Date: January 8, 1973
Time: Between 4:05 pm and 5:32 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson and Ronald L. Ziegler.
The President’s interview with Helen Thomas and Fran Lewine
-Comments on age
-Publication date
The President’s schedule
-Stephen B. Bull
-Meetings
-George P. Shultz
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
-Frederic V. Malek
-Shultz
-Publicity
-Possible photograph opportunity
-Timing
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
-Chart
-Ziegler’s call to Shultz
Wholesale price index
-Briefing
-Ahalt Dawson [?]
-Meeting
-Purpose
-Publicity
-Quadriad
-Camp David
-Photograph
-Shultz’s briefing
Ziegler left at 4:10 pm.
Vietnam negotiations
-Jay Lovestone
-Democrats
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Statement
-Opposition to the President
-Lovestone analysis
-Value to the President
-The President’s critics
-Irresponsibility
-Democrats, Republicans
-Prolonging the war
-Press relations
-Herbert G. Klein
-W. Ramsey Clark
-Civilian casualties
-Double standard
-Kidnappings, hospitals
-Atrocities
-Chronology
-The President’s schedule
[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation appears in RG 460, Box 172 (1-6)]
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
[End of transcript]
The President’s birthday
-Interview
-Wire services
-Saul Pett
-Release
-Comments on age
-Congress
-Konrad Adenauer, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Winston S. Churchill, Gen.
Charles A.J.M deGaulle
-John B. Connally
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Eisenhower
Book [?]
-Evaluation
-Medicines
-Will to live
-Heart disease, cancer
-Christian Science
Colson’s White House responsibilities
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-1972 election
-Plans for future
-Running an operation
-Kenneth E. BeLieu
-Congressional relations
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Al Abrams
-Counsellors
-Task force
-BeLieu
-Staffing
-Issues
-Frank L. Rizzo
-Busing
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-Opposition to the President
-Establishment, press
-The President’s standing
-Compared to George S. McGovern in polls
-Pierre Salinger
-The President’s strategy
-Use of surrogates
-McGovern’s campaign
-May 8, 1972 decision
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
The President’s second term
-Goals
-Number
-Legislation
-Labor management
-Establishment
-Opposition
-Republican Party base
-Political goals
-McGovern
-Fundraising
-Committee for a Democratic Majority
-Beliefs
-Robert S. Strauss
-Connally
-McGovern
-Conservative Democrats
-Connally and Lyndon B. Johnson
-Money
*****************************************************************
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Compared to the President
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Government spending
-David S. Broder
-View of spending
-Conservatives
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Colson’s theory
-Busing
-Congressional relations
-Republican majority
-Taxes
-Compared to administration position
-Less bureaucracy
-State interests
-Vietnam settlement
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT]
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR]
-Exports
-Government’s role
-Revenue sharing
Second term
-Compared to first term
-New prosperity
-Overspending by Congress
-Inflation
-Taxes
-William E. Timmons
-Colson’s role
-George H.W. Bush
-Access to Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Shultz
-William J. Baroody, Jr.
-Recognition
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
-Clawson
-Abilities
-Colson’s conversation with Haldeman
-Colson’s schedule
Bombing of North Vietnam
-Louis P. Harris
-Public reaction
-Past presidents
-Public opinion
-1964
-1956
-Perspective
-Support for the President
-Opposition
-Erosion
-Congress
-Opposition reaction
-Criticism of targets
-Hospital
-Carpet bombing
-Marshalling yards
-Military installations
-Airplane losses
Press relations
-Press conference
-Klein
-Ehrlichman
Supreme Court
-Ehrlichman
-Possible future position
-Potter Stewart
-William H. Rehnquist
-Stewart
-“Georgetown Set”
-Possible vacancies
-William O. Douglas
-Possibility of resignation
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
-Optimum age for appointment
-Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
-Resignation
-Harry A. Blackmun
-Warren E. Burger
-Resignation
-Earl Warren
-Optimum age
-The President’s previous interview
-Rehnquist
-Hugo Black
-Powell
-Congress
-Bush
-William E. Brock III
-Clarence J. (“Bud”) Brown, Jr.
-Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-Safe Republican districts
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Ronald W. Reagan
Rockefeller
-Proposed drug program
-Mandatory life sentences
-Polling
-Harris
-Taxes
-Proposed drug and crime program
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Republican party in New York state
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Jacob K. Javits
-Effect of the President’s victory in 1972 election
-Compared to California
-Reagan
-31-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
1972 election
-New York
-Final results
-Certification
-New Majority
-Illinois
-Gains in Republican Congressman
-Ohio
-Michigan
-Fred Schwengel
-Daughter’s work for the President
-Personality
[End of segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
The President’s Cabinet
-Eisenhower’s Cabinet
-Peter J. Brennan
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Earl L. Butz
-Rogers C. B. Morton
-Claude S. Brinegar
-William P. Rogers
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-James T. Lynn
-Abilities
-Caspar (“Cap”) W. Weinberger
-Evaluation
-Intelligence
-Kleindienst
-Compared to Richardson, Melvin R. Laird
-Class standing at Harvard University
-Rogers
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-Morton
-Lynn
-Brennan
-Education
-32-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Intelligence Quotient [IQ] tests
-The President’s test in service
-Score
-Law school grades
-Colson’s test in service
-Score
-Law school
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Broadcasting licensing standards
-The President’s meeting with Ehrlichman
-Domestic Council
-Clay (“Tom”) Whitehead
-Statements
-Television [TV] license renewals
-Charles Crutchfield
-Presentation
-Support for bill
-Speech
-Approval
-Colson, Klein, Ehrlichman
-TV content
-Responsibility of broadcasters
-Meeting with Whitehead, Klein, Ziegler
-Congressional action
-Bill
-Purpose
-Chance of passage
-Stability
-Responsibility
-John W. Chancellor
-Broadcaster’s program selection
-33-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
-Klein
-Ziegler
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Klein
-Ziegler
-Cole
-Robert A.Griffin
-Brown
-Neighborhood councils
-Privacy considerations
-Public opinion
-Administration position
[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation appears in RG 460, Box 172 (6-13).]
[End of transcript]
John F. Kennedy
-Length of time since death
-Reputation
-Harris
-Ratings of Presidents
-Abraham Lincoln
-Martyrdom
***************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1976 election
-Agnew
-Connally
-Rockefeller
-South
-Primaries
-Conservatives
-1972 election
-Delegates
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-34-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
*****************************************************************
The President talked with the White House operator at 5:25 pm.
[Conversation No. 394-21/395-1A]
[See Conversation No. 35-100]
[End of telephone conversation]
White House operators
[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation appears in RG 460, Box 172 (13-15)]
[End of transcript]
The President’s birthday
Col. Richard T. Kennedy entered at 5:30 pm.
The President’s age
-Service as Vice President
An unknown person entered at 5:30 pm.
Food order
The unknown person left at an unknown time after 5:30 pm.
Colson’s age
Colson left at 5:32 pm.
Reply to the President’s letter to Chou En-Lai
-Tone
Henry A. Kissinger
-Report on Vietnam negotiations
-Tone
-35-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
-Mood
-Camp David
-The President’s warning
Vietnam negotiations
-North Vietnamese position
-Timing of statements
-Kissinger
-Events of previous week
-The President’s expectations
-North Vietnam
-Tough stance
-Delaying tactics
-Le Duc Tho
-Statement
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 5:32 pm.
Food delivery
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 5:34 pm.
Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger
-The President’s expectations
-U.S. position
-Liberal critics
-Effect
-Kissinger’s view
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Critics reaction
-Narrowing of issues
-Protocol
-William H. Sullivan
-Kissinger
-Last meeting
-South Vietnamese position
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Possible action
-Signing
-36-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept.-08)
-North Vietnamese position
-Cease-fire
-Aid program
-Rebuilding
-US sincerity
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
*****************************************************************
[The conversation was cut off at an unknown time before 5:34 pm.]
[See Conversation No. 395-1 for continuation.]