Conversation: 462-005
Prev: 462-004 Next: 462-006Start Date: Friday, March 5, 1971 1:30 PM
End Date: Friday, March 5, 1971 3:15 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]; White House operator; Butterfield, Alexander P.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Rogers, William P.; Laird, Melvin R.; Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.); Helms, Richard M.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:34:06
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:18:56
NARA Description:
On March 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), White House operator, Alexander P. Butterfield, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Ronald L. Ziegler, William P. Rogers, Melvin R. Laird, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, and Richard M. Helms met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:30 am to 10:15 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 462-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 462-5
Date: March 5, 1971
Time: 8:30 am - 10:15 am
Location: Oval Office
Conv. No. 462-2 (cont.)
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger
Laos (Lam Son)
-Military situation
President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Laos
-President’s performance evaluated
-The President’s preparation
-Kissinger’s view
-President’s statements about the press
-”Today” show
-President’s response to questions
-President’s advisors
-Kissinger’s viewing
-Winton M. (“Red”) Blount’s dinner
-Charles L. Bartlett
-Melvin R. Laird
-Response
-A Democrat Congressman from Oklahoma [John Jarman]
-Response
-Bob Dudley
-President’s acquaintance at Office of Price Administration
-Bartlett’s response
-Cambodia, Laos
-The President’s policies
-Democrats
-John C. Stennis’ call to the President
-President’s performance
-Kissinger’s view
-Middle East
-Possible settlement
-Cease fire
-US guarantee
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Israelis
-Soviet Union
Vietnam
-Possible US military action
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Winston S. Churchill’s book on World War I
-On the Eastern Front
-Response to North Vietnamese action
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
-President’s comments at press conference
-President’s strategy
-Bombing of missiles sites
-President’s view
-Bombing
-Effect
-Laird, Richard M. Helms, William P. Rogers, Admiral Thomas H. Moorer meeting
-President’s position
-Briefing by Moorer
-Time
[Kissinger talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 8:44 am]
[Conversation No. 462-5A]
Forthcoming meeting on Vietnam
-Laird, Helms, Rogers, and Moorer
-Calls from General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Briefing on Laos and Cambodia
-Moorer
-Haig’s telephone calls
[End of telephone conversation]
President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Questions about President’s advisors on foreign policy
-Rogers
-Kissinger
-President’s comments
-Garnett D. (“Jack”) Horner
-Kissinger
-Calls from press
-Response
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 31s ]
Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
CANADA
[The President talked with the White House operator at 8:44 am]
[Conversation No. 462-5B]
[End of telephone conversation]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Preparation
-State Department, Kissinger
-The President’s role
-John F. Kennedy comparison
-The President’s role
-Possible Kissinger press statement
-Kissinger’s staff work
-State Department
Pakistan
-National Security Council [NSC] study
-Rogers, State Department
-Conflicting views
-US policy options
-Kissinger
President’s press conference
-Kidnaping of US soldiers in Turkey
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President’s comments
-Kissinger’s view
-Executive privilege
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 9:02 am
President’s schedule
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:04 am Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
[The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 9:02 am and
9:17 am]
[Conversation No. 462-5C]
President’s call to Pierre E. Trudeau
[End of telephone conversation]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National Security]
[Duration: 12s ]
CANADA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
******************************************************************************
Leadership
-On the Eastern Front by Churchill
-German generals
-President’s evaluation
-Erich F. W. Ludendorf
-Paul von Hindenburg
-[Forename unknown] von Schwanslof [?]
-General William C. Westmoreland
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Compared to General George S. Patton, Jr.
-Kissinger’s view
Forthcoming meeting on Vietnam
-Timing
-Congressional meeting
Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
Haig entered at an unknown time after 9:02 am
President’s press conference
-Haig’s view
Haig left at an unknown time before 9:19 am
Forthcoming meeting on Vietnam
-Participants
-Timing
The President’s press conference, March 4, 1971
-President’s response to Executive privilege question
-Rogers
-Congressional testimony
-Private meetings with congressmen
-Relationships with the President
-Public relations
-Foreign policy
-State Department views
-Agency input
-Department of State
-Department of Defense
-Laird
-Vietnam
-Troop levels
-President’s comments
-Number
-Review
-Announcement by President
-Forthcoming meeting with newspaper editors
-Television
-Timing
-Ellsworth F. Bunker’s view
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-General Nguyen Van Thieu
Vietnam
-Leadership
-President’s reading of Churchill book
-President compared with Lyndon B. Johnson
-Laos (Lam Son)
-Troop levels Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-Tchepone
-Support for the President
-Moorer’s previous conversations with Kissinger
-US victory prospects
-Kissinger’s view
-Military situation
-President’s press conference, March 4, 1971
-Questions on possible peace proposal
-The President’s response
-Possible effects of US withdrawal
-North Vietnam
-Cambodia, Laos
-Possible agreement
-Military situation
-Moorer
-Momentum
-Kissinger’s view
-Churchill book on World War I
-Germans, Russians, Austrians
-History of World War I
-von Hindenburg, Ludendorf
-Germans, Russians, Austrians
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[National Security]
[Duration: 49s ]
THAILAND Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
******************************************************************************
Brazil
-Possible visit
-Date
-State Department
-President’s instructions
President’s press conference, March 4, 1971
-News reports
-Taiwan, People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-President’s comments
-United Nations
Brazil
-Lieutenant General Vernon A. Walters
-Assignment
-President’s instructions
Italy
-President’s forthcoming letter to Pope Paul VI [Giovanni Battista Motini]
President’s leadership
-World role
-Effect of Vietnam
-Dutch leader
-President’s foreign policy report
-Impact in Europe
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
President’s “World Report”
-Distribution
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Members of White House staff and Cabinet officers
-Elliot L. Richardson
-President’s accompanying letter to foreign leaders
-Distribution
-US ambassadors Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-Importance
-US policy
-Relations with Soviet Union
-Contents
-President’s philosophy
-Press
-Joseph W. Alsop and Stewart J. O. Alsop
-Chalmers Roberts
-Evaluation
-Robert S. McNamara
-Cyrus R. Vance, Nicholas deB. Katzenbach
Vietnam and Laos (Lam Son)
-President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Laos (Lam Son)
-Prospects for success
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-Enemy supplies
-James C. Hagerty’s press report
-Moorer
-Level
-President’s comments
-Rationale for military action
-Decreases
-Effect
-Compared to previous year
-Laos
-President’s comments
-Press coverage
-Military situation
-Tchepone
-ARVN progress
-Importance
-Effect
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-ARVN progress
-President’s forthcoming meeting
-A report from Bunker
US foreign policy
******************************************************************************
Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[National Security]
[Duration: 19s ]
GERMANY
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
******************************************************************************
-Letter from President to the Pope
-Targut Menemencioglu
-State Department
-Peter G. Peterson
-Nathanial Samuels
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[National Security]
[Duration: 21s ]
GREAT BRITAIN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
******************************************************************************
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cevdet Sunay and Suleyman Demirel
-Domestic situation
-Greece
-Henry J. Tasca
-Pakistan
-Agha Muhommad Yahya Khan
-A policy review Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
******************************************************************************
-Khan
-The President’s position
-A possible letter from President to Khan
-Possible Presidential letters
-Lieutenant General T. N. J. Suharto
-Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi
-President’s previous meeting with Menemencioglu
-President’s position
-Suharto
-President’s foreign policy report
-Economy
-The President’s foreign policy report
-Dissemination to foreign leaders
-Accompanying letters from the President
-Yahya
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 51s ]
JAPAN Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
******************************************************************************
Vietnam
-Aleksei N. Kosygin
-Kissinger’s possible meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-President’s press conference
-US policy
-Bombing of North Vietnamese missile sites
-Justification
-President’s press conference, March 4, 1971
-US bombing
-Press inquiries to Kissinger
-Radio broadcasters’ dinner
-President’s press conference
-President’s demeanor
-Television
-Kissinger’s view
-Compared with Kennedy
-McNamara’s previous comments to Kissinger
-Cabinet
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 9:17 am
President’s schedule
-Rogers, Helms
-NSC meeting
-Possible statement to the press
-Quadriad meeting
-Possible press briefing by John B. Connally
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Ziegler left and Rogers, Laird, Moorer, and Haig entered at 9:19 am
Greetings
President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Ziegler
-Evaluated Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-Question on Executive privilege
-Rogers’ meetings with Congress
-Number
Meeting agenda
-Vietnam policy
Rogers and Laird
-Forthcoming press conferences
-Laird’s forthcoming Congressional testimony
-Anti-ballistic missiles [ABMs]
-Defense procurement
-Responses to questions
-Schedule
-Press conference
-Rogers
-Timing
-Press coverage
-Wire services
-Television
-Robert J. McCloskey, Ziegler
Vietnam
-Military situation
-North Vietnamese missiles
-US response
-Bombing
-President’s position
-Pass area
Military situation in Laos (Lam Son)
-ARVN First Armored Division
-Artillery support
-Routes 9, 914, 23, 92
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Location of ARVN troops
-Developments
-Abrams’ reports
-President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Comments about ARVN forces
-Public relations
-Rogers’ forthcoming press conference
-Bunker and Abrams Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-ARVN forces
-Enemy losses
-Abrams’ report
-Artillery, tanks
-Use
-Effectiveness
-An anecdote
-General John W. Vogt, Jr.
-Performance
-Briefings
-North Vietnamese supplies entering South Vietnam
-Enemy losses
Helms entered at 9:25 am
-Enemy build-up
-Route 9
-Abrams
-Thieu
-Possible action
-DMZ
-US countermeasures
-Capability
-Location
-Possible US response
-Trucks, missiles
Vietnam
-Thieu
-Possible ARVN offensive into North Vietnam
-US policy
-President’s press conference on March 4, 1971
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Enemy missiles, trucks, guns
-US countermeasures
-President’s statements
-US aircraft
-Supplies and equipment
-Lessons of military history
-Levels of force
-President’s position Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-Enemy missiles
-DMZ
-President’s Response
-US strategy
-Area of operations
-Public portrayal
-Rogers
-”Protective reaction”
-Bombing
-Public statements
-Protective reaction
-President’s previous statements
-Justification
-Press inquiries
-Nguyen Cao Ky
-US air support
-Bunker
-Vietnamization
-Public relations
-ARVN ability
-Compared to North Vietnamese forces
-Cambodia
-US air power
-Amount, type
-President’s position
-Increases
-Public opinion
-Duration of increase
-B-52 strikes
-President’s press conference, March 4, 1971
-Tricia Nixon’s comments
-W[illiam] Stuart Symington’s comments
Rogers left at 9:45 am
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 9:45 am
Refreshments
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 9:47 am
Vietnam
-US military actions Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-B-52 air strikes
-Numbers
-Churchill’s On the Eastern Front
-Lessons
-President’s position
-US military action
-Possible South Vietnamese military actions
-North Vietnam
Laird and Moorer left at 9:47 am
Laos
-Military situation
-Possible outcome
-US efforts
-Air strikes
-Preparations
-Long Thieng
-Vientiane
-Importance of public relations
-President’s view
-President’s view
-Kissinger’s view
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[National Security]
[Duration: 29s ]
LAOS Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
**********************************************************************
-Vientiane and Long Thieng
-Need for public relations
-Cambodia
-Health of unknown leader
-Effect of Laotian action
-North Vietnamese
-Press reaction
President’s press conference on March 4, 1971
-Questions
-Vietnam, Middle East, PRC, Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Possible result
-Press
-President’s comments
-Helms’ view
Vietnam
-Vietnamization
-Helms’ view
-President’s view
-Possible future
-Laos (Lam Son)
-ARVN forces
-The President’s decision
-Helms’ view
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Justification
-North Vietnamese forces
-Effect on future operations
-I Corps
-Public relations efforts
-Helms’ conversation with J. W. Alsop
-Importance
-President’s view Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-Effect on US position in the world
-Possible US withdrawal
-Need for action
-Public opinion
-Laos (Lam Son)
-Polls
-Possible US withdrawal
-1969
-Justification
-Impossibility
-Justification
-”Domino Theory”
-Indonesia
-Thailand
-Malaysia
-Philippines
-Japan
-India
-President’s policy
-Haig’s opinion
-US public opinion
-Kissinger’s meeting with student body presidents
-Discussion of President’s policy
-Media influence
-Importance for US
-President’s position
-Cambodia
-Helms’ view
US foreign policy
-Cuba
-President’s position
-Effect on Latin America
-Chile
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cuba’s foreign policy
-Communism
-Helms’ position
-US policy
-Latin America
-Chile
-President’s position
Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 36s ]
CUBA, ITALY, SPAIN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
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Catholic Church
-Ideological change
-President’s view
-Latin America
-Influence of Marxism
-American Catholics
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[National Security]
[Duration: 17s ]
SPAIN Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
******************************************************************************
-Study by Roger [Surname unintelligible]
-Contents
-Compared to Protestant Church
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Quakers
-Pacifism
-President’s policy
-Eastern Europe
-Poland
-Political orientation
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
[National Security]
[Duration: 42s ]
SPAIN, ITALY
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
******************************************************************************
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
US foreign policy
-Radio Free Europe
-Senate committee hearings
-Clifford P. Case
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with Bartlett
-Brazil
-Forthcoming visit to the US by Emilio Garrastazu Médici
-Department of State Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
-President’s position
-Latin America
-President’s policy
-Leadership
Leadership
-President’s view
-France
-General Charles A. J. M. de Gaulle
-Italy
-Spain
-Latin America
-Colombia
US foreign policy
-Latin America
-Helms’ view
-Possible 40 Committee meeting
-Nelson A. Rockefeller’s visit
-President’s view
-Chile
-Ecuador
-Brazil
-Argentina
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
[National Security]
[Duration: 16s ]
ARGENTINA Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
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-Importance
-Venezuela
-Oil
-Colombia
-Possible visits
-Peru
-Announcement
-Brazil
-Medici
-Announcement
-President’s view
-Population increases
-President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board [PFIAB]
-Latin America
-President’s view
-Compared to previous Southeast Asia trip
PFIAB
-Possible appointment of Thomas E. Dewey
-Call from Kissinger
-Possible call from the President
-Forthcoming meeting
-Schedule
-Dewey
-President’s view
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Helms’ schedule
-House and Senate Armed Services Committee
-Testimony
-Soviet Union
-PRC
Kissinger, Haig, and Helms left at 10:15 am
Conv. No. 462-5 (cont.)