Conversation: 474-001
Prev:  473-018 Next: 474-002Start Date: 26-Mar-1971 9:40 AM
End Date: 26-Mar-1971 9:55 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:00:37
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:15:39
NARA Description:
On March 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:40 am to 9:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 474-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 474-1 Date: March 26, 1971 Time: 9:40 am - 9:55 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Henry A. Kissinger [Recording begins while the conversation is in progress] Seating Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] figures -Kissinger -Kissinger’s previous briefing -Congressional leaders -Memorandum for the President Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:40 am President’s schedule -John D. Ehrlichman -Cabinet meeting Bull left at an unknown time before 9:55 am Vietnam -Washington Post story, March 26, 1971 -President’s response -Peter Osnos -Quotes by an American major Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:40 am Washington Post delivery Bull left at an unknown time before 9:55 am Vietnam -Washington Post story -A major’s quotes -Admiral Thomas H. Moorer -General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. 2 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President’s view -Ranks -Osnos -Laos operation (Lam Son) -Content of press account -Abrams -Washington Post story -A major’s quotes Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.) -President’s concern Abrams -Work -Kissinger’s view -Possible appointment as Chief of Staff -Army’s needs -Kissinger’s view -General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -General Richard G. Stilwell Vietnam -Washington Post story -Laos operation (Lam Son) -Account -Congressmen -Laos operation (Lam Son) -End of operation -Kissinger’s view -President’s March 14, 1971 press conference -US and South Vietnam command -General Nguyen Van Thieu’s decision -Weather -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] losses -Enemy losses -Number -Abrams -South Vietnamese morale -Ellsworth F. Bunker memorandum -Success of operation -Publicity -Thieu -Bunker -Cable 3 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President’s assessment -Washington Post story -A major’s quotes -Haig -Army and Air Force morale -Press -Public opinion -President’s view Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.) -Kissinger’s previous meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -North Vietnam -President’s forthcoming announcement -President’s forthcoming speech -William P. Rogers -Melvin R. Laird -Negotiations -Dobrynin -Timing -Kissinger’s response -President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971 -Negotiations -Troop withdrawals -Number -Effect of Laos operation (Lam Son) -Length -Writer -Raymond K. Price, Jr. -William L. Safire -Winston Lord -October 10, 1970 Speech -Draft -President’s delivery -Compared with Howard K. Smith interview -Delivery of draft -Press -Kissinger’s role -Stewart J. O. and Joseph W. Alsop -S. J. O. Alsop’s position -Withdrawal -President’s response -Democrats’ caucus -A vote on March 31, 1971 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President’s statements -President’s policies -[Thomas] Hale Boggs Southerners Boggs -Previous dinner with Kissinger Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.) -Support for the President -Compared with Republicans Republicans -Support for President -Congressional leaders -Draft Vietnam -Television coverage -Effect -Abraham Lincoln’s presidency -Shenandoah Valley -Laos operation (Lam Son) -Evaluation -President’s view -Press -Public relations efforts -President’s view -New York Times, March 25, 1971 -Television -Coverage -Previous footage -Public opinion -Effect -Casualties -Decreases -Future military action -Kissinger’s view -Possible North Vietnamese attacks -Possible ARVN attacks -Effect on public opinion -Kissinger’s view -I, III, IV Corps 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -US role -President’s view -South Vietnamese role -US role -Air power -A meeting with Laird and Moorer -Future -Military equipment and material Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.) -Air strikes -Number -Attacks on Kissinger Kissinger left at 9:55 am