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Conversation: 474-001

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Start 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

474-001.mp3

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