Brennan, Jr.’s schedule
-Peter J. Brennan, III
-Washington, DC
-Oval Office, Cabinet Room
-White House staff
-School paper
-Williamsburg
-Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
-Congress
-Abraham Lincoln Memorial

Colson
-Conversation with [Wendell Colson, II]
-White House
 -64-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)


Second term reorganization
-Kissinger
-Mood
-Telephone calls
-Jews
-Arnold Hutschnecker’s theory
-Paper
-1972 campaign

White House social affairs
-Church service
-John Cardinal Krol
-German choir
-Krol
-Trip to Poland
-Auschwitz
-Spectacles, hair
-Jews
-H. E. Pauls
-Conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Reception line
-German choir
-Youth
-Killing of Jews and priests
-Scale
-Advanceman
-German choir
-Church services
-Lucy A. Winchester
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Choirs
-Clergy
-Catholics, Protestants
-Jews
-Jesus Christ
-December 17, 1972
-Photograph session
-Previous visits
-Moneyraising
 -65-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Home for disabled children
-Orphans
-Politicians
-Clergy
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Krol
-Foreknowledge
-Instruction for Haldeman

Jews
-[Holocaust]
-World War II
-Warsaw ghetto
-Martyrdom
-Kissinger

White House social affairs
-Dinner party
-The President’s conversation with Smith
-Smith home, garden
-Colson’s remark
-[Benedicte (Traberg) Smith]
-Danish nationality
-Gardening
-Smith’s home

Press relations
-Howard Smith
-Support for the President
-Liberalism
-Washington, DC
-Blacks
-Welfare
-Vietnam War
-[Jack P. Smith]
-Injury
-Benedicte Smith
-Watergate
-1972 election
-Dinner
 -66-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Howard Smith
-Home

Second term reorganization
-Control
-Previous efforts
-New Establishment
-Intellectuals
-Right-wing
-Centrists
-Elitists
-Business
-George D. Webster
-Ehrlichman’s role

Lawyers
-White House relations
-Instructions for Colson
-Interior Department
-Land deal
-Edward Bennett Williams
-Client list
-Martindale-Hubbell
-White House dinners
-New Establishment
-Stans
-Colson
-Departure
-Announcement
-Contacts
-Cutler

Press relations
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Colson’s meeting with William S. Paley
-Job offer
-Cutler
-Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering
-Retainer
-White House
 -67-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-The President
-Daniel J. and Philip F. Berrigan
-White House mess
-Whitehead’s recent speech
-Lunch
-Berrigans
-Colson’s previous trips to New York
-License renewals
-Cable television [TV]
-Effect on networks
-Paley, Frank Stanton
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC], National Broadcasting Company
[NBC]
-Second term
-Whitehead
-Regulatory actions
-Contributions
-Persons in industry
-Networks
-Monopoly
-Effect
-Information technology
-Newspapers
-TV, radio, mail, telegrams
-Newspapers

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:09 pm.

The President’s letter to Joseph Biden
-Marjorie P. Acker
-Rose Mary Woods
-The President’s telephone call to Joseph Biden

Bull left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm.

Media relations
-Cable TV
-Technology

John B. Connally’s schedule
 -68-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)

-Return
-Christmas


*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

-Political plans
-Change of party
-Timing
-Agnew
-Robert S. Strauss
-Democratic Party
-Nomination
-McGovern
-Political advisors
-George Christian
-Republican nomination
-Chances for Presidential victory
-South
-Mountain states
-Farm states
-Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania
-California
-Texas, Oklahoma
-Los Angeles, San Diego
-Orange County
-The President’s 1950 Senate victory
-Margin of victory
-1972 election
-Democratic Presidential candidate
-Credibility
-Personal goals
-Wealth
-Political plans
-Vice Presidency
-Advantages

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
 -69-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 826-8 (cont’d)



The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Kissinger’s mood

Kissinger
-Relationship with the President
-The President’s credibility

Bull entered at an unknown time after 1:09 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Kissinger

Bull left at an unknown time before 2:00 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Woods

The President’s credibility
-Ziegler

Haldeman and Colson left at 2:00 pm.