Conversation: 459-002
Prev:  459-001 Next: 459-003Start Date: 27-Feb-1971 9:35 AM
End Date: 27-Feb-1971 11:57 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Butterfield, Alexander P.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.; Laird, Melvin R.; Helms, Richard M.; Sisco, Joseph J.; Rogers, William P.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.); Ratliffe, Walter B. (Lt. Col.); Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:21:29
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:40:36
NARA Description:
On February 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), Stephen B. Bull, Melvin R. Laird, Richard M. Helms, Joseph J. Sisco, William P. Rogers, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, and Lt. Col. Walter B. Ratliffe met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:35 am to 11:57 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 459-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 459-2 Date: February 27, 1971 Time: 9:35 am - 11:57 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman The President’s schedule -Astronaut dinner -Attendance -Guest list -Social Office -Ronald L. Ziegler’s view -President’s role -Tricia Nixon -Julie Nixon Eisenhower -East Room -Seating arrangements -The President -Astronauts -The Vice President -William P. Rogers 2 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -John B. Connally -Dr. Edward E. David, Jr. -David Packard -William L. Safire -Hole-in-One Club -Alan B. Shepard, Jr. -Awards -President’s view -The President’s remarks -Citations -William A. Anders -The Vice President -Children -Camp Hoover -Butterfield -Peter M. Flanigan’s visit -Robert H. Finch -Condition of camp -Furniture -Possible visit by the President -Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes -Possible visit by the President -Difficulties Butterfield left at an unknown time after 9:35 am -Florida trip -Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon -Camp David -Upcoming schedule -Trip to Florida -Weather Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 9:35 am -Hughes’ report on Camp Hoover -Recommendation Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:46 am -Weekend activities -Church 3 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Camp David -Florida -Forthcoming trip -Camp David -Presidential work schedule -Forthcoming National Security Council [NSC] meeting -Victor Lasky -Interview with the President Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) -Book -Lasky’s research -Proposed interview with the President -Questions -Fiftieth anniversary of Reader’s Digest -Possible White House dinner -DeWitt Wallace -Announcement -Lila (Acheson) Wallace -Attitudes -Arrangements Butterfield entered at 9:46 am Morning schedule Henry A. Kissinger entered and Haldeman and Butterfield left at 9:47 am Laos (Lam Son) -Military situation -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] -Briefing -Attitudes of military -General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. -ARVN airborne forces -Strategy -ARVN military -North Vietnamese forces -Kissinger’s assessment -News reports -Kissinger’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Soviet position -North Vietnam -Soviet view of Cambodia and Laos operations 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Cambodian operation -Reports -ARVN -North Vietnamese casualties An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National Security] [Duration: 2m 20s ] MIDDLE EAST The unknown woman left at an unknown time before 10:06 am END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** Laos (Lam Son) -Marines -Reinforcement -Airborne forces -Tactical movement -Supply routes -Military situation -Strategy -Supply routes -Tchepone -ARVN forces -Timing -President’s view -North Vietnamese supply routes -Rationale -Casualties -North Vietnamese 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -B-52 Strikes -Tactical proposals -Future prospects for success -ARVN -Media coverage -October 7th speech -John D. Ehrlichman -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) -Democratic briefings -Kissinger’s forthcoming conversation with Reston [The President talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 9:47 am and 10:06 am] [Conversation No. 459-2A] -Ehrlichman’s call to Reston [End of telephone conversation] -Reston’s reaction to Laos operation -Kissinger’s previous conversation with Reston -Cambodia -The President’s policy -Reaction of European press -Henry Brandon -Media coverage -Kissinger’s view Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am The President’s schedule -John N. Mitchell -Florida -Des Moines -Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo -Weather in Florida -The President’s decision Haldeman left at an unknown time before 10:06 am Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Schedule -Forthcoming NSC meeting -Melvin R. Laird -Joseph J. Sisco -Rogers -Richard M. Helms -General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) Bull left at an unknown time before 10:06 am -Television Laird, Helms, Sisco, Rogers, and Haig entered at 10:06 am ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [National Security] [Duration: 1h 14m 39s ] MIDDLE EAST An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am The unknown person left at an unknown time before 11:21 am END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ****************************************************************************** Admiral Thomas H. Moorer and Lieutenant Colonel Walter B. Ratliffe entered and Sisco left at 11:21 am Laos (Lam Son) operation -Previous briefings -Status -Congress -Rogers 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -The President’s forthcoming television appearance -Rogers’ forthcoming press conference -Strategy -US policy -Public relations -Abrams -Rogers Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) Cambodia (Chub) operation -Military situation -Casualties -Goals -Death of General Do Cao Tri -Effect on South Vietnamese forces -Military operations -General Thomas J. (“Stonewall”) Jackson -Gettysburg -Importance of leadership Laos (Lam Son) -Military situation -Strategy -Military operations -Ground forces -Bombing -North Vietnamese forces -Casualties -Tank Fight -South Vietnamese [ARVN] forces -Military situation -Casualties -Military operations -Abrams’ plan -Airborne troops -Marines -ARVN reserves -Laird’s view -North Vietnamese strategy -Troop movements -Effect on US strategy -General Vo Nguyen Giap -US Air Force bombing 8 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -North Vietnam headquarters -Command centers -Problems -Intelligence -President’s view -Helms’ response -Press accounts -Abrams Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) -Unknown ARVN general -Ho Chi Minh Trail -Decrease in North Vietnamese use -Supplies -Effect on Lam Son operation -Routes -Moorer’s assessment -President’s view -Need for public relations -Intelligence -Goals of Lam Son operation -ARVN forces ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [National Security] [Duration: 5s ] LAM SON END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ****************************************************************************** -Demilitarized Zone [DMZ] -US strategy -North Vietnamese troop strength -American troop strength -Khe Sanh 9 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -US troop strength -Estimates -Roles -US strategy -Effect on North Vietnamese forces -Marines -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] -Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) -Infantry role -Press account -Search and rescue missions -Rogers -John Sherman Cooper -Search and rescue missions -Son Tay mission -Administration position -Press accounts -Department of Defense briefing -Jerry W. Friedheim -Press briefing -Ziegler -Questions and responses -Administration position -Vietnam policy -President’s previous experiences -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Middle East -Relations with press corps -President’s position -Ziegler’s role -Answers to questions on Lam Son -Goal of press corps -President’s view -Abrams -Responses to questions -Importance of public relations -Theodore S. (“Ted”) Williams -Relations with press -Denny D. McLain -Need for objective coverage -President’s position -Rogers’ view 10 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Laos -Abrams -ARVN -Need for victory -Terrain -Prisoners -Casualties -South Vietnamese morale Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.) -North Vietnamese morale -Laird’s trip Press conferences -Ziegler -Methods of handling -President’s position -Responses to questions Laos (Lam Son) -Objectives -Changes -Tchepone -Ho Chi Minh Trail -North Vietnamese supplies -Decrease -Media coverage -Laird/Kissinger Experience Farewells Instructions to Moorer -Abrams -Report Kissinger, et al. left at 11:57 am 11 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08)