893–13

Conversation No. 893-13

Date: April 11, 1973
Time: 12:04 pm - 12:29 pm
Location: Oval Office
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. February-2011)

Conversation No. 893-13 (cont’d)

The President met with Roger E. Shields and Brig. Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft. The White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.

Greetings

-Shield’s schedule


Seating

[Photograph session]

Shields’s work with Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Shield’s meetings with officials

-Briefings

-Defense Secretary

-Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]

-President’s regard for Shields

-Previous releases of POWs

-Influence of peaeniks

-Cora Weiss

-Efforts of Shield’s staff

-POWs’ readjustment

-Emotional reaction
-Careers in military service

-President’s desire

-Assets to US military

-Senior officers
-Recruitment
-College campuses
-Writing of their experiences
-National defense
-Meritocracy of the military
-Military families
-Use of POWs as media figures
-Promotions
-Duties
-Peacetime service

-Civic groups

-Problems

-Emotional letdown

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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)

Conversation No. 893-13 (cont’d)

-Psychiatric problems
-Divorce

-Inner strength

-Reactions to changes in US

-Education

-National War College
-Enthusiasm and Spirit

-Aspirations

Experiences

-Effect on nation

Patriotism

-Religion

-Media reaction

-Left wing

-Accusations of staged events

-Brainwashing

-Shields’s conversation with Capt. Jeremiah P. Denton, Jr. during trip from Hanoi
-Denton’s conduct
-Casualties
-Emotions
-Denton’s address to troops
-Statement preparation
-Shields’s first visit to Hanoi to bring out POWs
-Shield’s reaction
-Negotiations with North Vietnamese
-Procedures

-Consultation with doctor

-First sight of POWs

-Buses

-Shield’s reaction

-Interaction

-C-141 aircraft

-Ray Vohden

-Crutches

-Comportment of POWs

-Diginity

-Capt. [First name unknown] Devlin [?]

-“Return with Honor”

-Slogan in camp

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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. February-2011)

Conversation No. 893-13 (cont’d)

-POWs’ support for President

-Airforce Capt. Galand G. Kramer’s sign

-Determination


Missing in Action [MIA]
-North Vietnam’s cooperation
-Need for maximum US effort
-Public relations
-Strive for certainty for families

-President’s letter to families

-Suggested letter to families from Shields

-Shields’s conversation with President

-Confidence of families in President

-December 1972 bombing

-North Vietnam’s violations of peace agreement

-Conditions

-Numbers of MIAs compared to POWs


Shields’s background and education
-Tenure at Defense Department
-University of Texas
-University of Florida
-University of Virginia
-Defense Department
-Age
-President’s achievements at same age

-Election

-Hiss case


POWs
-Shields’s work
-Effect on nation
-Morale

-Patriotism

-Determination

-Importance of homecoming


Shields’s experience and background
-Economics
 -33-


NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. February-2011)

Conversation No. 893-13 (cont’d)

-Economics of Vietnamization
-Defense Department
-Terry Leary [?]
-POW and MIA work

Football

-Shields’s career

-University of Florida

-Tackle
-Injury
-1961 graduation
-Steve Spurrier
-Larry Lieberteller [?]
-Miami University

-Key Biscayne

-Florida State University
-Rivalry with University of Florida
-Quarterback
-Black players

Basketball
-University of California, Los Angeles [UCLA]
-Black players

Football

-University of Texas

-President’s call after victory


Presentation of gifts by President

-Marriage

-Golf


Shields and Scowcroft left at 12:29 pm.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. February-2011)