Conversation No. 277-1

Date:  September 14, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 8:56 pm and 8:59 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Paul W. Keyes.
[The recording begins at an unknown time while the conversation is in progress]

[See Conversation No. 9-12]

Conversation No. 277-2

Date:  September 14, 1971
Time:  9:16 pm - 9:18 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Paul W. Keyes.

[See Conversation No. 9-13; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  47s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

**********************************************************************

Conversation No. 277-3

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  11:05 am - 11:15 am
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

Attica prison riot
-Ziegler’s conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
-Ehrlichman’s conversation with Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Time
-Autopsies on hostages
-Advice
-Low profile stance of administration
-Support by the administration of Rockefeller
-The administration’s response
-Possible press conference statements
-Decision-making process by the administration
-The administration’s relationship with Rockefeller
-Events concerning Attica riot
-Possible outside influence
-Action of inmates
-Confrontation between guards and inmates
-Stance
-The left-wing and radicals
-Comparison to anti-Vietnam War moratoriums
-Public statement by the administration
-Decision by Rockefeller
-Position of responsibility
-Administration’s position on situation
-Rockefeller
-Action
-Telephone call to Ehrlichman
-Timing
-Possible public statements
-May Day demonstrators

Forthcoming press conference

-Possible question
-George S. McGovern
-Trip to Vietnam
-Security problem
-The President’s travels abroad
-Latin America, Peru, Burma, Pakistan
-Possible response
-Details
-Comments
-Ambassador
-McGovern’s security

Edmund S. Muskie
-Time magazine story

Attica
-Decision
-The President’s position

Ziegler left at 11:15 am.

Conversation No. 277-4

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 11:15 am and 11:59 am
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 9-14]

Conversation No. 277-5

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  11:59 am - 12:01 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-15]

Conversation No. 277-33

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 12:01 pm and 12:18 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

An unknown woman [Mary A. (“Toni”) Sidley?] entered at an unknown time after 12:01 pm.

Schedule

The unknown woman [Sidley?] left at an unknown time before 12:18 pm.

Conversation No. 277-6

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  12:18 pm - 12:20 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-17]

Conversation No. 277-7

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  12:24 pm - 12:25 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-19]

Conversation No. 277-8

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  12:37 pm - 12:39 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-21]

Conversation No. 277-9

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 12:39 pm and 1:05 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

Schedule
-Meeting request

Conversation No. 277-10

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  1:05 pm - 2:10 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

Weather
-Temperature
-President’s schedule, September 14, 1971
-[Truman] balcony

The press
-Instructions to Ronald L. Ziegler regarding contacts with the press
-Response
-Call from James B. (“Scotty”) Reston to Ziegler
-Time
-Appointment request
-Max Frankel
-Robert B. Semple, Jr.
-New York Times
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Conversation with Reston
-Strategy involved
-Pressure
-Contacts
-Ziegler’s handling
-Kissinger
-Clearance with Ziegler, Haldeman
-Joseph C. Kraft
-In-depth interviews with newspapers
-Handling prior to election time
-Timing
-Richard L. (“Dick”) Wilson
-Stewart J.O. Alsop
-Attitude towards the administration
-Agreements by Ziegler

**********************************************************************

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

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

The press
-Alsop
-Handling during forthcoming year
-Written articles compared with interviews
-US News & World Report
-Possible article by the President
-Associated Press [AP] and United Press International [UPI]
-Reston
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Ziegler
-Thomas W. Braden
-Semple
-President’s view
-The New York Times interviews
-Frankel, Reston
-Protection of the administration
-Semple, Edward Dale
-Strategy towards the press
-Exclusive interviews
-George P. Shultz’s view
-Dale, Semple
-The administration’s relations with the press
-Ziegler
-Press attitude
-Type of support for the administration
-Los Angeles Times
-Relationship with the administration
-Claude Erwin
-New York Post
-Don Erwing [sp?]
-Reston’s inquiry to Kissinger
-Haldeman’s involvement
-Response
-Estimation of newspaper response
-The President’s relationship with the press
-Possible outcome
-Question of interviews
-Alsop, Chalmers Roberts
-Ziegler
-George Putnam
-Influence
-Compared to Reston
-Votes

The President’s schedule
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Meeting
-Time
-John B. Connally
-Return from trip
-Time
-Date
-Schedule for meeting
-Date
-Time
-Camp David
-Florida
-Problems
-Discussion
-Chain of events
-Type of schedule
-Days of the week
-Scheduling of days
-Wednesday
-Preparation for possible press conference

Press relations
-Briefing book for press conferences
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Responsibility for briefing book
-Current situations
-Updating
-Day of the week
-Preparation for the President
-Reduction of questions for the President
-Update of events
-Day of the week
-Weekly review for the President
-Local news
-Accuracy
-John N. Mitchell
-Connally
-Shultz
-Edwin Hoyt’s use of contacts in the White House
-Herbert G. Klein
-Rose Mary Woods
-Knowledge
-Answers to questions
-Duty as personal secretary
-Position
-Edward C. Nixon

Publication of books
-Individuals writing books
-Time
-Paul Healy
-Administration reaction towards writing books about the President
-Time period before the election
-Lack of time
-After election
-Effects on the President
-Rowland Evans and Robert D. Novak
-Nixon in the White House:  The Frustration of Power
-Lyndon Johnson:  An Exercise in Power
-The People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Economic action
-Inclusion at end of book
-Publication of errata
-Style of writing
-Authenticity of book on the President
-Kissinger
-Evans
-Accuracy of facts, quotes
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Columns versus books
-Effects
-Effects of PRC developments
-Buchanan’s opinion of Evans’ book
-Bestselling book’s impact
-Type of book
-Reader’s Digest
-Personal focus
-Story of Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Klein, William L. Safire, Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Buchanan’s view
-Type of book
-Possible effect of book
-Comparison to Victor Lasky’s book on John F. Kennedy
-Conservatives
-Book on Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Effect of book about the President
-Perceptions
-Arthur F. Burns’ role in the administration
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-Type of story
-Buchanan
-More books published about the President
-Look magazine article about Haldeman
-William Loeb
-Unknown book
-Evans
-Kennedy
-Reston

Press stories
-Pentagon Papers
-Kissinger
-Involvement of the New York Times
-Interviews
-Meeting between the President and Kissinger
-Reston
-Contact issue
-Question of interview with Kissinger
-Instruction for Haldeman to talk with Kissinger

Security of documents
-Papers of the White House staff
-[Forename unknown] Reitzel (sp?)
-Retrieval system within the administration
-NSC papers
-Kissinger
-Importance
-Distribution among NSC staff
-Handling
-Post-election period
-Kissinger
-Possession
-Location
-Establishment of special safekeeping measures
-Possible problems
-Coordination of efforts
-Kissinger
-Contacts
-George S. McGovern, Edward M. Kennedy
-William P. Rogers
-Handling of contacts
-White House location

Scheduling
-Warren E. Burger
-Meetings with groups
-Value
-Clark MacGregor
-Congressional leaders, members
-Presidential trips
-Types of events
-Focus
-Type of meeting held at Camp David
-Second line staff
-Safire
-Paul A. Volcker
-Focus
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Safire, Kenneth W. Dam
-Ehrlichman, Weinberger
-Forthcoming economic action
-Quadriad
-Astronauts
-Trip to Camp David

Cabinet
-Connally
-Forthcoming talk with Haldeman
-Leadership
-Rogers
-Rogers C.B. Morton
-George W. Romney
-Maurice H. Stans
-Peter G. Peterson
-John A. Volpe
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Politics compared with administrative work

Press relations
-Interviews in the Oval Office
-Television
-News hour
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Announcement
-Timing
-Press conferences
-Editors
-Question and answer [Q&A] sessions
-Detroit
-East Wing
-News hour
-Press conference scheduling
-Number of appearances by the President since July 1

The President’s meetings with small groups
-Effectiveness
-Meetings
-Education factor
-Color reports on meetings
-Kennedy administration

Evans and Novak book
-Challenging of judgements, facts
-Knowledge of details
-Drew Pearson
-Column
-Columns

The President’s schedule
-Florida
-Charlotte, North Carolina [William F. (“Billy”) Graham tribute]
-Opening of Disney World
-Veteran’s Day weekend
-Possible preview visit by the President
-Orlando, Florida
-Importance
-Publicity
-Interest by foreigners in Disneyland
-Visitors
-Disneyland compared to Disneyworld
-Southern California
-Florida
-Events
-Jews
-Dinner

Evans and Novak book
-Ehrlichman’s reaction
-Campaign comparison
-Focus
-John R. Chamberlain

Unknown woman

Evans and Novak book

Programs
-Possible changes

Polls
-Effectiveness of the President’s actions
-Leadership
-Meetings with groups of individuals
-Influence
-Productivity

Economy
-Connally
-Burns
-Monetary issues
-Predictions
-Shultz
-Connally
-Penn Central Corporation
-Collapse of stock market

The media
-Publication of Edith Efron’s book

Attica State Prison riots
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Position
-Decision
-Hostages
-Killings
-Number of killings
-Sequence
-Decision by Rockefeller
-Convicts
-Guard killings
-Effect of kill ratio
-Rockefeller
-Relation of situation to Cambodia
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid, Harry Reasoner
-Course of action by Rockefeller

Presidential leadership
-Perceptions
-The PRC initiative
-Public view of presidential authority
-Use of power of presidential office
-Sidey’s column
-Possible impact
-Asia
-Japan and China
-Economic conditions
-Cambodia
-Use of power in foreign policy
-PRC trip
-Use of power in handling domestic issues
-The economy

The President’s staff

Congressional relations

Polls
-Charles W. Colson
-Imbalance of positive and negative

[Unintelligible]

Staff
-Morale
-Recent actions
-News summary reports
-Sense of activity

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  1m 12s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

**********************************************************************

[Unintelligible]

Opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-Leonard Bernstein
-Mass
-Reviews
-Performances, architecture, theaters
-Response
-Emotional impact
-Unknown person’s criticism

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  27s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

**********************************************************************

Buchanan
-Evans and Novak book

Haldeman left at 2:10 pm.

Conversation No. 277-11

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 2:10 pm and 2:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  46s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:30 pm.

Conversation No. 277-12

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 2:10 pm and 2:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

**********************************************************************

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

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:30 pm.

Conversation No. 277-13

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 2:10 pm and 2:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  2s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:30 pm.

Conversation No. 277-14

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  2:30 pm - 2:32 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

President’s schedule
-Details

Butterfield left at 2:32 pm.

Conversation No. 277-15

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  2:32 pm - 2:33 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-23]

Conversation No. 277-16

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 2:33 pm and 2:37 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Kissinger’s schedule
-Meeting with the President
-The President’s forthcoming press conference

Conversation No. 277-17

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 2:33 pm and 2:37 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 9-24]

Conversation No. 277-18

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  2:37 pm - 3:15 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-25]

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 2:38 pm.

[End of telephone conversation]

Press conference, September 16, 1971
-Report on US foreign aid
-Democratic elections
-Statistics
-Number of countries
-Elective processes
-Democratic elections compared to contested elections
-Contested elections
-William R. Tolbert, Jr.

-Liberia
-Elections
-Number of countries
-United Nations [UN]
-US position on membership
-Secretary of State
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Taiwan, Republic of China
-PRC trip
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston column
-Forthcoming details
-Vietnam
-US relations with PRC
-Vietnam
-US military
-Withdrawal
-Protection of forces
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
-North Vietnamese actions
-Helicopters
-National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Time
-Arrangements
-Troop withdrawals
-Announcement
-Speculation
-Future announcements
-Timing
-Proposed announcement of troop withdrawal
-Forthcoming South Vietnamese Presidential election
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Negotiations
-Announcement
-Time
-Thieu
-Ambassador Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Forthcoming South Vietnamese Presidential election
-Thieu’s opponents
-US foreign aid
-Contested elections
-Great Britain
-Parliamentary procedures
-Question and answer sessions
-Position of Prime Minister
-Speaker of the House of Commons

Presidential press conferences
-Format
-On the record, no correction
-Organization of conference

Press conference, September 16, 1971
-Statements
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s role

Vietnam
-Response
-Congress
-US patriotism
-Elections in South Vietnam
-Questions
-Vietnamization
-Republicans
-Attitudes during phased US withdrawal
-Opponents
-Support of war
-Current status
-Lack of support
-Chronology
-November 3, 1969 Speech
-Cambodia
-Laos (Lam Son 719)

Amchitka Nuclear nest
-Timing
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] trip announcement
-PRC trip
-USSR
-Timing of nuclear test
-Proximity to time of announcement
-The PRC
-USSR
-Timing of announcement

[Unintelligible]

Vietnam
-Prisoner of war [POW] situation
-Effect on election
-Troop withdrawal
-Timing of action
-Possible questions on negotiations
-Ceasefire
-Military operations
-Perceptions
-Thieu
-POW situation
-US action
-Troop withdrawal
-Possible methods of negotiating
-Deadline
-Time
Foreign affairs
-USSR
-Relations with PRC
-Position in Southeast Asia
-Relations
-Negotiations
-Moscow
-Timing of Peking trip
-US alternatives for proposal
-Thieu
-Position
-USSR
-The President’s forthcoming meeting with Andrei A. Gromyko
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Handling of negotiations
-Reactions to recent developments
-The President’s domestic opponents
-Kissinger’s trip to the PRC
-Peking
-The President’s schedule

Vietnam
-Timing of action
-November
-Withdrawal of troops
-Haig
-Announcement of withdrawal
-Military service draft
-Number of troops
-Time
-Christmas period
-Announcement
-Additional announcements
-Time
-Type of announcement
-Effect of announcement
-Number of troops withdrawn
-The President’s PRC trip
-Troop withdrawal
-The President’s trip to the USSR
-Thieu
-Importance of strength
-Troop withdrawal
-Effect
-Election
-Withdrawal
-Timing
-William F. Buckley
-Thieu
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meetings
-US position
-Timing
-Fall 1971
-Thieu
-Deadlines

Kissinger left at 3:15 pm.

Conversation No. 277-19

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 3:15 pm and 4:15 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 9-26]

Conversation No. 277-20

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  4:15 pm - 4:38 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

[See Conversation No. 9-27; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]

Conversation No. 277-21

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 4:38 pm and 4:44 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

Request for unknown person
-Schedule

Conversation No. 277-22

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 4:38 pm and 4:44 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 9-28]

Conversation No. 277-23

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  4:44 pm - 4:48 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with George P. Shultz.

[See Conversation No. 9-29]

Conversation No. 277-24

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 4:48 pm and 5:15 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Mary A. (“Toni”) Sidley.

Alexander P. Butterfield’s schedule

Sidley left at an unknown time before 5:15 pm.

Conversation No. 277-25

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  5:15 pm - 5:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

[See Conversation No. 9-30; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]

Conversation No. 277-26

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 5:22 pm and 7:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

Schedule
-Request for a call back

Conversation No. 277-27

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 5:22 pm and 7:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

Briefing book
-Additional pages

Schedule
-Sally Inge
-Typing
-Departure

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 7:23 pm.

Conversation No. 277-28

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 5:22 pm and 7:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

Unknown people met.

Table
-Location

[Unintelligible]

The unknown people left at an unknown time before 7:23 pm.

Conversation No. 277-29

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  7:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 9-31]

Conversation No. 277-30

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 7:23 pm and 9:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 9-32]

Conversation No. 277-31

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 7:23 pm and 9:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

Pen

Schedule
-Sally Inge

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 9:00 pm.

Conversation No. 277-32

Date:  September 15, 1971
Time:  Unknown between 7:23 pm and 9:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

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

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 9:00 pm.