President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the upcoming visit of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and manage the accompanying diplomatic strategy, including the preparation of communiqués and the involvement of U.S. allies. A significant portion of the discussion focused on scheduling a briefing for Senator J. William Fulbright and his committee, which Kissinger ultimately moved to the following morning to ensure he could provide a more comprehensive and detailed update. The participants also discussed the necessity of maintaining international perceptions and the importance of presenting a unified administrative stance regarding ongoing negotiations.
On June 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and J. William Fulbright met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:56 pm to 4:08 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 447-031 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 447-31
Date: June 21, 1973
Time: 3:56 pm - 4:08 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
-31-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. March-2012)
Conversation No. 447-31 (cont’d)
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Leonid I. Brezhnev’s visit
-Kissinger’s recent briefing
-Tone
-Duration
-Reaction
-Watergate
-Helmut (“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt’s briefing
-William P. Rogers
-Kissinger’s schedule
-J. William Fulbright’s committee
-Briefing
-Timing
-President’s conversation with Brezhnev
Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 3:56 pm and 4:08
pm.
[Conversation No. 447-31A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 41-23]
[End telephone conversation]
Brezhnev’s visit
-President’s recent conversation with Brezhnev
-Principles
-Soviet summit [?]
Kissinger talked with Fulbright at an unknown time between 3:56 pm and 4:08 pm.]
[Conversation No. 447-31B]
[Begin telephone conversation]
-32-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. March-2012)
Conversation No. 447-31 (cont’d)
[See Conversation No. 41-24]
[End telephone conversation]
Kissinger’s schedule
-Briefing
-Timing
-Kissinger’s recent conversation with Fulbright
Brezhnev’s visit
-Fulbright and Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Unknown person
Brezhnev’s visit
-President’s schedule
-June 23, 1973
-PRC
-Brezhnev’s interest
-Ambassador
-William G. Hyland
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-French Foreign Minister
-Photograph opportunity
-PRC officials
-President’s achievements
-Future
-Possible statement
-Communique
-Allies
-Communique
-Signing
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
Kissinger’s schedule
-33-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. March-2012)
Conversation No. 447-31 (cont’d)
-Recent briefing
-Questions
-Negotiation specifics
-Answers
President’s schedule
Kissinger left at 4:08 pm.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.