Date: December 20, 1972
Time: 12:33 pm – 1:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson.
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 58s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Polls
-Vietnam War
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-“Hawks”
-Compared to “doves”
-Press conference
-Negotiations
-Congressional relations
-“Peace with honor”
-“Hawks” and “doves”
-Compared to the President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-World War III
-Cambodia
-Liberals
-Henry A. Kissinger’s credibility
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-“Hawks”
-Compared to “doves”
-Negativity
-Public confusion
-Compared to the President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-North Vietnam’s invasion of South Vietnam
-Uncertainty
-The President’s possible statement
Edward M. Kennedy
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Robert J. Dole’s press conference
-Possible reasons for comments
-Republican National Committee [RNC] chairman
-Departure
-Robert B. Docking
-Election margin in gubernatorial race
-Possible Senate candidate
-Lawyer
-Colson’s view
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Camp David
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Barry M. Goldwater
-The President’s assistance
-“Persecution complex”
-George H. W. Bush
-Recommendation
-Kansas City speech
-Support for the President
-Response
-Harlow
-Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead [?]
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
Vietnam War
-US bombing north of 20 Parallel
th
-Kennedy’s statement
-Tone
-The President’s conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
-Colson’s view
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s view
-Timing
-Christmas
-B-52 losses
-Duration
-Air Force
-Performance
-Civilian casualties
-Haldeman’s view
-The President’s view
-Public relations [PR]
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-George Meany
-“Doves”
-J. William Fulbright
-Statements
-News summary
-The President’s reading
-Physical examination
-Dilation of eyes
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] radio
-Marvin L. Kalb’s conversation with aide of
Senate Democrat
-“Hawks”
-Washington, DC
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Pace of US bombing
-New York Times, press coverage
-B-52 losses
-Compared to A-7 losses
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Possible backgrounder
-William H. Sullivan
-John A. Scali
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:47 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Edward V. Jones
The President talked with the White House operator at 12:47 pm.
[Conversation No. 392-9A]
[See Conversation No. 34-141]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President’s schedule
-Helicopter
-Meeting with Saul Pett
-Timing
Bull left at an unknown time before12:47 pm.
Issues
-Clarification
-Sullivan
The President talked with Mrs. Nixon between 12:47 pm and 12:48 pm.
[Conversation No. 392-9B]
[See Conversation No. 34-142]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 12:48 pm and
12:49 pm.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
[Conversation No. 392-9C]
[See Conversation No. 34-143]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam War
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Relations with the President
-Kissinger’s “Peace is at hand” statement
-Credibility
The President talked with Bull between 12:49 pm and 12:50 pm.
[Conversation No. 392-9D]
[See Conversation No. 34-144]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam negotiations
-Settlement agreement, November 1972
-Kissinger
-The President’s alleged action
-State Department
-“Hawks”
-Sullivan
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Return
-Timing
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam’s condition
-Civilian prisoners held by South Vietnam
-North Vietnam’s announcement
-Settlement agreement, October 1972
-Ziegler
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Tone
-PR
-Vietnam’s sovereignty
-Howard K. Smith
-New York Times
-Two Vietnams
-Compared to one Vietnam, two zones
-End of war
-Scali’s morale
-“Doves”
-“Louis P. Harris’s telephone call to Colson
-PR
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Duration
-POWs
-Press relations
-North Vietnam “reneged” on deal
-Ziegler
-US bombing north of 20 Parallel
th
-Press relations
-The President’s actions
-Tone
-Breakdown in talks
-Impulsiveness
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-Response
-Kissinger
-Scali’s role
-Kissinger’s hawkishness
-Timing
-Tone
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-George S. McGovern
-Settlement agreement
-Nguyen Van Thieu’s position
-North Vietnam
-Rhetoric
-Soviet Union
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-PR
-“Hawks”
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-POWs
-US withdrawal
-McGovern
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Honor
-US assistance and involvement in war
-Vietnamization
-South Vietnam’s army
-Photographs
-Long Bien
-Tank commanders
-Film
-Settlement agreement
-Thieu’s position
-Political settlement
-Separate deal
-McGovern
-Separate deal
-North Vietnam
-South Vietnam’s army
-South Vietnam’s territorial integrity
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-Duration of war
-PR
-The President’s possible statement
-Honorable peace
-South Vietnam’s self-defense
-End of war
-Continuation of war
-US involvement
-Thieu
-North Vietnam’s violations
-1972 campaign
-US bombing north of 20 Parallel
th
-PR
-Harris
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Sindlinger
-Polling
-“Hawks” compared to “doves”
-Congressional relations
-Settlement agreement
-Signing
-Dole
-“Doves”
-Jacob K. Javits, Charles McC. Mathias
-Primary, caucus
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Jack F. Kemp
-Rockefeller
-Elmer H. Bobst library dedication
-Behavior
-Lifestyle
-Margaretta (“Happy”) Rockefeller
-Javits
-Kemp
-Charles H. Percy’s statement
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam
-Conditions
-Generation of peace
-Presidential nomination
-Republicans
-“Doves”
-Illinois
-Mathis
-Press relations
-New York Times, Washington Post
-Congressional relations
-House of Representatives
-Members urging cessation of bombing
-Number
-Current coverage compared to prior coverage
Press relations
-Clay T. (“Tom”) Whitehead’s speech
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Effect
-Proposal
-Local TV stations’ license renewals extension
-Stability
-Accountability
-Congressional relations
-Federal Communications Commission [FCC]
-Cable TV
-Whitehead’s program
-Access rules
-Rerun issue
-Justice Department anti-trust suit
-Cost
-Business
-Unknown person
Productivity Commission
-Business
-Labor
-The President’s schedule
-George P. Shultz
-Surrogates
-Hand-shaking
-Meany
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Gift
-Ashtray
-Secretary of Labor
Labor relations
-Longshoremen
-Thomas W. (“Teddy”) Gleason
-Colson’s career
-Paul Hall
-Colson’s conversation with Gleason
-1973 Inauguration
-Fitzsimmons
-Support by union members for the President
-Vietnam War
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-US bombing north of 20 Parallel
th
-Dikes
The President’s second term
-North Vietnam
-Soviet Union
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-1972 election
-Congressional relations
-White House
Second term reorganization
-Dole
-Departure
-RNC
-Kansas
-1972 election
Vietnam War
-US bombing north of 20 Parallel
th
-Congressional relations
-Hardliners
-James O. Eastland
-John C. Stennis
-F. Edward Hebert’s statement
-Sindlinger poll
-Distribution
-Hardliners
-Sindlinger
-Telephone call to Colson
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Criticism
-John Foster Dulles
-Eisenhower
-Kissinger
-Praise
-Kissinger
-The President
-Press relations
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Kissinger’s relations with the President
-Treatment of Kissinger
-The President as a “hawk”
-Credit
White House staff
-Kissinger
-Colson
-Haldeman
John B. Connally
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Lack of subtlety
Connally
-Moneymaking
-Relationship with Southern Democrats and the President
-Political future
-Independent
-Colson’s relationship with Connally
Charls E. Walker
-Business
-Democratic Party
-Conversation with Colson
-Promotional ability
-Administration causes
Colson
-Future career
-Lloyd N. Cutler
-Don Peterson [?]
-Cutler
-Lawsuit
Press relations
-Washington Post
-New York Times
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Second term
-Networks
-New York Times
-Max Frankel
-Kissinger
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Kissinger
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
The President’s schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Public understanding
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Crisis
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6A
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 36s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6A
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-Colson’s meeting with Saul Pett
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6B
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 56s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6B
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-Vacation
-Public understanding
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-California
-Congressional relations
-The President’s physical examination
-Hospital
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Harry S. Truman
-Health
-The President’s conversation with his doctors
-Death
-Timing
-Funeral
-The President’s attendance
-Truman’s allies
Lyndon B. Johnson
-Health
-Death
-Funeral
-Timing
-Colson’s conversation with Martin E. Underwood
-Blair House dinner
-Underwood’s background
-Advance man for Johnson
-Seton Hall
-Marvin Mandel of Maryland’s staff
-Hardening of Johnson’s arteries
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election results
-Richard M. Scammon
-Final margin
-Percentage
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Compared to 1964 election
-Johnson
-Alabama
-Missouri
-California
-Compared to 1936 election
-Landslide
-Third parties
-Communist Party
-Socialist Workers Party
-Scammon
-Percentage
-Compared to 1964 election
-Johnson
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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Colson’s schedule
-Vacation
-Colson’s children
Vietnam War
-US bombing north of 20 Parallel
th
-White House staff
-Scali
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-B-52 losses
-Expectations
-World War II
-Squadron
-Scali
-Timing
-Christmas
-PR
-Newspaper readership
The President’s schedule
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Aug.-08)
-Swimming pool
Colson left at 1:30 pm.