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Conversation: 158-009

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Start Date: 29-Dec-1972 11:24 AM

End Date: 29-Dec-1972 11:46 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.

Recording Device: Camp David Study Table

158-009.mp3

NARA Description:

On December 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:24 am to 11:46 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 158-9

Date: December 29, 1972
Time: 11:24 am - 11:46 am
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 237-14]

       Kissinger’s schedule
             -Conversation with an unknown person

       Vietnam War
            -Cessation of US bombing North of 20th Parallel
                 -The President’s conversation with Col. Richard T. Kennedy
                        -Report
                              -Kissinger’s conversation with Kennedy
                 -Announcement
                        -Public relations [PR]
                              -[David] Kenneth Rush
                                     -Negotiations
                                     -Demonstrations
                                     -Conversation with Kissinger
                                     -Loyalty
                                     -Media
                                     -Loyalty
                                     -Notification
                                     -Continuation of bombing
                                           -Kissinger’s view
                                           -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
                              -Kissinger’s view
                                     -Demonstrations
                                     -Press relations
                                     -Tone of announcement
                              -Settlement agreement
                       -13-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                Tape Subject Log
                  (rev. May-08)

                                        Conversation No. 158-9 (cont’d)

        -Congressional relations
              -Reconvention
              -Perception of administration vacillation
                    -Rush’s view
              -US bombing of North Vietnam
                    -Conditions for cessation
        -Gerald L. Warren
        -Congressional relations
        -Opinion makers
              -Kissinger’s possible role
                    -Effect
                          -North Vietnam
                          -Compared to State Department statement
                                -Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
   -Warren’s press conference
        -The President’s conversation with Warren
        -Rumors
              -Negotiations
              -Cessation of bombing
        -Tone
              -Questions
                    -Responses
                          -Ronald L. Ziegler
                          -Exchange of messages
                                -Negotiations
                          -Negotiations
                                -Cessation of bombing
                                        -Timing
                          -“No comment” instruction
                          -Cessation of bombing
                                -Negotiations
                                        -Tone
                          -Resumption of bombing north of 20th Parallel
                                -“No comment” instruction
                          -The President’s relationship with Kissinger
                                -Contacts
                                -Kissinger’s effectiveness
                                -Time, Newsweek
                                -John A. Scali
                        -14-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                Tape Subject Log
                  (rev. May-08)

                                         Conversation No. 158-9 (cont’d)

                                       -Ziegler
                                -Contacts
                                -Media relations
                          -DMZ
                          -Negotiations
                                -Specifics
                                       -Capitulation
                                -Settlement agreement
                                -Rush
                                -Timeframe
                          -Ziegler
   -Effect
          -Public relations
   -Kissinger’s press conference, October 26, 1972
   -Negotiations
   -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
          -Criticism
                 -Cambridge
   -Criticism of liberals
          -Harvard University
          -George S. McGovernites
                 -1972 election
   -Negotiations
   -Press relations
          -Bombing
                 -Effect
                       -Negotiations
                             -Rush
   -Jerrold L. Schecter’s conversation with Kissinger
          -Time cover story
                 -Bombing
                       -Effect
                             -Negotiations
                 -Kissinger’s schedule
                       -Vacation
                 -Change
   -North Vietnam’s position
   -Congressional relations
          -“Doves”
                          -15-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. May-08)

                                            Conversation No. 158-9 (cont’d)

                   -Reconvention
                   -Negotiations
                         -Paris
            -“Hawks”
                   -Bombing
                         -Effect
                                -Negotiations
      -Kissinger’s telephone calls
            -Ronald W. Reagan
            -Barry M. Goldwater
            -John C. Stennis
            -F. Edward Hebert
            -Gerald R. Ford
            -Carl B. Albert
            -Michael J. Mansfield
                   -Timing
                   -Announcement
            -Timing
                   -Nelson A. Rockefeller
                   -Reagan, Goldwater, Ford, Albert, Hebert
            -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                   -Col. Richard T. Kennedy’s telephone call
                         -Timing
            -“Hawks”
                   -Richard (“Dick”) Wilson
                   -Howard K. Smith
                   -William F. Buckley, Jr.
                   -Joseph W. Alsop
                   -Wilson, Smith
                   -Max Frankel
                         -New York Times
      -Press relations
            -New York Times, Washington Post
            -Negotiations
                   -Thomas Grey (“Tom”) Wicker
                   -The President’s success
-Strategy
      -Kissinger’s view
            -Resumption of bombing
                                             -16-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. May-08)

                                                         Conversation No. 158-9 (cont’d)

                                    -North Vietnam
                                          -Liberals
                  -Kissinger’s telephone calls
                        -Otis Chandler
                              -Los Angeles Times
                                    -Editorial
                              -Timing