Conversation: 158-004
Prev: 158-003 Next: 158-005Start Date: 28-Dec-1972 9:41 PM
End Date: 28-Dec-1972 10:47 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.;Recording Device: Camp David Study Table
NARA Description:
On December 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 9:41 pm to 10:47 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 158-4 Date: December 28, 1972 Time: 9:41 pm - 10:47 pm Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger. [See Conversation No. 237-7] Vietnam War -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel -Notification -William P. Rogers -[David] Kenneth Rush -Rogers’s location -Bahamas -Rush -Orders -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -Rush -Messages -Timing -Possible leak -Moorer -Rush -Rogers -U. Alexis Johnson -Announcement -The President’s and Gerald L. Warren’s location -Camp David -3- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-4 (cont’d) -Compared to Washington, DC -Tone -Negotiations -November 1972 round -White House -Television [TV] -Warren -North Vietnam’s position -Negotiations -November round -White House -Notification of supporters -Timing -Announcement -Effect -John C. Stennis -Tone -William E. Timmons -Office -Concerns -Forthcoming negotiations -Tone -Announcement -Reading -Warren -National Security Council [NSC] -Leaks -Howard K. Smith -Promises -Timing -Announcement -Notification -Johnson -Rush -Moorer -Leaks -Moorer -Timing -Rush -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-4 (cont’d) -Rogers -State Department -Richard M. Helms -Location -Mexico -The President’s attempt to contact -Middle East oil -Effect -Announcement -Interpretation -Effect -Interpretation -The President’s conversation with Col. Richard T. Kennedy -Warren’s press conference -Parameters -Written answers -“No comment” instruction -North Vietnam -“No comment” instruction -Interpretation -Question -Answer -Kennedy -Delivery to Warren -Timing -Timing -North Vietnam -Negotiations -North Vietnam’s rhetoric -Restraint -Kissinger’s statement -US statements -Press relations -Liberals’ view of bombing -Effect -Congressional relations -Time table -Reconvention -Kissinger’s schedule -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-4 (cont’d) -Departure for Paris -Meeting with Le Duc Tho -The President’s schedule -Possible meeting with leaders -Timing -Domestic agenda -John D. Ehrlichman -Reconvention -Republicans -Meeting with Michael J. Mansfield -Kissinger’s schedule -The President’s schedule -1972 election -Kissinger’s schedule -Hugh Scott -Briefing -The President’s schedule -Announcement -Briefing of leaders -Domestic matters -J. William Fulbright -Stennis -F. Edward Herbert -The President’s schedule -Domestic matters, foreign relations -Kissinger’s telephone call -Mansfield’s location -Montana -Congressional relations -[Thomas] Hale Bogg’s memorial service -Harry S. Truman’s memorial service -Departure for Paris -The President’s schedule -Domestic matters -North Vietnam’s position -Resumption of talks -Deadline -Timing -Delay -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-4 (cont’d) -Le Duc Tho’s departure for Paris -North Vietnam-Soviet Union relations -Kissinger’s conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Le Duc Tho’s health -Offer of Soviet Union doctor -US position -The President’s conversation with Kissinger -The President’s bombing decision -Effect on negotiations -Significance -Effect on negotiations -Nguyen Van Thieu -North Vietnam -Timing -Previous US bombing -Conditions -Media relations -Possible resumption of US bombing -Effect -Critics’ uncertainty -Congressional relations -Mansfield -Telephone call from Kissinger -Negotiations -Sensitivity -The President’s schedule -Meeting with leaders -Domestic matters