Conversation No. 35-2

Date: December 26, 1972
Time: 4:36 pm - 4:52 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Charles W. Colson.

       White House Staff's travel plans
            -Henry A. Kissinger
            -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                  -Trip to West Coast
                        -Working habits

       Public relations [PR]
             -Colson's conversation with Kissinger
                    -Timing
                          -The President’s conversation with Colson
             -The President’s conversation with Kissinger
                    -Kissinger’s schedule
                          -Palm Springs
             -John A. Scali and Kenneth W. Clawson
             -Ronald L. Ziegler
             -Gerald L. Warren
             -The President’s view
             -News stories
                                     -2-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                             Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. Oct.-07)

                                                       Conversation No. 35-2 (cont’d)

           -Harry S. Truman's funeral
                 -Nicaragua earthquake
                 -Vietnam War
           -Truman's funeral
                 -Public exposure for the President
                       -Scali and Clawson’s view
                       -Public statements
                             -December 26, 1972
                 -Documentaries on Truman’s life
           -Football
                 -Rose Bowl
     -US activities
           -Weekend
     -Possible statements on Vietnam
           -Kissinger
           -William P. Rogers
           -Melvin R. Laird
           -Possible effect
                 -Current developments
           -William E. Timmons
                 -Congress
                       -Possible actions
           -Current developments
                 -Kissinger
           -Possible news events
                 -Clawson and Scali’s view
                 -Possible speech by the President
                       -Timing
                             -Event or development
                                    -Prisoners of War [POWs] wives
                                    -Network coverage
                             -Tone
                             -US bombing of North Vietnam
                                    -Explanation

Vietnam War
     -US bombing of North Vietnam
          -Effects on North Vietnam
                -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
                -Compared to May 8, 1972 mining, bombing
                                      -3-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Oct.-07)

                                                         Conversation No. 35-2 (cont’d)

                  -Targeting
                  -Effects on civilians
           -Albert E. Sindlinger’s view
                  -Explanation of US bombing
     -Possibilities
           -Negotiations by North Vietnam
                  -Compared to the President’s June 1972 trip to the Soviet Union
                        -The President’s May 8, 1972
                  -Reason
           -Cessation of bombing to release POWs
                  -Popular support
                        -The President’s view
                  -Terms
                        -US withdrawal
                        -Future assistance of South Vietnam
                              -Assistance of North Vietnam by its allies
           -Negotiations
                  -The President’s view
                        -End of war
           -Burden of decision making
                  -Truman
                        -Popularity
                              -Compared to the President’s
                                     -1972 election
                              -[Korean War]
                              -Alger Hiss case
                                     -The President as Congressman
                              -Korean War
                                     -Yalu River
                                          -Bombing

John A. Scali
     -United Nations [UN] appointment
           -Reaction
           -Kissinger’s reaction
                 -Ziegler
                 -New York
     -Alleged leaks
           -Kissinger’s view
                 -Nicholas P. Thimmesch
                                       -4-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                                (rev. Oct.-07)

                                                        Conversation No. 35-2 (cont’d)

                        -Colson
                  -State Department
     -Support for the President
     -Loyalty to the President
     -Ability as ambassador
           -Compared to Henry Cabot Lodge
           -Compared to George H.W. Bush
           -Toughness
     -Policy stands
           -Loyalty to the President's policy
     -Vietnam War
           -US Relations with Nguyen Van Thieu
     -Alleged leaks
     -Loyalty to the President

Kissinger
      -Meeting with Charles H. Percy
           -Colson’s schedule
           -Percy’s trip to Asia
           -Effect
                 -Build up of Percy
                        -Presidency
      -Louis P. Harris poll
           -Colson’s role

Harris poll
      -News on Vietnam negotiations
            -The President’s view
      -Timing
            -Mailing
                  -Press people
                        -Colson
      -Content
            -Kissinger
            -The President's handling of Vietnam
      -Views of Kissinger as negotiator
            -Results
            -"Peace is at hand," comment [in October 26, 1972 press conference]
                  -Intent
                  -Effect
                                               -5-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Oct.-07)

                                                                  Conversation No. 35-2 (cont’d)

                         -The President’s address to the Nation, “Look to the Future,”
                          November 2, 1972
                               -Importance
                   -The President’s relationship with Kissinger
                   -Kissinger's identity outside of administration
                         -Image
                               -Lifestyle

       Kissinger
             -Thimmesch article
                   -Kissinger’s reaction
                   -Tone
                   -Criticisms of Kissinger vis-a-vis the President
             -Joseph C. Kraft
             -Thomas W. Braden
             -Meeting with Percy
                   -Duration
                   -Haldeman
                   -White House personnel policy
                   -Colson’s telephone call to Kissinger’s office
                   -Scali