Conversation: 234-005
Prev: 234-004 Next: 234-006Start Date: Wednesday, December 6, 1972 10:59 PM
End Date: Thursday, December 7, 1972 1:16 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording Device: Camp David Hard Wire
NARA Description:
On December 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:59 pm and 8:16 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 234-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 234-5
Date: December 6, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:59 pm and 8:16 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s cable
-Option Two
-Breakdown in talks
-Kissinger’s frame of mind
-Option One
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Return of Option Two
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 234-5 (cont’d)
-Six month period
-POWs
-Effects
-Soviet Union
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Congressional relations
-Republicans
-Second term
-Failure to end war
-South Vietnam
-Honorable peace
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-POWs
-Option One
-South Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-Cessation of US bombing and mining, US withdrawal
-POWs
-Poll
-Cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam, US withdrawal
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-Settlement agreement
-Kissinger’s cable
-Settlement agreement
-POWs
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Vietnamization
-Cessation of US bombing and mining of North and South Vietnam,
US withdrawal
-South Vietnamese self-determination
-Separation of military and political issues
-North Vietnam’s intransigence
-Minimum position
-US withdrawal
-POWs
-Political issues
-Kissinger’s view
-Option Two
-Publicity
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 234-5 (cont’d)
-Kissinger’s frame of mind
-Option One
-Option Two
-The President’s message, December 5, 1972
-Kissinger’s return
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Resumption of talks
-Leverage
-Instructions for Kissinger
-Minimum position
-North Vietnamese intransigence
-Breakdown in talks
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Pace
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-Record
-Publicity
-Final offer
-Kissinger’s recent actions
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-Publicity
-“Peace is at hand”
-Continuation
-Kissinger’s cable
-Option Two
-Compared to Option One
-Recess
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-POWs
-Continuation of war
-“Hawks”
-Settlement agreement
-Honorable peace
-Government of Vietnam [GVN] survival
-Congressional relations
-US military and economic aid to South
Vietnam
-Cut off
-Thieu
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with the President
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 234-5 (cont’d)
-Strategy
-[David] Kenneth Rush’s view
-Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s view
-Haldeman’s forthcoming meeting with John D. Ehrlichman
-Kissinger’s cable
-Option Two
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Duration
-POWs
-Tone
-Interest in getting North Vietnam to “cave”
-Back cables
-Kissinger’s views
-Presidential statement on television [TV]
-Option One or Two decision
-Haldeman’s and Ehrlichman’s meeting with the President
-Timing
-Presidential statement on TV
-Haldeman’s and Ehrlichman’s meeting with the President
-Message
-Kennedy
Haldeman’s schedule