Conversation: 493-010
Prev:  493-009 Next: 493-011Start Date: 6-May-1971 11:00 AM
End Date: 6-May-1971 12:10 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Bull, Stephen B.; Rhyne, Charles S.; Moore, Richard A.; White House photographer; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:59:48
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:42:25
NARA Description:
On May 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Stephen B. Bull, Charles S. Rhyne, Richard A. Moore, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:00 am and 12:10 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 493-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 493-10 Date: May 6, 1971 Time: Unknown between 11:00 am and 12:10 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 1m 15s ] 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. entered at 11:26 am Conv. No. 493-9 (cont.) Vietnam -President’s meeting with General Nguyen Van Thieu -Draft -Henry A. Kissinger -An announcement -President’s schedule -Negotiations -Kissinger -US position -Kissinger -Timetable -Xuan Thuy -People’s Republic of China [PRC], Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -US position -Kissinger -An announcement -Date -PRC -USSR -US position -Motivation -President’s meeting with Thieu -Timing -Congressional votes -Appropriations -US position in Vietnam -Stewart J. O. Alsop, Chalmers Roberts -President’s meeting with Thieu -Negotiations -US offer -Public opinion -President’s meeting with Thieu -Negotiations 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] agreement -Possible announcement -Effect on public opinion Public opinion -Vietnam, PRC -Polls Conv. No. 493-10 (cont.) -Long-term -PRC -SALT -Antiballistic Missile [ABM] -Compared with PRC -President’s press conferences -Press -Columnists SALT -Possible announcement -Importance -Vietnam -Timing -Congressional vote -Consultation -Congressional vote USSR -Possible summit PRC -Possible meeting -Ping-pong team -Possible trade SALT -Possible announcement -Congress USSR -Possible summit Vietnam 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -President’s meeting with Thieu -US troop withdrawals -Timing of announcement -Senate vote -President’s meeting with Thieu -Senate -Forthcoming vote -Response to Washington, DC demonstrators Conv. No. 493-10 (cont.) -President’s meeting with Thieu -Draft -Timing -President’s meeting with Thieu -Effect of announcement Congress -Effect of possible USSR or PRC announcements -SALT announcement -ABM vote Vietnam -Military situation -Effect of upcoming Senate vote -North Vietnam -Negotiations -US offer -Kissinger -Importance compared with Talks with USSR and PRC -Importance compared with Senate debates -Possible effect of Senate votes -Draft -An announcement -Timing -Draft An announcement -Timing -SALT announcement, possible summit announcement -Public opinion PRC -Possible visit -USSR 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -North Vietnam -USSR USSR -Possible summit -Public opinion -Compared with a PRC or Vietnam War announcement Conv. No. 493-10 (cont.) Joseph S. Farland PRC -Kissinger Congress -Influence of possible announcements -Possible USSR summit -Edward W. Brooke -President’s forthcoming meeting -Possible SALT announcement -Senate -Possible announcements -President -Kissinger -Leaders -Position on SALT -”Doves” USSR -William P. Rogers -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Vladimir S. Semenov -SALT talks -ABM -Semenov -Gerard C. Smith -Kissinger -President’s role -Smith -Possible summit -Joseph C. Kraft -Possible column -Possible summit 21 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Congress -PRC -ABM Vietnam -Possible announcement -Draft -President’s meeting with Thieu Conv. No. 493-10 (cont.) -Timing of announcement -”Doves” response -Thieu’s election -Possible outcome Announcements -SALT -Vietnam Vietnam negotiations -Kissinger -PRC, USSR -Effect of US affairs -Position of the dollar -Washington Post -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] -Hanoi, Europe -Thuy -A Senator -Balance of payments -Public opinion President’s schedule -A message -Farland -SALT announcement -Timing -PRC -USSR -Thieu meeting -SALT announcement -USSR summit -PRC announcement -Thieu meeting 22 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -SALT announcement -Importance -Thieu meeting -USSR summit -PRC announcement -USSR Haig left at 11:58 am Conv. No. 493-10 (cont.) Haig -Compared with [Name unintelligible] Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:58 am President’s schedule -Charles S. Rhyne -John B. Connally -Rhyne meeting -Time Bull left at an unknown time before 12:06 pm Vietnam negotiations -Haig’s position -Kissinger’s position -President’s experience -Importance -Prisoners of War [POWs] -US position -Compared with Middle East -Kissinger, Haig -Administration policy -Hardhats, Congressmen -Howard H. Baker, Jr. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:58 am President’s schedule -Connally -Rhyne -Connally -Ronald L. Ziegler 23 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) Bull left at an unknown time before 12:06 pm White House Correspondents’ dinner -Mr. and Mrs. Arte Johnson -Mrs. Johnson’s appearance -Accent -A takeoff on Kissinger Conv. No. 493-10 (cont.) Haldeman left and Rhyne and Richard A. Moore entered at 12:06 pm; a photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting A book International law -Experts -Washington Post -Professors Rhyne’s schedule -Taipei, Yugoslavia Rhyne’s book -Publication date Lawyers A book International law -Possible announcement by President -US treaty obligations -African countries’ treaty obligations -Codification -Possible effect A paper Rhyne’s suggestion Rhyne and Moore left at 12:10 pm 24 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08)