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Conversation: 512-004

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Start Date: 4-Jun-1971 9:42 AM

End Date: 4-Jun-1971 10:22 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:15:51

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:54:50

512a.mp3

512b.mp3

512b2.mp3

512c.mp3

512d.mp3

NARA Description:

On June 4, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:42 am to 10:22 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 512-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 512-4

Date: June 4, 1971
Time: 9:42 am - 10:22 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger

     Kissinger’s previous meeting with Melvin R. Laird, June 4
          -Willy Brandt’s forthcoming visit
                -Defense forces
                                           3

                        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/08)



              -Helmut H. W. Schmidt

    Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
        -State Department
        -Possible effect on North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
              -John Foster Dulles’ strategy
              -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
        -Prospects

    William P. Rogers’ forthcoming statement
         -State Department

    President’s schedule
         -Kenneth B. Keating


******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 50s ]


    INDIA-PAKISTAN


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

******************************************************************************


    Message to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
        -Forthcoming visit by Kissinger
              -Number of assistants

    Vietnam
         -North Vietnamese Infiltration
              -Kissinger’s conversation with Admiral Thomas H. Moorer, June 3
              -Bombing
              -Lam Son 719
                    -Effect
         -Negotiations
                                               4

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



          -Cambodia
              -Vietnamese military activity
                    -Snoul, Cambodia
                    -General Nguyen Van Thieu’s conversation with Ellsworth F. Bunker
                    -North Vietnamese casualties
                    -Death of General Do Cao Tri

     SALT                                                               Conv. No. 512-4 (cont.)
         -Press coverage

     Kissinger’s meeting with East Asia scholars
          -John K. Fairbanks
          -Edwin O. Reischauer
          -[Frank] Tillman Durdin
          -Attitude toward administration

     Donald Oberdorfer, Jr.’s article in Washington Post, June 4
         -President’s 1972 candidacy

     Kissinger’s meeting with East Asia scholars
          -Richard Duckman’s [sp?] comment
          -Stan Hoden [sp?]
                -Comments regarding ping pong team’s visit to PRC

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 9:42 am

          -Durdin

     President’s schedule
          -Energy message
                -Economy story
                -Briefing
                      -Rogers C. B. Morton
                      -Glenn T. Seaborg
                      -Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.
                -President’s possible statement
                      -Clean energy
                      -Environment
          -Diplomatic reception for Tricia Nixon and Edward R. F. Cox
                -Julie Nixon Eisenhower

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 10:22 am
                                         5

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)




Trade with PRC
     -Peter G. Peterson’s possible assignment
     -Earthmoving and railroad equipment
     -Soviet level of export controls
     -Grain
           -Importance to farmers
           -Statutory requirement for American bottoms            Conv. No. 512-4 (cont.)
                 -George Meany
                 -Longshoremen
                 -Department of Labor
                 -Charles W. Colson’s possible role
                 -George P. Shultz, James D. Hodgson, Peterson
                       -Possible meeting with Kissinger
                 -General versus individual licenses
                 -Shipments to PRC, Soviet Union
                 -US Merchant Marine
                 -Licenses
                 -Possible exemption for grain
           -Political implications
                 -Kissinger’s possible conversation with Peterson
                 -Meany
                 -Hubert H. Humphrey
           -Statutory requirement for American bottoms
           -Political implications
                 -Farmers
                 -Unions supporting President’s foreign policy
                 -Timing
                 -Farmers
                 -Kissinger’s possible call to Gerald R. Ford
                 -Colson’s relationship with Jay Lovestone
                 -Kissinger’s possible call to Lovestone
           -Possibility
           -Possible effect

Kissinger’s schedule
     -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
           -Sequoia
           -Chief of Naval Operations
     -Shultz, Peterson, Colson
     -Lovestone
     -Ford
                                        6

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/08)



          -Farmers
     -Lovestone
          -Unions

Vietnam
     -Public relations
           -Rogers, Laird
           -President’s conversation with Robert J. Dole, June 3 Conv. No. 512-4 (cont.)
           -Political issue
           -Timing
           -Use of draftees
                 -Laird
           -Thieu
           -Prisoners of War [POWs]
                 -Wives’ possible actions
     -Congressmen
     -Public relations
           -Negotiations
     -Media interest
           -Samuel A. Donaldson
           -POW wives
           -Snuol
     -Backgrounders
     -Kissinger’s conversation with Joseph C. Kraft, June 3
     -Press’s attitude toward President
           -General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
           -Lag in popular perception
     -President’s July 6 meeting with Thieu
     -Public relations
           -Laird
           -Negotiations with North Vietnam, PRC, Soviet Union

US-Soviet relations
    -Cuba
    -SALT
    -Berlin
    -Poland

Vietnam
     -POW wives
         -Haig’s role
         -Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes’ role
                                               7

                             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/08)



           -North Vietnamese POWs
                -John N. Mitchell, Dole
                -International Red Cross
                -North Korean POWs
                -Dr. David K. E. Bruce

Kissinger left at 10:22 am
                                                                  Conv. No. 512-4 (cont.)