Conversation: 277-018
Prev:  277-017 Next: 277-019Start Date: 15-Sep-1971 2:37 PM
End Date: 15-Sep-1971 3:15 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:16:27
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:50:12
NARA Description:
On September 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:37 pm to 3:15 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 277-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 277-18 Date: September 15, 1971 Time: 2:37 pm - 3:15 pm Location: Executive Office Building 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. [See Conversation No. 9-25] Henry A. Kissinger entered at 2:38 pm. [End of telephone conversation] Press conference, September 16, 1971 -Report on US foreign aid -Democratic elections -Statistics -Number of countries -Elective processes -Democratic elections compared to contested elections -Contested elections -William R. Tolbert, Jr. -Liberia -Elections -Number of countries -United Nations [UN] -US position on membership -Secretary of State -People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Taiwan, Republic of China -PRC trip -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston column -Forthcoming details -Vietnam -US relations with PRC -Vietnam -US military -Withdrawal -Protection of forces -Demilitarized Zone [DMZ] -North Vietnamese actions -Helicopters -National Security Council [NSC] meeting -Time -Arrangements -Troop withdrawals 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 277-18 (cont.) -Announcement -Speculation -Future announcements -Timing -Proposed announcement of troop withdrawal -Forthcoming South Vietnamese Presidential election -Nguyen Van Thieu -Negotiations -Announcement -Time -Thieu -Ambassador Ellsworth F. Bunker -Forthcoming South Vietnamese Presidential election -Thieu’s opponents -US foreign aid -Contested elections -Great Britain -Parliamentary procedures -Question and answer sessions -Position of Prime Minister -Speaker of the House of Commons Presidential press conferences -Format -On the record, no correction -Organization of conference Press conference, September 16, 1971 -Statements -Negotiations -Kissinger’s role Vietnam -Response -Congress -US patriotism -Elections in South Vietnam -Questions -Vietnamization -Republicans -Attitudes during phased US withdrawal 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 277-18 (cont.) -Opponents -Support of war -Current status -Lack of support -Chronology -November 3, 1969 Speech -Cambodia -Laos (Lam Son 719) Amchitka Nuclear nest -Timing -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] trip announcement -PRC trip -USSR -Timing of nuclear test -Proximity to time of announcement -The PRC -USSR -Timing of announcement [Unintelligible] Vietnam -Prisoner of war [POW] situation -Effect on election -Troop withdrawal -Timing of action -Possible questions on negotiations -Ceasefire -Military operations -Perceptions -Thieu -POW situation -US action -Troop withdrawal -Possible methods of negotiating -Deadline -Time Foreign affairs -USSR -Relations with PRC 23 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 277-18 (cont.) -Position in Southeast Asia -Relations -Negotiations -Moscow -Timing of Peking trip -US alternatives for proposal -Thieu -Position -USSR -The President’s forthcoming meeting with Andrei A. Gromyko -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Handling of negotiations -Reactions to recent developments -The President’s domestic opponents -Kissinger’s trip to the PRC -Peking -The President’s schedule Vietnam -Timing of action -November -Withdrawal of troops -Haig -Announcement of withdrawal -Military service draft -Number of troops -Time -Christmas period -Announcement -Additional announcements -Time -Type of announcement -Effect of announcement -Number of troops withdrawn -The President’s PRC trip -Troop withdrawal -The President’s trip to the USSR -Thieu -Importance of strength -Troop withdrawal -Effect 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 277-18 (cont.) -Election -Withdrawal -Timing -William F. Buckley -Thieu -Kissinger’s forthcoming meetings -US position -Timing -Fall 1971 -Thieu -Deadlines Kissinger left at 3:15 pm.