Conversation: 320-028
Prev: 320-027 Next: 320-029Start Date: 8-Feb-1972 3:15 PM
End Date: 8-Feb-1972 5:06 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Connally, John B.; McNamara, Robert S.; Kissinger, Henry A.; White House photographer; Ziegler, Ronald L.;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:58:35
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:43:48
NARA Description:
On February 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, John B. Connally, Robert S. McNamara, Henry A. Kissinger, White House photographer, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:15 pm to 5:06 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 320-028 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 320-28
Date: February 8, 1972
Time: 3:15 pm - 5:06 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with John B. Connally, Robert S. McNamara, and Henry A. Kissinger; the
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.
Seating
Cartoons
-Russell B. Long
-The President’s visit to the Harry S. Truman Library in 1969
-Lyndon B. Johnson Library
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Asian subcontinent
-Political problems
-Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ceylon, Bangladesh
-Ceylon
-Sirmavo Bandaranaike
-International Monetary Fund [IMF] and World Bank
-Insurgency
-Relationship with World Bank
-Performance
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[National Security]
[Duration: 27s ]
CEYLON
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-Cabinet
-Communists
-Military operations
-Detention camps
-Numbers
-Military operations
-Instability
-Nepal
-Stability
-Dependence on India
-PRC
-Advantages to geographic location
-Economy
-US aid
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-Bi-lateral
-Rupee situation
-McNamara’s talk with [Kirti Nedhi Bista]
-Chou En-lai
-India
-Aid
-Pakistan
-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
-Intelligence
-University of California, Berkeley
-Compared to unknown person
-Ambition
-Interests
-US
-Unrest
-Student
-Frontier problems
-Northwest
-Territory seized in war with India
-Repatriation of prisoners
-Performance in India-Pakistan War
-Pakistani army
-1965 war
-USSR
-Amount of aid to India
-US support
-Amount for India
-McNamara’s previous conversation with Bhutto
-Bhutto
-Political prospects
-Pakistani army
-Mujibar Rahman
-Karachi
-Recognition of Bangladesh
-Bulgaria
-Australia
-New Zealand
-Great Britain
-Political prospects
-Bangladesh
-Destruction caused by India-Pakistan War
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-McNamara’s talk with Mujibar Rahman
-Deaths
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[Duration: 1m 30s ]
SOUTH ASIA
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-Emotional content of war
-Rahman
-Tone of meeting with McNamara
-Arms shipments to Pakistan
-Attitude toward US
-Aid programs
-India
-McNamara’s talk with Indira Gandhi
-The President’s forthcoming trip to the PRC
-Importance
-US aid to Pakistan
-Military
-Airplanes
-PRC aid to Pakistan
-Soviet aid
-US interests
-Number of USSR arms
-State of the population
-Standard of living
-Bangladesh
-United Nations [UN] involvement
-Aid
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-Sources
-Belgium, Britain
-Quantity
-From US
-Funds
-Amounts
-Kissinger’s call to unknown person
-Unknown ambassador
-Pakistan
-Rescheduling debt
-McNamara’s talk with Bhutto
-Allocation of resources
-US steps
-Humanitarian aid
-Military-political aid
-Benefits
-Raising revenues [?]
-Economic aid
-Benefits
-Probable results
-Diplomacy
-Benefits
-Special contact
-Emissary
-Quiet contact
-Accomplishments of aid
-India
-Accomplishments of quiet contacts
-McNamara’s advice to Gandhi
-The President’s contacts with Gandhi
-Congressional problems
-Presidential power
-Sub-continent potential
-Aid program
-Possible results
-President’s support
-Political support
-Diplomacy in India
-UN
-Humanitarian aid
-Refugees
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-Return to Bangladesh
-Problems
-Gandhi
-Lakshmi Kant Jha
-Kenneth B. Keating
-Triloki Nath Kaul’s relationship with USSR
-Kissinger’s previous and future conversations with Jha [?]
-Forthcoming world report
-McNamara contacts
-Need for quiet diplomacy
-Bilateral us aid bill
-Reinstatement
-British
-Japanese
-Quiet aid
-Consortium for aid
-US participation
-Timing
-Amount of money involved
-Humanitarian aspect
-Recommendation of McNamara
-PRC
-Attitudes towards Bangladesh
-Gandhi
-US participation
-British
-Announcement
-PRC
-USSR
-Bangladesh
-Pragmatism
-Bangladesh
-Emissary
-PRC trip
-Counsel
-UN
-Benefits
-Identity
-Qualifications
India
-Aid programs
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-The President’s possible involvement
-Reactions
-Bangladesh
-Press conference question
-Emissary
-Identity
-Unknown person
-Familiarity with area
-PRC
-Possible attitude
-US, India, USSR
-Possible confrontation between Chou En-lai and Bhutto
-India
-Jha
-Kaul
-Compared to Egon Bahr
-Previous US aid
-Magnitude
-History of US aid
-Results
-US commitment
-British aid
-Japanese aid
-Nature of aid agreement
-Normalization of relations
-Role of aid in halting USSR expansion
-Iran
-Pakistan, India, Ceylon, Nepal
-Concerns
-Nepal
-Chou En-lai
-Need for a relationship with India
-PRC reaction
-Relationship with India and the USSR
-Effect on US-PRC relations
-Geopolitics
-PRC position
-Attitudes
-USSR position
-Attitudes
-Chinese qualities
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-Indian position
-Goals
-Bangladesh
-Context of larger picture
-Possible scenarios
-Humanitarianism
-British
-Need for discussion
-Later discussion
McNamara and Kissinger left at 4:20 pm.
Qualifications of McNamara
McNamara evaluation
-Objectivity
-John Petty
-Paul A. Volcker
-Humanitarian angle
-Trade
-Aid
-Expenditure of resources
-Amount
-President’s upcoming trip to PRC
-Possible meeting with Antonio Ortiz Mena
-President’s instructions
-Connally’s role
-Connally’s upcoming conversation with Ortiz Mena
-Latin America
Chile situation
-Pressure
-Arguments
-Foreign minister
-Economy
-Expropriations
-US aid
-Effect
-Subsidizing communization of Chile
-USSR aid
-USSR economy
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-USSR requests for credits from US
-Developing resources
-Amount
-Extent of Chile’s needs
-Desire for support
-Chilean elections
-Salvador Allende Gossens
-Effect of US aid
-Potential problems
-Paris
-Argentina
-Gen. Juan Domingo Péron
-The President’s talk with Lt. Gen. Alejandro A. Lanusse, February 7, 1972
-Connally’s schedule
-Upcoming meeting with Finance Minister
-Alternatives to aid
-World Bank
-International Monetary Fund [IMF]
-American business in Argentina
-Unknown US company
-Benefits to Argentina
-Pérons
-Qualifications
-European influence
-Economy
-Compared to Italy before World War II
-Uruguay
-Meat imports
-Latin American capability
-Effect of subsidization
Congressional strategy
-Trade bill
-Timing
-Japan and European community
-Status
-Communiqué from Kissinger
-Georges J.R. Pompidou
-Trade negotiations
-France
-Potential problems
21
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-European community
-PRC
-Canada
-US position
-End of negotiations
-Canadian elections
-Timing
-Offers
-Canadian initiatives
-Discussions with State Department, Kissinger, Peter M. Flanigan,
Department of Commerce
-Maurice H. Stans’s opinion
-Previous conversation with Connally
-Canadian strategy
-Bill presentation
-Status of negotiations
-Connally view
-William P. Rogers
-Committee-Administration relations
-Canada talks
-Melvin R. Laird
-Connally’s upcoming conversation with Laird
-Timing
-Defense agreements with Canada
-Status
-McNamara
-Canadian surplus
-Laird
-Canadian desires
-Connally comparisons
-Connally’s opinion
-Future of US power
-Military compared to economic power
-Particular time in US history
-Economy
-Basis for future decisions
-France
-Arthur F. Burns
-Dollar drop
-Convertibility of the dollar
-Wage and price controls
22
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-US economic strength
-Defense of the dollar
-Possible effectiveness
-French desires
-Gen. Charles A.J.M. de Gaulle
-Feelings toward currency policy
-Bill presentation
-Explanation of problems
-The President’s credibility
-Quality of package
-Canada
-Congressional opinions
-Japan
-Administration strategy
-Canada
-Europe
-Slight setbacks for the Administration
-Prospects of success in talks
-Administration goals
-Seeking progress
-State department opinion
-Diplomacy
-Continuation of fair treatment
-Progress
-Canada
-Rogers’s opinion
-Connally’s opinion
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 4:40 pm.
President’s schedule
-Announcements
-Foreign policy report
-Timing
-Upcoming briefing
-Gerald L. Warren
Ziegler left at 4:42 pm.
Connally’s schedule
23
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
Rogers’s schedule
President’s schedule
-Volunteers dinner
-Timing
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[Duration: 6m 54s ]
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Connally’s schedule
-George Washington’s birthday celebration in Laredo
-Proximity to Mexico
-Golf
-Acapulco
-Houston
-Connally’s upcoming speeches to mortgage bankers’ convention and the Santa
Gertrudis Association
-Stock show
-Attendance
The President’s schedule
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
24
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
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[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 38s ]
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The President’s schedule
-Length of stay
-Connally’s schedule
-Abilene Christian University
-Past visit
-Crowds
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 29s ]
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 15s ]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 57s ]
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The President’s schedule
-Abilene
-Location
-Religious community
-Benefits
-California
Connally’s schedule
-Press event
-John W. Chancellor
-Headliners
-Eva Gabor
-Miss World
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
-Houston
-Colorado
-Boston
-Crowd reception
The President’s schedule
-California
-Need to maintain contacts
-Difficulties
Connally’s schedule
-Reception in Fort Worth, Texas
-Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court
-Connally’s upcoming speech to the Santa Gertrudis Association
-Houston
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 57s ]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
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27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)
Santa Gertrudis cattle
-Origin of name
-Creek
-King Ranch
-Mexican tradition
Value added tax [VAT] memorandum
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Receipt by President
-Property tax
-Benefits
-Tax strategy
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Tone of memorandum
-Ehrlichman
-New York Times
-Ways and Means Committee
-George P. Shultz
-Loopholes
-Administration strategy
-Tax bill
-Connally’s talk with the President at San Clemente
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[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 20s ]
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The President and Connally left at 5:06 pm.