Conversation: 419-019
Prev:  419-018 Next: 419-020Start Date: 14-Mar-1973 9:25 AM
End Date: 14-Mar-1973 9:50 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On March 14, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:25 am to 9:50 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 419-019 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 419-19 Date: March 14, 1973 Time: 9:25 am - 9:50 am Location: Executive Office Building The President met with Henry A. Kissinger. H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman Press relations -Announcement -Arrival -Ronald L. Ziegler -Kissinger’s proofing Vietnam -Cease-fire violations -President's statement -Compliance with cease-fire provisions -Enforcement options -21- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Sept-2010) Conversation No. 419-19 (cont’d) -South Vietnam -Cease-fire -US accomplishments -Strength of forces -Non-Communist government -North Vietnam -Cease-fire violations -Re-armament with artillery -US action -Timing -Cease-fire agreement -Reasons -US bombing, mining halt -Cease-fire violations -Reasons -Effects of US bombing -US resolve -Renewed offensive -North Vietnam’s offensive -Impact on US -Criticism of President’s policies -Peace movement -“Peace with honor” -Prisoners of war [POWs] repatriation -Domestic policy -Foreign policy -Public opinion -POWs -Support for President’s policies -US retaliation -Public opinion -Violations -Aid to North Vietnam -Cancellation -Publicity campaign -Impact on offensive -Timing -22- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Sept-2010) Conversation No. 419-19 (cont’d) -Viability of South Vietnam -Need for US engagement -President’s political position -Peace settlement -Negotiations -December 1972 bombing -Criticism -Eugene J. McCarthy -Peace settlement -POWs -US withdrawal -Criticism -Violations -Joseph W. Alsop’s column -Cease-fire violations -Press statement -Tone -Bellicosity -US messages to North Vietnam -Escalation of threat -Press statement -US concern -Condonement -North Vietnam’s compliance -US messages to People’s Republic of China [PRC], Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -US bombing Aid to Pakistan -Release -Publicity -President’s statement -State Department -Reactions -Indira Gandhi -Kissinger’s cable to Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan -India -Purchase of materials -23- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Sept-2010) Conversation No. 419-19 (cont’d) Vietnam -Impact of war on US -Kissinger’s negotiations -Bombing -Withdrawal -Compared to France’s withdrawal from Algeria -Gen. Charles A. J. M. deGaulle -Nationalization of France’s holdings -Compared to South Vietnam -France’s citizens -Impact of war on South Vietnam -Vietnamization -Self-determination -Self-defense -President’s policies -Effectiveness -Choices -Kissinger’s cable from Paris -December 1972 -POWs for withdrawal -South Vietnam’s viability -Public attitude -“Peace with honor” -Concern for cease-fire violations -Response to fall of South Vietnam -US actions -Defense Department -Air strikes in Cambodia -Plantations -Chup Plantation -President’s call to Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -Report -Air strikes in Cambodia -Chup Plantation -Kissinger’s message from President -Civilians -Problem -24- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Sept-2010) Conversation No. 419-19 (cont’d) -Cambodia -1971 Chup Plantation operation -Defense -Installations -Air strikes in Cambodia -Decision -Defense Department -Lon Nol -Request -US ambassador’s role -Ho Chi Minh Trail -US air strikes -Impact on North Vietnam -POW repatriation -Kissinger’s opinion -Notification -Delay US message to North Vietnam -Cease-fire violations -North Vietnam’s military operation -Consequences -US resolve -POWs -Experience in prison -Solitary confinement, torture -Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. -Col. Robinson Risner -Non-verbal communication -Change in conditions in 1969 -Major [first name unknown] Bai -Relocation -Group housing -1968 US election [?] -Denton and Risner -Fear of President -Charges of misconduct -Volunteering information -Political impact -25- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Sept-2010) Conversation No. 419-19 (cont’d) -Support for Vietnam aid -Effect of atrocity stories -Justification -Denton and Risner -PRC, USSR -Compliance with cease-fire agreement -North Vietnam Ronald L. Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 9:25 am. President's schedule Ziegler left at an unknown time before 9:50 am. Vietnam -Aid to North Vietnam -North Vietnam presence in Laos, Cambodia -Infiltration -POWs -Denton and Risner’s meeting with President -Raid on Son Tay prison in North Vietnam -“Operation Draft” -Reaction to December 1972 bombing -B-52s compared to jet fighters -Fear among North Vietnamese -December 21, 1972 bombing resumption -North Vietnamese prison guards -Support for President’s policies -Skill of US pilots -Shock -Visit from high-level North Vietnamese official -Denton and Risner [?] -Treatment -Good relations with US -Kissinger’s trip to Hanoi -President’s possible trip to Hanoi -Bombing -Effect of B-52 use -26- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Sept-2010) Conversation No. 419-19 (cont’d) -Shock -Caution -Normalization of relations -Infiltration -North Vietnam’s desire and necessity -Risk of protracted war -“Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam” -Value -Adherence -Commitment of North Vietnam -Spring military offensive -Effect on publicity -Impact on US-USSR summit -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -President’s political position -Warning regarding offensive -Jeopardy -Opportunity regarding critics -President’s press conference [?] -Hanoi statements -Barry M. Goldwater, Sr. Kissinger’s schedule -David K. E. Bruce -Meeting with Dobrynin -Meeting with President -Foreign policy -Conversation with William P. Rogers -Bruce Kissinger left at 9:50 am.