Ask the Scholar

On February 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, George P. Shultz, John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:09 pm to 3:50 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 455-022 of the White House Tapes. Topics include: The President met with George P. Shultz and John D. Ehrlichman Welfare Reform Bill - Participants - Wilbur D. Mills - Social Security - Mills' view - Russell B. Long - Role in House of Representatives - Richard K. Cook - Elliot L. Richardson's view - Revenue sharing - Prospects for passage - Mills - Food stamps and other reform proposals - Democratic opposition - Status in House - Clifford M. Hardin - John G. Veneman Roger O. Egeberg - Replacement - Richardson Welfare Reform Bill - Public service employment - Department of Labor view - Special Revenue Sharing - Funding - Manpower training - Administration view - Job creation - Manpower training - Revenue sharing Egeberg - Richardson - New position Health program -"First Dollar" approach Richardson - Senate testimony - Edward M. ("Ted") Kennedy's committee -"Face The Nation" performance - Welfare reform - Administration efforts - Congressional opposition - Congressional hearings - Mills "Brand name" concept - John B. Connally - Welfare reform - Revenue sharing - Law enforcement Suspension of Davis- Bacon Act - James D. Hodgson - Inflation - Construction industry - Shultz's position - Voluntary restraints - Wage and price freeze - Problems - Alternatives - Wage limit - American Federation of Labor- Congress of Industrial Organizations [AFL- CIO] - Wage Price Board - Hodgson - Union view - Effect on construction industry - Administration strategy - Legal maneuvers - Possible congressional action - Court challenges - Legislative action The President's schedule - Leadership meeting agenda - Wage and price action - Hugh Scott - Consumer legislation - Laos - Suspension of Davis- Bacon Act - Administration position - Shultz - Hodgson - Length of meeting National economy - Suspension of Davis- Bacon Act - Inflation psychology - Wage and price controls - President's position - Connally's forthcoming testimony - Administration's response - Congress - Shultz's forthcoming call to Connally - Wage Price Board - Arthur F. Burns - Federal Reserve System - Wage Stabilization Board - Wage and price control - President's view The President's schedule - Forthcoming meeting with Dr. Edward E. David, Jr. Housing - Department of Housing and Urban Development - George W. Romney - Department of Justice - Location of housing projects - Administration position - President's view - Romney - John N. Mitchell - Samuel C. Jackson speech - Administration strategy - Small homeowners - Effect of legislation - Federal coercion - Civil rights impact - Housing project construction - Effects - Administration position - Prince George's County - Fairfax County - Ronald L. Ziegler's statement - Use of federal power - Options Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:09 pm Rose Mary Woods Bull left at an unknown time before 3:46 pm Woods entered at 3:46 pm The President's schedule - Shotgun from Khrushchev - Use by Connally Woods left at 3:49 pm - Peter G. Peterson - Meeting with the President - Connally - Meeting with the President Statement prepared by Ehrlichman and Hodgson - Timing - Delivery to governors - Press Shultz and Ehrlichman left at 3:50 pm. Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Shultz, George P.; Ehrlichman, John D.; Bull, Stephen B.; Woods, Rose Mary.