Conversation: 559-008
Prev: 559-007 Next: 559-009Start Date: Tuesday, August 10, 1971 3:59 PM
End Date: Tuesday, August 10, 1971 5:04 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Matak, Sisowath Sirik; Porson, Sophia K.; Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie"); Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:11:31
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:15:56
NARA Description:
On August 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Sisowath Sirik Matak, Sophia K. Porson, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:59 am to 1:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 559-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 559-8
Date: August 10, 1971
Time: 11:59 am - 1:04 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Sisowath Sirik Matak and Sophia K. Porson.
Photograph
-President’s 1953 visit to Cambodia
-Location
-Angkor Wat
Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins and members of the press entered at 12:00 pm.
Press photograph
Atkins and the members of the press left at 12:02 pm.
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 12:02 pm.
Interpreter
Sisowath's reception in US
-Los Angeles
-Disneyland
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:02 pm.
Refreshment
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 1:04 pm.
Presentation to President
Cambodia
-People
-1970 invasion
-Media
-Predictions
-Associated Press [AP]
-Population
-Defense of country
-Territory
-Vietnam War
-North Vietnam
-Vietcong
-Cambodian military
-Volunteers
-Defense
-President's 1953 trip
-Norodom Sihanouk
-Neutrality
-Khmer people
-Communist forces
-Sanctuaries
-People
-Morale
-Support for government
-Defense plan
-Dividing line
-North and Northeast
-Population
-North Vietnamese
-People
-Support for government
-Percentage
-Communists
-North Vietnamese
-Percentage
-Large cities
-Phnom Penh
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.)
-Population
-Problems
-Water, food, electricity
-Prospects
-Military
-North Vietnamese forces
-Dry and rainy seasons
-Numbers
-Divisions
-Number
-First
-Cambodian action
-Route 4 Operation
-Kompong Som
-South Vietnamese
-Morale of people
-Phnom Penh
-US press
-Confidence
-North Vietnamese
-Territory
-North and Northeast
-Vietnam
-US presence
-Withdrawal
-Concerns
-Cambodia army
-US air support
-South Vietnamese forces
-Cooperation
-Effect on Cambodian population
-Khmer people and government
-Asia
-Nixon Doctrine
-US withdrawal
-People's Republic of China [PRC], Japan, Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics [USSR]
-Vietnam
-Cambodian support
-US relations with PRC
-US-PRC relations
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.)
-Universality
-PRC
-Proximity to Cambodia
-President's forthcoming meeting with Chou En-lai and Mao Tse-tung
-Possible effect
-US commitments
-Predictions
-Difficulty
-Position of PRC
-Matak’s experience
-Ambassador to PRC
-Asianization
-Geneva Agreement
-US presence
-Importance
-Air and sea forces
-Compared to ground forces
-US Congress
-View in Southeast Asia
-Japan
-Role
-Compared to PRC
-Cambodian security
-North Vietnam
Stephen B. Bull [?] entered at an unknown time after 12:02 pm.
National Press Club
Bull [?] left at an unknown time before 1:04 pm.
-USSR
-North Vietnam
-PRC
-US military presence
-Naval, air, ground
-Asia
-Defense responsibilities
-US aid
-Withdrawal
-South Vietnam
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.)
-US casualties
-US aims
-Asian independence
-Asian rim
-PRC
-Peace
-PRC
-Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Thailand
-Relations with PRC
-US commitments to other nations
-Asian independence
-Peace
-President’s forthcoming talks with PRC
-Possible effect
-Peace
-Melvin R. Laird, William P. Rogers
-Prime minister
-Laird, Rogers
-President’s statement
-President's visit, 1953
-Cambodians
-US military and economics aid
-US Congress
-Chief of State
-Lon Nol
-Communist aggression
-Goals
-Territorial integrity
-Freedom
-Possible postwar settlement
-Geneva Agreement
-PRC, Taiwan
-Matak's National Press Club appearance
-Angkor Wat
-The President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
Press conference
-President’s regrets
The President, et al. left at 1:04 pm.
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.)