Conversation: 718-002
Prev: 718-001 Next: 718-003Start Date: Wednesday, May 3, 1972 2:06 PM
End Date: Wednesday, May 3, 1972 2:19 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:13:55
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:28:39
NARA Description:
On May 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:06 am to 10:19 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 718-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 718-2
Date: May 3, 1972
Time: 10:06 am – 10:19 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.)
President's schedule
-A meeting
-Arrangements
-Time
-Meeting with L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III and Richard G. Kleindienst
-Announcement of appointment
-Time
-President's previous meeting with Republican Congressional leaders
-Kleindienst's schedule
-Time
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s role
-Kleindienst’s role
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 53s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 10:07 am.
Greetings
Meeting with Republican Congressional leaders
-Kissinger
-Support for President
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-New York Times reporters
-Craig Whitney [?] and Sydney Schanberg
-[First name unknown] Butterworth
Instructions to Haldeman
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.)
Kissinger's schedule
-Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG] meeting
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] negotiations
-Submarines
-Information leaks
-William P. Rogers's version
-Numbers
-Purpose
-Rogers
-Gerard C. Smith
-President's story
President's schedule
-Meeting with Kleindienst
-Time
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Melvin R. Laird's press conference
-South Vietnamese performance
-The President’s instructions
-Postponement
-J. Edgar Hoover funeral
-Laird's reluctance
Haldeman left at 10:10 am.
WSAG meeting
-Kissinger's attendance
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s attendance
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Course of action
-Letter to Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Tenor
-New proposals
-Further discussions
-President's message
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.)
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-South Vietnamese strengths
-North Vietnamese weaknesses
-Casualties
-Kontum, Hue
-Losses
-Divisions
-South Vietnamese military dispositions
-Kontum, Pleiku
-Abrams
-Tactics
-Possibility as Army Chief of Staff
-Chances of stopping
-Kissinger's evaluation
-South Vietnamese command
-Changes
-Gen. Hoang Xuan Lam
-Gen. Pham Van Phu
-South Vietnamese forces
-3rd Division
-Loss
-Remaining strength
-Kissinger’s view
-Hue
-Possible capture
-Strategy
-Kontum
-South Vietnamese
-Attitude toward communists
-Outcome
Kissinger's schedule
-WSAG meeting
-Meeting with President
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.)
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-William J. Porter
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer briefing
-Bombing plans
-Haiphong
-Laird's attendance
-Position on bombing
-US options
-Military action
-Soviet Summit cancellation
-Porter's instructions
-Moorer’s briefing
-Attendance by Kissinger and Haig
-Kissinger's meeting with President
-Time
President's schedule
-Hoover eulogy preparation
Porter
-Instructions for walkout
-William H. Sullivan
-Laird
-WSAG
-Sullivan
-Views
Kissinger left at 10:19 am.