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On December 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:54 am to 12:25 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 381-001 of the White House Tapes. Topics include: The President met with H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman. [The conversation was in progress when the recording began] Vietnam negotiations - Public relations [PR] - Paris - Nguyen Van Thieu - Henry A. Kissinger - Press relations - Photographs - Xuan Thuy - Response - Haldeman - Alexander M. Haig, Jr. - Effect - Haldeman's conversations with Kissinger Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 11:25 a.m. Second term reorganization - First Lady's staff - Julie Nixon Eisenhower - Ziegler's telephone call to Thelma C. ("Pat") Nixon - Ziegler's schedule - Press briefing - Constance M (Cornell) ("Connie") Stuart - Ziegler's meeting with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Mrs. Nixon - Tone - Julie Nixon Eisenhower - Assistant to the First Lady - Press Assistant to the First Lady - Helen Smith - Ziegler's role - Julie Nixon Eisenhower - Press relations - Initiative - Job description The President talked with Haig. [Conversation No. 381-1A] [See Conversation No. 34-62] [End of telephone conversation] Second term reorganization - Julie Nixon Eisenhower - Assistant to the First Lady - Job description - Duties - Compared to assistants to the President - East Wind, residence - Staff - Press Office - Social office - Residence - Work with the President's staff - White House events - State Department Protocol Office - Compared to Haldeman - Meeting with Ziegler and Mrs. Nixon - Press Assistant to the First Lady - Ziegler's role - Press office - Briefings - Frequency - Press relations - Betty Beale - Mrs. Nixon's role - Meeting with Ziegler and Mrs. Nixon - Press relations - Schedule - Trip - Christmas - Stuart - Departure -1973 Inauguration - Departure - Ziegler's conversation with Mrs. Nixon Ziegler's press conference - Kissinger's schedule - Return from Paris - Meeting with the President - Purpose - Consultation - Timing - Vietnam negotiations - Kissinger's communications with Le Duc Tho - Meetings - Technical experts - Status - Possible breakthrough -"No comment" response - Hanoi, Saigon - Haig's conversation with Kissinger - Ambivalence - Exchange of messages - Kissinger and Le Duc Tho - Phrasing Press relations - Kissinger - James B. ("Scotty") Reston's article - The President's view Julie Nixon Eisenhower's schedule - Ziegler Ziegler left at 11:40 am. Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 11:40 am and 12:25 pm. [Conversation No. 381-1B] The President's schedule - Meetings - George P. Shultz - Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson - Shultz [End of telephone conversation] - Pre- Blair House meetings - Military compared to political aides - Receptions - Identification of supporters - Clark MacGregor - Charles W. Colson's role - Reception for 1972 election supporters - Reception for 1972 election supporters - Unknown person - Example - Southern Ohio - Colson's letter - Reception for 1972 election supporters - Labor leaders, Democrats - New Majority - Hosts - John A. Volpe - Peter J. Brennan - Colson - Volpe - Reception for 1972 election supporters - Hosts - Volpe - Colson - Introduction of supporters - Symbolism Second term reorganization - Julie Nixon Eisenhower - Future ***************************************************************** [Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during chronological review 2007-2013] House purchase - Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo - Pool - Privacy - Georgetown - Foxhall Road - Specifications - Virginia ***************************************************************** The President's schedule - Receptions - Hand- Shaking - Christmas lights - Vice President Spiro T. Agnew - Cabinet dinner - Camp David - Cabinet dinner - White House church services - New Majority - John Cardinal Krol - Terence Cardinal Cooke's schedule -1973 Inauguration - Krol - New Majority - Mrs. Nixon's schedule - Diplomatic children's reception - Reception for surrogates and campaign workers - Candlelight tour - Christmas events - Staff open house and tour - Reception for surrogates and campaign workers - White House staff - Dwight L. Chapin - Gordon C. Strachan - Domestic Council - National Security Council [NSC] - White House staff families - Press - Candlelight tour - White House staff families - Candlelight tours - Congressional relations - New Majority - Reception for 1972 election supporters Vietnam negotiations - Haig - Location - Role - Kissinger - Kissinger's cable - US bombing south of 20 th Parallel - Ellsworth F. Bunker - Thieu - Possible meeting with Thieu - Settlement agreement - Thieu's rejection - The President's conversation with Haig - Overthrow of Thieu - Bunker - William P. Rogers - Agnew - George S. McGovern - Agnew - Effect - South Vietnam - Overthrow of Thieu - US public opinion - Louis P. Harris polls - Prisoners of War [POWs] - Cease- Fire - Free elections - South Vietnam - Clause - Demilitarized Zone [DMZ] - Kissinger - Mood - The President's conversation with Haig - Behavior - Haig's view - Negotiator - Self- Interest compared to national interest - Reston article US- Soviet Union and US- People's Republic of China [PRC] relations - Kissinger's role NSC - Haig's possible role - Army background - Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS] - Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. - Kissinger's possible departure - Foreign policy - Bureaucracy - Army background Congressional relations - The President's attempted to telephone call to [Carl B. Albert] - Message - William E. Timmons - Albert's Secretary, Mrs. [Thomas] Hale Boggs - Relationship with John C. Stennis - Relationship with Dr. James R. Schlesinger - Haldeman's conversation with Schlesinger - Possible meeting Second term reorganization - Richard M. Helms - Ambassadorship to Iran - Condition - Schlesinger confirmation [as Director of Central Intelligence Agency] - Outsider status - Press relations - Ambassadors - Age questions - Foreign service - Promotions - Retirement age - Dr. David K. E. Bruce - Career ambassadors - U. Alexis Johnson - Johnson - Possible Ambassador at Lodge - Health - Saigon - William H. Sullivan - Saigon - Kissinger - Japan [?] Kissinger - Behavior - Conversation with Haig - Television [TV] statement - Haig's view - Relationship with Haig Vietnam negotiations - US bombing south of 20 th Parallel - Pace - The President's conversation with Haig - Compared to the US bombing of Hanoi- Haiphong area - B-52s - Criticism - Military purpose - Kissinger's view - Minutiae - Kissinger - Negotiator -"Peace is at hand" statement, October 26, 1972 - Effect - The President's possible TV statement - Blame on North Vietnam - Settlement agreement - North Vietnam - US- South Vietnam relations - The President's message to Kissinger - North Vietnam's intransigence - Effect - Congressional aid to South Vietnam - US position - Public opinion - US bombing of North Vietnam - The President's possible TV statement - Haldeman's view Second term reorganization - Schlesinger's confirmation - Helms's assistance - Stennis - The President's meeting with Stennis - Possible difficulty - Confirmation - Press relations - Washington, DC - Examples - Supreme Court, Attorney General - Internal Revenue Service [IRS] Congressional relations - Edward M. Kennedy's statement - News summary - The President's trip to the PRC - Public opinion - Partisanship - Watergate -1972 election - Cooperation - The President's trip to the PRC Second term reorganization - Congressional relations - Need for drama - Cabinet changes - Announcements - George P. Shultz - Press relations - Change in Executive Branch structure - Timing - First half of second term - Cabinet departments The President's schedule - Possible meetings with black leaders - Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. - Leonard Garment's role - Jordan - Black caucus - Liberals - Administration supporters - Roy Wilkins - Jordan - Previous meetings - Daniel P. ("Pat") Moynihan Vietnam negotiations - Kissinger - Work habits - Effect - Emotional strain - Expectations of success - Kissinger's recommendations - US bombing of North Vietnam - The President's conversations with Haig - Absence of objectivity - Haig - Treatment of NSC staff - Relationship with Haig - Mental health - Haig's view - Timing - Pressures - Rogers - Departure - Timing - Settlement agreement - Acceptance - Rogers's conversations with Haldeman and the President - Informing Thieu - Haig's view - Cables - Cables - Contingencies - Cables - Challenge - Conversations - Tone - Haig - Trip to Moscow Public relations [PR] - Rogers - Mail - The President's trips to the PRC and the Soviet Union - Compared to Kissinger Second term reorganization - Kissinger's role - Appointments - Defense Departments - Ambassadorships - Valve - Foreign Service Officers [FSOs] - Veto - Unknown person - Foreign affairs - Elliot L. Richardson - Liberals - Resignations - Cambodia invasions - Defense Department The President's schedule - Diplomatic reception - Location - West Wing - Oval Office - Roosevelt Room - Lobby - Oval Office - Christmas decorations - Diplomatic Reception Room - Invitations - List - Meeting with Schlesinger - Meeting with Shultz - Edwin S. Cohen Haldeman left at 12:25 pm. Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; [Unknown person(s)].