Conversation: 709-019
Prev: 709-018 Next: 709-020Start Date: Monday, April 17, 1972 5:15 PM
End Date: Monday, April 17, 1972 5:28 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:37:34
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:50:56
NARA Description:
On April 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:15 pm to 12:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 709-019 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 709-19
Date: April 17, 1972
Time: 12:15 pm - 12:28 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Vietnam
Kissinger's conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-William P. Rogers's testimony
-Praise from Kissinger
-Kissinger's conversation with Dobrynin
-Purpose
-Interim compromise
-Difficulties
-Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr’s report
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
-North Vietnamese capabilities
-US response
-Negotiations
-US bombing
-Soviets
-Pressure
-Dobrynin
-Blockade
-Implementation
-Immediacy
-Upcoming elections
-Interim agreement
-Rejection
-Consequences
-Possible Soviet actions
-Advantages according to Kissinger
-Soviet Summit
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] summit
-Possible Middle East settlement
-Problem
-1972 election
-Continuation of war
-Possible outcome
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 709-19 (cont.)
-Haig’s report
-Cessation of offensive
-Prevention of future offensive
-Timing
-Assurance by the Soviets
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Possible actions by Hanoi
-US response
-Timing
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Failure
-Concern from Kissinger
-Blockade
-Impact
-Compared to 1969
-Weaknesses
-Circumvention
-Interim Solution
-POWs
-Haig report
-Military Region One
-South Vietnamese performance
-Increase in South Vietnamese strength
-US bombing
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Carriers
-Bombing support
-North Vietnam
-Number of sorties
-South Vietnam
-increase
-I Corps
-North Vietnamese weakness
-B-52s
-Ground action
-South Vietnamese strength
-Improved situation
-Compared with Laos operation
-Retreats
-Provincial capitals
-Demoralization of North Vietnam
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 709-19 (cont.)
-US strategy
-Military action
-Toughness from the President
-Peace offers
-Soviet Summit
-Preservation of US integrity
-Blockade
-Implementation
-Timing
-Threat
-Soviet Summit
-Meeting with Polish Ambassador [Witold Trampczynski]
-Cancellation
-Chances
-Symbolism
-Kissinger's Moscow meeting
-Press reports
Kissinger left at 12:28 pm.