President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the tactical situation in Vietnam, specifically the successful use of B-52 strikes and air power to stabilize the defense around Route 13 and An Loc. The two review reports from General Alexander Haig and General James Hollingsworth, expressing confidence that South Vietnamese forces can withstand current enemy pressure. Additionally, the pair coordinates arrangements for Kissinger's upcoming trip to Moscow, including a strategy to manage Secretary of State William P. Rogers's involvement and the planning of a private, secure meeting at Camp David to finalize preparations.
On April 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 3:35 pm to 3:54 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-159 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 22-159
Date: April 16, 1972
Time: 3:35 pm - 3:54 pm
Location: White House Telephone
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.
Vietnam
-Report from Alexander M. Haig, jr.
-Air strikes
-Success
-Talk With Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Talk With Gen. James F. Hollingsworth
-Third Corps
-Route 13
-Unknown cities
-B-52s
-An Loc
-Situation
-Enemy movement
-Tanks
-Artillery
-Stabilization
-Air strikes
-Tactical situation
-21st Armored Division
-5th Division
-Duong Van Minh
-Third Corps
-North Vietnamese losses
-Hollingsworth’s estimates
-Tanks
-T-54s [?]
-An Loc
-Morale of garrison
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] morale
-Vietcong
-I Corps
-Fourth Corps
-Con Tien
-Survey team
-Change in attitude
-US aircraft
-US naval reinforcements
-Rebuilding
-Future strategy
-US position
-Kissinger’s view
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Liberals
-Cambodia
-David K.E. Bruce
-Arthur F. Burns
-Comment to Rose Mary Woods
-Support for the President’s stands
-Soviet Union
-Navigator
-Pilot
-Criticism
-Victory
-ARVN
-Blockade
-Haig’s report
-North Vietnamese losses
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, jr.
-Use of US power
-Reinforcements
-Air strikes
-Number of sorties
-B-52s
-Effectiveness
-Tactical aircraft
-Phantoms
-Israelis
-US
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[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-012. Segment declassified on 12/08/2017 and 08/23/2017. Archivist: AY]
[National Security]
[022-159-w001]
[Duration: 42s]
Vietnam
-Hanoi campaign
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Vietnam
-Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China (PRC)
-Hanoi
-Soviet Union
-German Treaty
-Kissinger’s forthcoming trip
-B-52 strike
-Richard M. Helms talk with Kissinger
-Lyndon B. Johnson strategy
-The President’s view
Kissinger’s meeting with an unknown person
Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with the President
-Kissinger’s forthcoming trip to Moscow
-The President’s schedule
-Camp David
-Date
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Message to Chinese
-The President’s schedule
-Domestic issues
-Kissinger’s preparations
-Camp David
-Kissinger’s arrival for meeting
-Plans
Kissinger’s forthcoming trip to Moscow
-William P. Rogers
-Notification of Kissinger’s trip
-Haig and Haldeman
-Kissinger’s meeting with the North Vietnamese and Soviets
-Date
-Paris
-Kissinger’s departure
-Results
-Possible conversation between Rogers and Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Message from Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Substance
-Haldeman and Haig
-Need for notification
-Possible US-North Vietnam meeting in Paris
-Soviet request
-Kissinger discussion of Vietnam matter
-Possible attendance of North Vietnamese
-Private meetings
-Arrangements
-Rogers’s knowledge of private meetings
-Haig
-The President’s talking paper
-Kissinger’s previous talks with Rogers
-Receipt of talking paper
Haig’s return
Kissinger’s departure
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with the President
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Dinner party
-Newspaper editors
-Appearance
-Departure
-The President’s travel plans
-Key Biscayne
-Camp David
-Advantages
-Privacy
-Ronald L. Ziegler
The President’s schedule
-Forthcoming reception for editors
-Camp DavidThis transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.