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This file contains:
Copy of a memo from RN to John Ehrlichman RE: state visits. 4 pgs. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: vacation schedule. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Agnew's staff. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Jeff Donfeld. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: personnel recommendations. 2 pgs. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: signature on form letters. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
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26125870
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WHSF: Returned, 1-34
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26125870
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document
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WHSF: Returned, 1-34
description
This file contains:
Copy of a memo from RN to John Ehrlichman RE: state visits. 4 pgs. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: vacation schedule. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Agnew's staff. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Jeff Donfeld. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: personnel recommendations. 2 pgs. [Memo], 1/3/1969
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: signature on form letters. 1 pg. [Memo], 1/3/1969
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Richard M. Nixon's Returned Materials Collection
Returned White House Special Files
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26125870
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1
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59ee508f8f2ce1db
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Richard Nixon Presidential Library
White House Special Files Collection
Folder List
Box Number
Folder Number
Document Date
Document Type
Document Description
1
34
01/03/1969
Memo
Copy of a memo from RN to John
Ehrlichman RE: state visits. 4 pgs.
1
34
01/03/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: vacation
schedule. 1 pg.
1
34
01/03/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Agnew's
staff. 1 pg.
1
34
01/03/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: Jeff
Donfeld. 1 pg.
1
34
01/03/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: personnel
recommendations. 2 pgs.
1
34
01/03/1969
Memo
From RN to Bob Haldeman RE: signature on
form letters. 1 pg.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Page 1 of 1
January 3, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
John Ehrlichman
mill
FROM:
RN
In considering my schedule for the first six months after
the Inauguration, I have concluded that some drastic changes in existing
policy with regard to state visits as well as to customs covering White
House dinners must be made if I am to have the time available which
I consider absolutely essential to devote to major decisions which I
must make in that period.
Unless we get ahold of the schedule now I will be
swamped with state visits, the usual customary White House dinners
for domestic purposes, not to mention the Congressional and Senatorial
appointments which will be flooding us during that period. A memorandum
from Bob Murphy on December 24 indicates that 15 visits of foreign
dignitaries are tentatively scheduled in the first three months of the
new Administration, from March to June. By comparison, Eisenhower
received only six foreign dignitaries in his first six months in office,
Kennedy 18 and Johnson 21. In other words, if we continue at the pace
suggested we will have 30 in our first six months. I am enclosing the
December 24 Murphy memo with the backup information supporting the
requests for including these visitors in the schedule.
- 2 -
Under the circumstances, I have decided that the
following procedure will be in order, regardless of whether the visitor
is a head of state or head of government and regardless of whether the
visit is described as a state visit, an official visit, or a private visit.
1. I shall always be willing to have a talk with any
visitor who is head of government or head of state.
2. Where the visitor is a head of state I will have a
dinner for him.
3. Where the visitor is a head of government I will
have either a dinner or a lunch for him, depending
upon the recommendation made by State.
4. Even where the visit is a so-called private one,
I will be willing to have a lunch if State recommends it.
5. But under no circumstances, regardless of the
character of the visit, will I go to a return dinner
or luncheon or reception of any kind which is put on
by the foreign visitor. I realize that this will break
some china in State, but it is time to make this shift
of policy now and to carry it out in the future. This
decision, incidentally, is not subject to further
discussion. I have made up my mind and I have
considered all the factors involved.
Even if I limit myself in this way the burden will be
enormous. Johnson told me that he had exactly 200 visits by foreign
dignitaries during his 5 years as President. This means that at the
- 3 -
same pace I will have 400 occasions in which I have to spend a miserable
three hours in an evening, or two and a half hours at lunch, entertaining
some foreign visitor. I realize this is necessary from a protocal
standpoint, but at least we can knock off the tradition of the President
going to return dinners, luncheons or receptions which simply doubles
the load. In fact, my decision in this respect goes even further. I do
not intend to attend any function given by a foreign embassy outside the
White House during the time I am in office. If there is a meeting of the
OAS or a meeting of the United Nations or a meeting of NATO or
something of that character I will, of course, attend. But as far as
single embassy's are concerned, I will not attend.
I have discussed this in preliminary form with Bill
Rogers, and I believe he will agree with this decision. The problem
he will have, of course, is to see that this boys down the line don't
get ulcers trying to implement it.
Wherever it is possible to get a foreign visitor to settle
for a good hour or two hour talk on substantive issues instead of putting
me through the agony of a dinner or luncheon I will gladly make the
exchange. I realize, of course, that this will generally not be possible
since the courtesy of a White House dinner or luncheon is now expected
by all foreign visitors.
With further reference to my schedule, I do not want to
have the usual dinners which the President gives for the Vice President,
for the Supreme Court, for the Cabinet, etc. I would suggest that you
check to see what these dinners are and establish the new policy
- 4
immediately. I will take care of the Supreme Court, the Vice President
and the Cabinet officers by inviting them to the dinners I will necessarily
have to give for foreign heads of state.
With regard to Congressmen and Senators, I think it is
essential that you have a talk with Bryce Harlow and set up some sort
of priority with him immediately. It will not be possible for me to have
individual meetings with individual Senators or Congressmen -- except
for those in leadership positions or Chairmen of key committees. That
means that the likes of Jack Miller, Javits, Allot et al can only be seen
when they are part of a larger group. In addition, I prefer that such
meetings be in the office for a period of time rather than for a meal or
for drinks at the White House. Only when Bryce believes that drinks
or a meal are absolutely essential to get the work done should such
affairs be scheduled. The thing to do is to simply tell Congressmen and
Senators that I prefer to talk substantive business and lay it on that way.
I think most of them will be complimented if it is presented to them that
way. The way we handle them as far as White House dinners and
luncheons are concerned, again, is to include them as guests at the
dinners and luncheons for foreign dignitaries. Incidentally, where
dinners and luncheons for foreign dignitaries are scheduled, it is
probably best to include wives, unless it is absolutely clear that some
substantive talk of value might take place after the dinner.
With regard to both luncheons and dinners, I want the
number of courses held to an absolute minimum. Make the meals very
good, but very short.
cc: The Honorable William P. Rogers
Mr. Bryce Harlow
January 3, 1969
new copy
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
SUBJECT:
RN Schedule on Vacation
Don Hughes was put in a difficult position on two or
three occasions in Miami because he had not had adequate guidance as
to the rules that I want followed when on vacation as far as personal
requests for appointments are concerned.
V. J. Skutt, Jimmy Doolittle, and Jerry Ford's brother
were among those who asked to see me, and Don naturally thought he
should submit these requests to me.
I want a hard and fast rule adopted that when I take
these vacations there will be absolutely no exceptions where personal
requests of this type are concerned. Everybody that wants to see me
of this type should call direct to Washington.
January 3, 1969
copy
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
SUBJECT:
Agnew's Staff
Agnew spoke to me about getting a man in transportation,
one in housing and one in health to serve on the staff of his federal-
state and local government operation which Nils Boe is going to head.
I think Mitchell and you should have a discussion with
him on this matter in view of the fact that we may be building up too
many staff. Kissinger, of course, will have a staff of about 20 for
the NSC, Moynihan will have a staff for his Urban Affairs Council, and
now Agnew and Boe will build a staff for their federal-state-cities
operation. What appears inevitable is duplication, particularly in the
latter two areas, and inevitable competition.
I would surmise that the best way to handle Agnew's staff
requirements here would be to have HEW, Transportation and Housing
assign a man to him from their Departments.
In any event, there should be a thorough discussion of this
with Mitchell presiding, and Agnew and the three Cabinet officers
involved as well as Moynihan and Haldeman attending so that this kind
of duplication can be avoided.
January 3, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
SUBJECT:
Jeff Donfeld
Tricia has spoken to John Ehrlichman with regard to
Jeff Donfeld's desire to be considered for a White House staff position.
My recollection is that he got pretty high marks as an
advance man. More importantly, he has the additional attributes of
having passed the bar in California, has been President of the student
body at UCLA, and has a Jewish background.
In view of the fact that there has been considerable
grumbling to the effect that too many of our 20 to 30 year old White
House staffers were from J. Walter Thompson it might be well to
consider him for a position, either on the Counsel staff or in another
area where he would be qualified. Since this is the only position in
which Tricia has indicated some interest, I would like for you and
Ehrlichman to discuss it and come up with a recommendation.
If the White House staff should not be the appropriate
place, perhaps John Mitchell might consider him for Justice. Or Bob
Finch might want him on his Counsel staff over at HEW. Incidentally,
he might be a good man to work with Bud Wilkinson.
January 3, 1969
MEMORANDUM
inw copy
TO:
Bob Haldeman
FROM:
RN
SUBJECT:
Personnel Recommendations
There is not enough coordination of Peter Flanigan's
operation with Harlow, Mitchell et al. For example, Flanigan is
continuing to recommend Roz Perkins for some sort of assignment
and I recall sitting in a meeting with Harlow where we all agreed that
Perkins, under no circumstances, should be offered a position in the
new Administration, due to his very strongly antagnostic attitudes
pre -convention and his close alignment with individuals who are not
interested in our success.
Along the same lines, I do not believe that the Cabinet
officers have been adequately informed by Mitchell that as far as
Under Secretaries in particular are concerned we ought to have a clear
approval from RN. Several Cabinet officers have discussed the appoint-
ment of Under -Secretaries with me, but this does not accomplish the
objective. What should happen is that their recommendations should be
first discussed with Mitchell who will, of course, have access to
Flanigan's views; next Mitchell should run the name by Harlow, and
only after this procedure has been followed should the name come up
to me.
- 2 -
An example to illustrate this point is Volpe's move
to get Jim Kemper, Jr. 2 I do not believe that Volpe checked this out
with Clem Stone which, of course, should have been done in view of
the fact that they are possible competitors in the insurance field.
Also, I personally have some grave doubts as to the political
advisability of a Kemper appointment. On the other hand, Volpe
throws the name at me out of the blue, and I cannot under these
circumstances, react responsibly unless I know that it has been run
by Mitchell.
Hickel, in particular, needs some guidance on his
sub-Cabinet. Whether or not Russell Crane measures up as one who
has a public reputation for conservation is something that should be
discussed with Harlow who, as I recall, has some doubts on this
score.
To set up an adequate procedure I think that the
Under Secretary and the more important Assistant Secretary positions
should be run by both Mitchell and Harlow before they are submitted
to me.
January 3, 1969
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Bob Haldeman
ma copy
FROM:
RN
SUBJECT:
RN Signature on Form Letters
As we previously have agreed, the use of my signature
should be very drastically curtailed beginning immediately.
For example, sending letters to all of the people listed
in Who's Who was, in my opinion, a somewhat silly exercise, and
particularly, under those circumstances, my signature should not
have been used.
I was surprised to note that my signature had been
used by a letter which was sent to several thousand businessmen on
behalf of the Inaugural Committee, asking them to make loans to the
Inaugural Committee for the inauguration. As distinguished from the
Who's Who letter, this use of my signature was worse than silly.
It was absolutely wrong.
Under no circumstances in the future do I want my name
used on form letters for fund raising of any type. Also, I take a dim
view of having the signature, in facsimile or other form, used for
exercises like the Who's Who business.
I think the best way to avoid this kind of a mistake in
the future is for the next two or three months to submit all decisions
for the use of RN signature on form letters to me personally. After a
pattern has been established I will not have to go through this, since
you or someone else on the staff can make decisions in accordance with
the previously established policies.