Conversation: 670-018
Prev: 670-017 Next: 670-019Start Date: Monday, February 14, 1972 8:05 PM
End Date: Monday, February 14, 1972 8:45 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Goulli, Slaheddine El; Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Buckley, James L.; Korologos, Thomas C.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:02:32
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:43:08
NARA Description:
On February 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Slaheddine El Goulli, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, James L. Buckley, and Thomas C. Korologos met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:05 pm to 3:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 670-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 670-18
Date: February 14, 1972
48
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-16 (cont.)
Time: 3:05 pm - 3:45 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Slaheddine El Goulli and Henry A. Kissinger.
Greetings
Photograph opportunity
Greetings to Habib Bourguiba
Kissinger
-El Goulli
People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Impact on world
El Goulli left at 3:06 pm.
Vietnam
-Message
-Possible rejection
-Action
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:06 pm.
Thomas C. Korologos
-Arrival
Bull left at an unknown time before 3:45 pm.
Vietnam negotiations
-The President’s peace proposal speech, January 25, 1972
-Secret channel
-Stories
James L. Buckley and Korologos entered at 3:07 pm.
Seating arrangements
Buckley’s Far East trip
49
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-18 (cont.)
-Length
-South Pole
-Ceremony
-Flag
-Treaty
-US territory
-PRC trip
-Return
-Marshall Greene’s travels
-Anchorage
-Japan
-Korea
-Taiwan, Republic of China
-Indonesia
-Australia
-New Zealand
-Thailand
-Media
-State Department
-Indonesia
-Thailand
-Vietnam
-Taiwan
-South Korea
-Japan
-Indonesia
-Conservative
-Buckley’s previous visit
-US aid
-Difficulties
-Indonesia
-Military
-US Senate
-US
-Buckley’s comments at National Press Club
-Allaying leadership fears
-Nixon Doctrine
-Media
-Nixon Doctrine
-President’s news summary
-Media
50
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-18 (cont.)
-Effect
-Vietnam
-Thailand
-Indonesia
-South Korea
-Taiwan
-J. William Fulbright
-Media
-Washington Post, New York Times, Time and Newsweek
-Leadership
-Chinese
-Possible Administration action
-Senators
-United Nations [UN]
-Support of Nixon Doctrine
-South Korea
-Bilateral relations
-Treaty
-Unification of Korea
-Chinese
-South Korea
-The President’s forthcoming PRC trip
-Position
-Japan
-Soviets
-North Korea
-Japan
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Nuclear arms
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 32s ]
JAPAN
51
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-18 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**************************************************************************
-PRC
-Kissinger’s talks
-Japan
-Sense of destiny
-Economy
-Expansionism
-History
-Treaty
-US and Japan
-Soviets
-Chinese
-South Korea
-Malaysia
-Buckley’s possible meeting with Lee Kuan Yew
The President’s forthcoming PRC trip
-Return
-Possible report to American people
-Mutual defense treaty
-Reassurances
-Détente
-Nixon Doctrine
-Congress
The President’s forthcoming trip to the USSR
-Timing
Asia
-Soviets
-PRC
-Avoiding sophisticated weapons
-Soviets
-Chinese
-1964-65
-Ho Chi Minh
-Military assistance
52
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-18 (cont.)
-USSR aid to Vietnam
-Tanks
-Laos
-Compared to those provided by US to South Vietnam
-Guns
-Congress
-Disarmament
-Involvement
-Thailand
-Indonesia and Australia
-Domino Theory
-South Vietnam
-Cambodia
-Prospects
-Buckley’s view
-Observations on recent trip
-Kissinger’s view
-Laos
-Status
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National Security]
[Duration: 21s ]
LAOS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
**************************************************************************
Vietnam
-Military operations
-Laos
-Long Tieng
-Timing
53
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-18 (cont.)
-Bombing
-Meo tribal forces
-North Vietnamese
-Laos
-Budget constraints
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-1967, 1968
-Bombing
-Carriers
-Saturation bombing
-Possible offensive
-Timing
-1972 election
-Election
Buckley
-Written summary of trip for Kissinger
-Country by country analysis
Buckley’s Far East trip
-Hong Kong
-PRC
-State Department
-Buckley meetings
-The President’s travels abroad
-Embassies
The President’s forthcoming PRC trip
-Possible impact on US allies
-Need for reassurance
-Possible impact on world
-PRC, USSR
-Chinese
-Change
-Length of time
-Communism
-Korea
-Involvement
-Vietnam
-PRC
-Nuclear power
54
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-18 (cont.)
-US support
-Japan
-Thailand
-Future
-PRC’s strength as a world leader
-The President
-Soviet policy
-Cuban Missile crisis
-US nuclear advantage
-Moscow
-Change in strategic balance
-Risks
-Changes
-Philosophy
-Invitations to press
-Joseph C. Kraft
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
Housing
-Scattered housing
-Federal government role
Northern Ireland
-The President’s previous conversation with John M. (“Jack”) Lynch
-Edward R.G. Heath
-History
-Irish Republic
-Heath
-Lynch
Kissinger’s background
Buckley, Kissinger, and Korologos left at 3:45 pm.
55
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)