Conversation: 246-037
Prev: 246-036 Next: 246-038Start Date: Thursday, April 8, 1971 12:09 AM
End Date: Thursday, April 8, 1971 12:59 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, Hugh; Byrd, Robert C.; Griffin, Robert P.; Ford, Gerald R.; Albert, Carl B.; Timmons, William E.; MacGregor, Clark; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Whelihan, J. Bruce; Kissinger, Henry A.Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 05:38:44
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 06:24:10
NARA Description:
On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Hugh Scott, Robert C. Byrd, Robert P. Griffin, Gerald R. Ford, Carl B. Albert, William E. Timmons, Clark MacGregor, Ronald L. Ziegler, J. Bruce Whelihan, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:09 pm to 7:59 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 246-037 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 246-37
Date: April 7, 1971
Time: 7:09 pm - 7:59 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Hugh Scott, Robert C. Byrd, Robert P. Griffin, Gerald R. Ford, Carl B.
Albert, William E. Timmons, and Clark MacGregor
Scott
Greetings
Allen J. Ellender
-Schedule
Photo session
President’s office
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 7:10
46
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
J. Bruce Whelihan and members of the press entered at 7:11 pm
General conversation
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 7:12 pm
Kissinger’s schedule
-Media
Whelihan and the members of the press left at 7:13 pm
President’s conversation with Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield, April 6, 1971
President’s schedule
-Congressional leaders
-Richard B. Russell
-Ellender
-Meetings with the President
Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-Troop withdrawals
-Korea
-Cambodian incursion
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] performance
-Effect on North Vietnamese military capability
-President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-Rate
-United States’ goals
-Troop withdrawal
-Date
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Flexibility
-South Vietnam
-Possible actions by Congress
-Responsibility
-POWs
-President’s options
-Albert and Ford
-Timing
-POWs
47
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Congress
-Negotiations
-President’s options
-Combat forces
-Laotian incursion
-Effect
-President’s policies
-Air strikes Conv. No. 246-37 (cont.)
-Reductions since 1969
-Laos
-Lam Son
-Figures
-Casualties
-Reductions
-Tet Offensive
-Timing
-Negotiations
-Prospects
-President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-POWs
-Timing
-South Vietnamese military activities
-Casualties
-Congressional action
-Possible effects
-Unknown man
-Trip to Bonn
-POWs
-Melvin R. Laird
-Possible United States’ withdrawal
-Troop withdrawals
-Timing
-United States’ policy
-Residual forces
-Korea
-POWs
-Timing
-POWs
-Issue
-United States-held prisoners
-Troop withdrawal
-South Vietnamese military capability
48
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-United States’ bargaining position
-Troop withdrawal
-Difficulties
-Negotiations
-Thailand
-United States’ treaty responsibilities
-Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan
-South Vietnam Conv. No. 246-37 (cont.)
-US forces
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 30s ]
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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-Laos
-Casualties
-Cambodia
-French
-South Vietnamese incursion
-Air campaign
-Prospects
-Congress
-Possible actions
-Responsibility
Donald W. Riegle, Jr.
House of Representatives
-Ford and Albert
General conversation
49
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Ziegler and Kissinger left at 7:43 pm
Forthcoming calls to Senate Committees
-Laird
-William P. Rogers
General conversation Conv. No. 246-37 (cont.)
Scott’s efforts
MacGregor’s conversation with Laird
Scott, et al. left at 7:59 pm