12. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Max Frankel of the New York Times 1
HAK said he had Frankel’s letter2 and is thinking about it. Frankel said that was all he wanted him to do and also wanted to thank him for all the help he gave Bob.3 HAK said it was a very responsible and fair statement.
HAK said he had a complaint in that the Ben Wells story4 was outrageous. There was no element of truth in it. First of all, one letter from Stanton had arrived at the Pierre5 and had gotten lost during the transition period. The President had personally answered another.6 HAK said Stanton had been on his conscience (quote) but only because of the letter. HAK said he does not have final say on NSC participation—the President does. The President’s only reason for omitting USIA was the simple fact that he wanted to keep the numbers of participants down. If USIA attended, that would mean several additional agencies would have to be added. Shakespeare is on the Review Group as a permanent invitee but not as a statutory member. HAK said he does have final say on participation and has absolutely no objection to Shakesphere being on it.
Another point—Stanton has resigned as has every other member when a new President comes in. The only issue here is whether Stanton will stay on because of Shakespeare. The President doesn’t know whether it is wise to have two CBS men head the USIA program.
HAK said he thought newsies weren’t allowed to quote people at the Gridiron and this is what happened. His quote was correct but [Page 25] Stanton’s was totally untrue. HAK asked Walsh to call Shakespeare at 6. He finally called at 9:00 and the story had been filed.
Frankel wanted to know if there was anything about this weekend7 he should know that wasn’t obvious. HAK said that the President felt they could get some serious uninterrupted talking done on the trip out on general matters. No heavy decisions will be made. Also, that Bunker and Goodpaster would be coming in and they will meet out there.
Frankel apologized for the mess re the story and said he would take care of any action necessary to rectify it.8
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, Box 1, March 14–31, 1969. No classification marking.↩
- Not found.↩
- Not further identified.↩
- Reference is to “Nixon Keeps Unit on U.S.I.A. Waiting: Chairman Stanton of C.B.S. Submits His Resignation,” New York Times, March 20, 1969, p. 19. Wells wrote that both Kissinger and Stanton had attended the March 15 Gridiron Club dinner and had been introduced to one another: “‘I have you on my conscience,’ murmured Mr. Kissinger.” “‘I haven’t had the courtesy of a reply from your conscience in two months,’ Dr. Stanton answered.” Wells noted that Stanton had received a response to “two telegrams and one letter sent, respectively in December, January and February” from one of Kissinger’s aides but he had not received any response for either the President or Kissinger. He also reported that Stanton had tendered his resignation as Chairman of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Information, as per custom with the transition between administrations.↩
- Nixon’s transition headquarters were located in the Pierre Hotel in New York.↩
- See Document 7.↩
- The President and First Lady Pat Nixon were scheduled to visit former President Harry Truman and former First Lady Bess Truman in Independence, Missouri, on March 21 before flying to California for the weekend. According to the President’s Daily Diary, the President met with Rogers, Kissinger, Bunker, and Goodpaster at the Western White House in San Clemente, California, during the morning of March 23. (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Central Files) No record of this meeting has been found.↩
- On March 21, Wells reported: “Mr. Kissinger’s alleged cold-shouldering of the commission [U.S. Advisory Commission on Information], which is headed by Dr. Frank Stanton, president of the Columbia Broadcasting System, has led to private criticism among commission members and to a report in The New York Times of unanswered communications and other grievances.” He explained that White House officials had “sharply challenged” the information contained within Wells’s March 20 article and that Kissinger planned to name a USIA official to his staff. (“Kissinger to Add U.S.I.A. Staff Aide: But Agency Won’t Get Seat on Full Security Council,” New York Times, March 21, 1969, p. 23)↩