Conversation: 380-001
Prev:  379-019 Next: 380-002Start Date: 28-Dec-1972 9:35 AM
End Date: 28-Dec-1972 10:23 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bull, Stephen B.; Kennedy, Richard T. (Col.); Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On December 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Col. Richard T. Kennedy met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:35 am to 10:23 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 380-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 380-1 Date: December 28, 1972 Time: 9:35 am - 10:23 am Location: Executive Office Building The President met with Stephen B. Bull. The President’s schedule -Col. Richard T. Kennedy Kennedy entered at 9:35 am. The President's schedule Nicaragua earthquake relief -The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Duration -Travel arrangements -Airplane with nurses, doctors -Press -Symbolism -Flight -Duration -Compared to trip to San Clemente -Timing -Anastasio Somoza Debayle -Arrival sites -Helicopters -Helicopters -Number -Secret Service -[Managua] -Refugee center -Military hospital -Ambassador's residence -US embassy -Destruction -2- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -Press pool -Press relations -Food aid -Symbolism -Milk, beef -Aid requirements -Medical aid -Food -Symbolism -Diversion of ships -Wheat, flour -Guatemala -Field hospital -Tents -Tools -Symbolism -Return to White House or Key Biscayne -Timing -Turner B. Shelton’s recommendation -Symbolism -Good neighbor -Negative Aspects -The President’s trip to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1972 and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon’s trip to Peru -Mrs. Nixon’s trip to Peru -Further tremors -Managua -Refugees -Casualties -Somoza’s announcement -Looting -Division of city -Managua -Refugee center -Press relations -Humanitarianism -US bombing of North Vietnam -Richard A. Moore -H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -Schedule -3- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -Moore’s view -Managua -Possible trip by Presidential representative -Charles A. Meyer -Possible Oval Office meeting -John A. Hannah -John A. Scali -Ambassadorship to United Nations [UN] -Role -Hannah -Scali’s role -Press relations -Advantages -Scali’s schedule -The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Symbolism -Latin America -Press relations -Vietnam War -Inner critics -The President’s first trip to Latin America -Latin American governments -Somoza -Scali’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Shelton -The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Press relations -Travel arrangements -Helicopters -Managua -Destruction -Trucks -Refugee center -Truck companies -Helicopters -Latin American government’s aid -Surplus -War -Relief efforts by US citizens and government -Coordination -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -State Department Task Force -Recent newspaper article -Volunteer agencies -Bangladesh -Task Force -David Lazar -Maurice J. Williams -Bangladesh -Agency for International Development [AID] -State Department -Hannah -State Department -Concern by Administration -Capabilities -Red Cross -Camp Fire girls -Business sector -Military -Press relations -Gerald L. Warren -The President’s meetings -Shelton -Williams -Possible trip to Nicaragua -Responsibility -Possible meeting with the President -Telephone call -Hannah -Responsibility -Task Force -State Department -AID -Defense Department -Previous work -Reports to the President -The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Helicopter -Timing -Bull’s forthcoming call to Shelton -Recommendation -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -Duration -Williams’ possible trip to Nicaragua The President’s schedule Nicaragua earthquake relief -Bull’s forthcoming call to Shelton -The President’s appreciation for Shelton’s work -The President’s interest -Coordination -The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Timing Bull left at 10:23 am. -The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua -Appeal -Christmas season -Humanitarianism -Latin America -Limitations to US action -Incompetence -Corruption -Symbolism -Africa -Press relations -Vietnam War Vietnam War -Forthcoming messages from North Vietnam -Response to US message of December 27, 1972 -The President’s recent conversation with Henry A. Kissinger -Kennedy’s recent conversation with an unknown person -Resumption of negotiations -Conditions -Technical talks “Serious” tone -Kissinger’s forthcoming meetings with Le Duc Tho, January 8, 1973 -October 1972 understandings -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -November and December 1972 modifications -Protocols -Forthcoming press statement by North Vietnam -Timing -Cessation of US bombing North of the 20th Parallel -December 18, 1972 -US bombing South of the 20th Parallel -Kissinger’s press conference, December 16, 1972 -Impasse -US bombing North of 20th Parallel -Public relations [PR] -US bombing North of 20th Parallel -US-Sweden relations -US-Australia relations -[Seaman’s Union of Australia] -Boycott of US ships -Size -The President -Radicalism -Harry Bridges -US-Sweden relations -Forthcoming message from North Vietnam -Breakdown in negotiations -US bombing North of 20th Parallel -Cessation -Continuation of [May 8, 1972] policy -Press relations -Briefing -Post December 18, 1972 -Motivation -Pressure -Press and media relations -Number of US air attacks -Post-December 18, 1972 -Message for Kissinger -The President’s plan for unified command for Southeast Asia -Timing -Location -7- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) Black September -Seizure of Israeli embassy in Bangkok -Hostages -Possible US statement -Munich Olympics massacre -Possible Israeli response -Demand -Release of prisoners -Hostages -Possible Thailand government response -US contingency plans Lester B. Pearson -Death -Relationship with the President -Duration -Service to [Canada] -Significance -Post-World War II Vietnam War -B-52s -Losses -Landing in North Vietnam -Radio contact with pilot, crew -Search and rescue operation -US bombing of North Vietnam -Hanoi area -Surface-to-air missile [SAMs] sites -Weather -Tactical air [TACAIR] sites -Losses -Speed, maneuverability -SAM II -Soviet Union -B-52s -Sorties -Destruction of RADCOM station in Hanoi, December 27, 1972 -Effect -8- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -SAMS -Number fired -Number available -September 1972 -Railroad cars -Number fired -Recent number compared to May 1972 -B-52s -Effect -Forthcoming message from North Vietnam -Kissinger -Possible message -Resumption of negotiations -Conditions -Pre-December 18, 1972 bombing status -Resumption of negotiations -North Vietnam -Interest in settlement agreement -US bombing North of 20th Parallel -Effect -Evaluation of Hanoi -Cadres in South Vietnam -Cease-fire -Morale -December 18-28, 1972 -Cessation -Pressure -Resumption -Pressure -The President’s May 8, 1972 and December 18, 1972 decisions -The President’s will -Delay -Pressure on US -International, Congressional -Joan Baez and Gen. Telford Taylor’s trip to Hanoi -Arrival -December 17, 1972 -Departure -Difficulty -9- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -Meeting, January 2, 1973 -Congress Nicaragua earthquake relief -State Department -Task Force -PR -Scali -Defense Department -Press relations -Williams’ forthcoming trip to Nicaragua -Scali -PR -State Department, Defense Department, Aid Vietnam War -Forthcoming message from North Vietnam -Timing -Paris -Response -Timing -Negotiations -Kissinger -Resumption of negotiations -Conditions -US message to North Vietnam, December 27, 1972 -Settlement agreement -Delay -US bombing North of 20th Parallel -Cessation -Resumption -Pressure on US -International, Congressional -1972 election -Effect -Congressional relations -Timing -Settlement agreement -Terms -US-South Vietnam relations -10- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -January 10, 1973 -Cosmetics -Demilitarized Zone [DMZ] -Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam -Flexibility -Intelligence -Le Duc Tho’s comments -Thieu’s position -Political base -1971 election -Lack of opposition -Cease-fire -Government of South Vietnam [GVN], bureaucracy -Restructuring -Vis-à-vis US -Public statement -Separate deal -Vietnamization -US back-up position -Kissinger -US withdrawal -Cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam -Quality -US bombing of North of 20th Parallel -Resumption [?] -Separate deal -Possible rejection by North Vietnam -US bombing North of 20th Parallel -Justification -North Vietnam’s possible acceptance -Thieu’s possible rejection -Thieu’s possible acceptance -Thieu’s position -Veto -Long-term US interest -Veto -Vietnamization -Cessation of US bombing -North Vietnam’s position -Thieus’s position -11- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -The President’s December 18, 1972 decision -US South Vietnam relations -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision -1972 election -The President’s December 18, 1972 decision -Effect on South Vietnam -US international relations -The President’s December 18, 1972 decision -Importance -US commitments -Cease-fire -Lost time -Congress -1973 inauguration -1972 election -South Vietnam’s army -South Vietnam’s survival -Continuation of war -US guarantee -North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam -Separate deal -US withdrawal -Cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam -Effect on South Vietnam -Lack of cease-fire -Lack of US intervention or threat of retaliation against North Vietnam -Separate deal -Viability -Cessation of active hostilities -Violations -Significance -US military response -US public opinion -US public opinion -Lyndon B. Johnson ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 -12- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) [National Security] [Duration: 15s] [Subject: Korea] END OF WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** -Effect on US international relations -US public opinion -Korean War -Casualties -Communism -South Vietnam -Population -Communism -War as mistake -Settlement agreement -Violations -US military response -Compared to Israel’s military responses -Clarity -North Vietnam -Soviet Union -Effect on US will -Press relations -Camp David -US public opinion -Thieu, South Vietnam -South Vietnam’s possible collapse -Timing -US effort -Duration -Casualties -Forthcoming message from North Vietnam -Cessation of US bombing of North Vietnam -Private statement -Xuan Thuy’s recent statement -Negotiations -Technical talks -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec.-07) Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d) -Delay -[December 23, 1972] statement -Resumption -Cessation of US bombing North of 20th Parallel -Pressure on US -Conditions -Pressure on North Vietnam -Forthcoming message from North Vietnam -Instruction for Kennedy -Kissinger Nicaragua earthquake relief -Scali -PR -Williams’ forthcoming trip to Nicaragua -The President’s schedule -Possible meeting with Williams Kennedy left at an unknown time before 11:08 am.