Conversation: 332-035
Prev: 332-034 Next: 332-036Start Date: Tuesday, April 25, 1972 3:50 PM
End Date: Tuesday, April 25, 1972 5:50 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Sanchez, Manolo; [Unknown person(s)]; White House operator; Kissinger, Henry A.; Andrews, John K., Jr.Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:08:57
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:55:31
NARA Description:
On April 25, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Manolo Sanchez, unknown person(s), White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and John K. Andrews, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:50 am to 12:50 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 332-035 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 332-35
Date: April 25, 1972
Time: 10:50 am - 12:50 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. Haldeman and Ronald L. Zielger.
News story
-Impact
Refreshment
US-Soviet relations
-Henry A. Kissinger's trip
-Helmut (“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt
-Ronald L. Ziegler's inability to reach Sonnenfeldt
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:50 am.
Refreshment
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 11:06 am.
US-Soviet relations
-Kissinger's trip
-Drama
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Secrecy
-Success
-Speculation as to Kissinger's location
-Paris
-Camp David
-Ziegler's briefing
-Time
-Possible questions
-Gerald L. Warren
-The President's decision on Vietnam policy
-Announcements
-Impact
-White House morale
-Opposition confusion
-The President's statement
-Time
-Announcement on television
-General situation in Vietnam
-Announcement
-Kissinger’s trip
-Soviet summit
-Ziegler's statement
-Vietnam
-The President's television address
Vietnam
-The President's supporters
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Attacks on Democrats
-Madam Nguyen Thi Binh's letter to Congress
-Advantages for administration
-Reaction of doves
-Rhetoric
-Congress
-Charge of support of enemy
-Winston Lord
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Robert A. Taft, Jr.
-Attacks on Democrats
-Repudiation of North Vietnamese and Madam Binh letter
-Reports in New York Times, Washington Post and news networks
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC], Columbia Broadcasting
System [CBS], and United Press International [UPI] reports
-The President's challenge to opponents
-Demand for repudiation of Binh letter
-Charles S. Gubser's statement
The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:50 and 11:06 am.
[Conversation No. 332-35A]
Dinner for congressmen
-Call to Clark MacGregor
-Invitation to Gubser
-Statement on Vietnam
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam
-Binh letter
-Comments
-Wayne L. Hays
-Alexander [first name or surname unknown]
The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:50 and 11:06 am.
[Conversation No. 332-35B]
Dinner for congressmen
-Invitations
-Hays
-Refusal to issue invitation
-MacGregor
-Number
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam
-Binh letter
-Comments
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Taft
-Challenge to Edward M. Kennedy
-The President's speech
-Ziegler's announcement
-Contents
-Appeal to hawks
-Press reactions
-Washington Post editorials
-Soviet summit
-Risks
-The President's decision
-Time
-Warren
-Camp David
-Kissinger's meeting in Moscow
-Time
-Camp David
-Ziegler's announcement
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin's statement
-Change of wording
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Andrei A. Gromyko
-Kissinger
Ziegler left at 11:06 am.
-White House staff
-The President's conversations with Charles W. Colson and MacGregor
-Colson's analysis of Kissinger's trip
-Negotiations
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Justification
-Publicity
-Colson's concern
-Publicity
-Continuation of bombing
-Publicity
-Conditions for cessation
-Wording
-Handling of critics
-MacGregor
-Colson
-Strategy
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-The President's speech
-Discussion with Kissinger
-Rhetoric
-Length
-Compared with November 3rd and Cambodia speeches
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 11:06 am.
Tobacco
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 11:17 am.
Vietnam
-The President's speech
-Approach
-Previous speeches
-Binh letter
-Reaction
-A. Eric Sevareid
-Contents
-Peace proposal
-Colson's reaction
-Kissinger
-The President's speech
-Conclusion
-Formulation
-Secrecy from staff
-US bombing
-Wording of statement
-Quotability
Compared with Lyndon B. Johnson's wording
-Follow-up
-Haldeman's role
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Public release
-Congress
-Resolutions
-Marches
-Calls to networks
-Poll
-George H. Gallup and Louis P>Harris
-Trial heats
-Questions
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Bombing
-Compared with Gallup-type questions
-Support for the President
-Release
-Other polls
-Gallup
-Harris
-Albert E. Sindlinger
-Questions
-Moscow summit
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 11:17 am.
-Ziegler's announcement of the President's speech
-Kissinger’s concern
-Soviets
-Brezhnev
-Delays in announcement
-Time
Ziegler left at 11:20 am.
-Kissinger’s concern
-Speech
-Drafts
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-William L. Safire
-Methods of review
-Kissinger
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Leonard Garment
-Problems
-Ziegler
-Desire for concensus
-Problems
Kissinger
-Press briefing
-Trip to Florida with the President
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Unknown actress
-Haig
-Schedule
-Fontainebleu Hotel
-Publicity
The President's schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Time
-Meeting with Kissinger
-The President's speech
-Lord
-Accuracy of certain points
-Creighton W. Abrams's report
-Trip to Florida
-Arrangements
-Time
-National Basketball Association [NBA] playoffs
-The President's speech
-West Coast time
-Announcement
-Interruptions
-Reception
-NBA playoffs
-Audience
-Size
Kissinger's trip
-Sonnenfeldt
-Ziegler's knowledge
-Secrecy
-Cover story
-Sonnenfeldt
-Trip to Camp David
-Paris
-Sonnenfeldt
-Activities
-Summit
-Liberals' views
-Risks from bombing
-Risks of future in Vietnam
-The President's reelection
44
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Vietnam
-Public relations efforts
-Colson
-Attacks on media
-The Vice President
-The President's speech
-Media reception
-Attacks on networks
-Contents
-Kissinger’s trip
-Melvin R. Laird
-Troop withdrawals
-Peace offers
-Soviet summit
-The President's speech
-Washington Post
-Reaction of opponents
- Washington Post
-Phone calls
-John D. Ehrlichman's call to Katharine L. Graham
- Washington Post editor
-Calls from Congressmen and Senators
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 57s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
*****************************************************************
Vietnam
-Kissinger's trip to Moscow
-Timing of announcement
-Colson's and MacGregor's concern
-Goldwater's speech
-Bombing
-Goldwater's speech
45
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Timing of information given to Goldwater
-Rejection of North Vietnamese demand
-The President's statement
-Kissinger's briefing
-Colson and MacGregor
-Washington Star
-Support
-Current situation
-The President's speech
-Announcement
-Timing
-Bad news
-Abrams
-Support of South Vietnam
-Binh letter
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
*****************************************************************
-The President's domestic position
-Diplomacy
-Kissinger's upcoming trip
-Summit
-Resumption of bombing
-Kissinger
-Congressmen
-The President's supporters
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
US-Soviet relations
-Kissinger's trip
-Cover
-Camp David
46
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Discovery
The President's schedule
-A graduation
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Ceremony
-Location
Vietnam
-Binh letter
-Patrick J. Buchanan memorandum
-Inclusion in speech
-Haldeman's advice
-The President's speech
-Length
-Troop withdrawals
-Bombings
-The President's policies
-Kissinger
-Justification for actions
-Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope's comments
The President's forthcoming speech
-Trip to PRC
Vietnam
-The President's speech
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Failure
-Abrams's views
-Impact on Congress and public opinion
-South Vietnam
-Evacuation of US forces
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Stakes in war
-Aid of Soviet Union
-Success
-Consequences
-Risks of other wars
-US goals
-Peace offers
-Consequences of failure
-Risks
47
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-1972 election
-Costs of failure
-US foreign policy goals
-South Vietnam
-Trips to PRC and Moscow
-Respect for US and the presidency
-The President's successors
-Dangers of defeat in South Vietnam
-Text
-Haldeman's opinion
-Tone
-The President's goals
-Victory
-Impact on critics
-Desire to surrender
-The President's supporters
-Encouragement
-Trip to Moscow
-Peace talks
-The President's speech
-Safire
-The President's mark
-Revisions
-Andrews
H. R. Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 11:20 am
and 12:00 pm.
[Conversation No. 332-35C]
[See Conversation No. 23-59]
The President conferred with Haldeman at an unknown time during the conversation.
Ziegler
-Press briefing
-Press reaction
Haldeman talked with an unknown woman at an unknown time.
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler at an unknown time.
[End of telephone conversation]
48
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Press
-Ziegler's briefing
-Question
-Kissinger's trip
-Credibility
-Public opinion
-Support for secrecy
-Ziegler's answer
-Plausibility
Vietnam
-The President's leadership
-John B. Connally's views
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Contrast in styles
The President's schedule
-Dinner for congressmen
-Reward for supporters
-Laird
-[Thomas S.?] Kleppe
-Invitation
H. R. Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 11:20 am and
12:00 pm.
[Conversation No. 332-35D]
-Rogers C. B. Morton
-Invitation
[End of telephone conversation]
Kissinger and Ziegler entered at 12:00 pm.
Press
-Ziegler's handling
-Secrecy of Kissinger's trip
-Kissinger's veracity
-Ziegler
-The President's call
-Ziegler's response
49
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Haldeman
-Publicity
-Scali
-Anecdote
-Ziegler's announcement
-Reading of statement
-Kissinger's briefing
-Press reaction
-The President's contacts with Brezhnev
-Brezhnev's title
-Mao Tse-tung's title
-William P. Rogers
-Reception for Kissinger
-Cordiality
-Discussion of Vietnam
-Benefits of meeting
-Rogers
-Vietnam
-Speculation
-Proper approach
-The President's goals in Vietnam
-Use of secret channels
-Meeting with Brezhnev
-Results
-Peter Lisagor
-Press reactions
-Compared with PRC trip briefing
-Kissinger's call to Graham
- Washington Post editorial
-Moscow summit
-Mistakes
-Moscow summit
-Reception for Kissinger
-Graham
-Philip L. Graham
-Death
-Washington Post editorial
-Views of eastern establishment
-Washington Post, New York Times, Time, Newsweek, and networks
-Call to Rogers
-Kissinger's trip to Moscow
-Discussions
-North Vietnamese delegate's trip
50
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Kissinger's briefing of press
-Laird and Connally
-Notification
-Connally's reaction to Kissinger's trip
-Soviets
-Naval strikes
-Preparations
-Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.
-Attacks
-Shore batteries
-Haig
-Range of guns
-Destroyers
-Zumwalt
-Destroyers
-Number
-Air strikes
-B-52s
-Targets
-Accuracy
-Intensity
-Destruction of targets
-Warehouses
-Docks
-Power Plant
-Accuracy
-Message to Brezhnev
-Binh letter
-Air strikes
-North Vietnamese losses
-Men
-Figures
-Laotian operation
-Military Region Three
-Military Region Four
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Units in south
-Army Of The Republic Of Vietnam [ARVN] units
-Losses
-North Vietnamese losses
-Saigon and Hanoi
-US attacks on north
-Power plants
51
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants [POL] dumps
-Docks
-US strikes
-Nuclear weapons
-South Vietnamese chances
-Kissinger's meeting with Brezhnev
-Significance
-Statements on bombing
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Soviet aid
-Brezhnev's reaction
-Soviet knowledge
-Extent of offensive
-Soviets
-Willy Brandt
-Soviet Summit
-Importance for Soviets
-Politburo meeting
-Kissinger's meeting with Yuli M. Vorontsov
-The President's message
-The President's trip to Moscow
-Divisive issue
-Kissinger’s meetings in Moscow
-Reception
-Press reaction
-Kitchen Cabinet
-Trips to Moscow
-Books and articles by reporters
-Clarence Fickiue [sp?], editor
-Cleveland Plain Dealer
-Press
-Kissinger's briefing
-Duration
-Press reaction
-The President's speech
-Announcement
-The President's decision on something
-Kissinger's report
Kissinger's trip to Moscow
-List of those who went
-Release
52
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Ziegler left at 12:28 pm.
US-Soviet relations
-Kissinger's trip
-Meetings with D. Kenneth Rush and Connally
-Connally's reaction
-The President's speech
-Kissinger's briefing
-Points to make
-Rejection of North Vietnamese terms
-Appeal to hawks
Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Cease-fire proposal
-Reaction
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Negotiations
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Conditions for resumption
-Kissinger's briefing
-Haig
-Zumwalt
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Richard M. Helms
-Rush
-Helms
-Response to Soviet trip
-Soviet trip
-Significance
-Negotiations
-Soviet transmittal of US messages
The President's schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Kissinger's presence
-Necessity
-Itinerary
-Arrangements
-Kissingers visitors
-Itinerary
-Dinner
53
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Publicity
-Unknown person
-Gifts to Kissinger
-Kissinger's presence
-Necessity
-Itinerary
-Return trip
-Weekend
-Publicity
Vietnam
-The President's efforts
-Air strikes
-Targets
-Soviet Union
-PRC
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Soviet Summit
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] agreement
-Benefits
-Possible cancellation
-Kissinger's call to Graham
-Kissinger's call to Ronald W. Reagan
-Air strikes
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 21
[Privacy]
[Duration: 7s ]
REAGAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 21
*****************************************************************
-Call to Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Kissinger's call to Reagan
-The President's courage
-Soviets
54
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Kissinger left at an unknown time after 12:28 pm.
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 22
[Privacy]
[Duration: 7s ]
REAGAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 22
*****************************************************************
-Possible call to Barry M. Goldwater
-Bombing
-Polls
-Public approval
-Gallup
-Wording of questions
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 57s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
-Possible meeting with Richard and Karen Carpenter [singing group]
-Lunch with Ken [surname unknown]
-Support for the President
-Tour of Oval Office
-Tricia Nixon Cox, Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
H. R. Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 12:40 and 12:46
55
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
pm.
[Conversation No. 332-35E]
-Arrangements
-Tricia Nixon Cox, Mrs. Nixon and Julie Nixon
Eisenhower
-Tour of White House
-Oval Office
-Rose Garden
-Greeting by First Family
[End of telephone conversation]
-First Family
-Meetings with celebrities
Vietnam
-Negotiations
-The President's strategy
-Bombing
-Intensity
-Purpose
-North Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Cease-fire
-Thieu's resignation
-Cease-fire
-Conditions
-Withdrawal of US Troops
-Muskie's Comments
-Soviet Summit
Andrews entered at 12:46 pm.
Andrews's meeting with the President
-Time
The President's speech
-Andrews's revisions
Haldeman left at 12:47 pm.
56
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
-Length
-Further questions
-Figures and facts
-Verification
-Lord
-Distribution of draft
-Limitations
-Lord
-Ziegler
-Haldeman
-Kissinger
-Draft
-The President's review
-Time
-Preparation
US-Soviet relations
-Kissinger's trip
-Secrecy
Andrews left at 12:50 pm.