Conversation: 639-014
Prev: 639-013 Next: 639-015Start Date: Saturday, December 18, 1971 7:10 PM
End Date: Saturday, December 18, 1971 7:31 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:25:34
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:46:12
NARA Description:
On December 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:10 pm to 2:31 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 639-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 639-14
Date: December 18, 1971
Time: 2:10 pm - 2:31 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Gen. Alexander M. Haig. Jr.
The President’s schedule
-Recent meeting with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Pakistan
-United Nations [UN]
-Bhutto’s speech
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 5s ]
PAKISTAN
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**********************************************************************
-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
-Toughness
-Future with US
-Possible outcome
-George H.W. Bush
-Feelings toward US
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
[Unintelligible]
-Effect on US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] relations
-President’s opinion
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Need for discretion
-US role
-Outcome of conflict
Middle East
-Haig’s opinion
-Possible trouble spots
-Egypt
-USSR involvement
-Kissinger
-Egyptian arms
-USSR air coverage
South Asia
-Gains in the Middle East
Middle East
-Negotiations
-State Department
-Egypt
-Possible frustrations
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 629-14 (cont.)
Pakistan
-USSR action
-Restraint
-Kissinger's role
-USSR view
-Yuli M. Vorontsov
-Meeting with USSR Agriculture Minister
-USSR-India relations
-Dacca
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 25s ]
INDIA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
**************************************************************************
-[Unintelligible]
-US position towards the USSR
-PRC role
-US plans
-USSR and PRC
-John A. Scali
Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-Objections
-Laos
-Cambodia
-Possibility for internal collapse
-Cambodia
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 629-14 (cont.)
-Gen. Lon Nol
-Health
-South Vietnam
-Unknown leader
-Forces
-Chup
-Regiment 271
-Rout 6
-Strategy
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] [South Vietnam]
-Air power
-ARVN
-Cambodians
-US strategy
-Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Post-Christmas offensive
-Air fields
-Mikoyan-Gurevich [MIGs]
-Military targets
-Vinh
-Off-shore forces
-South Vietnam
-Paris talks
-Postponement
-Enemy initiative
-Propaganda
-William J. Porter
-Performance
-Strategy
-Propaganda
-Analogy to Korean War
PRC
-PRC and USSR involvement
-Effect of India-Pakistan conflict
-US-PRC relations
-Strengthening of relations
-Laos
-Cambodia
-Possible beneficial effects
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 629-14 (cont.)
Haig left at 2:31 pm.