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Conversation: 519-014

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Start Date: 14-Jun-1971 5:30 PM

End Date: 14-Jun-1971 6:10 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Woods, Rose MaryArends, Leslie C.Ford, Gerald R.MacGregor, ClarkTimmons, William E.Haig, Alexander M., Jr.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:05:53

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:44:25

519a.mp3

519b.mp3

519c.mp3

NARA Description:

On June 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Leslie C. Arends, Gerald R. Ford, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:30 pm to 6:10 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 519-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 519-14

Date: June 14, 1971
Time: 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 2m 45s ]
                                            34

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/08)




END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


Woods left and Leslie C. Arends, Gerald R. Ford, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, and
General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. entered at 5:35 pm

     Greetings
          -John Cooper [?]

     Vietnam
          -Upcoming caucus
                -Previous conversation with Carl B. Albert
                -MacGregor
                -Analysis of votes
                     -Lucien N. Nedzi-Charles W. Whalen, Jr. Amendment
                     -Henry A. Kissinger
                     -Democrats
                     -Republicans
          -Alternative path
                -Relation to President’s position
          -President’s position
                -Talk with John Sherman Cooper
                     -Cooper’s credibility
                     -Negotiations
                           -Status
                           -Chances
                           -Importance
                                 -Prisoners of War [POWs]
                           -Interpretation of Congressional action
                -Negotiations
                     -Status
                     -Chances of initiation
                           -Notification of Congress
                     -Incentive to talk
                     -Factors involved
                     -North Vietnamese
                           -US-People’s Republic of China [PRC] contact
                           -US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] contact
                           -Strategic Arms Limitations Talks [SALT] talks
                        35

    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                Tape Subject Log
                  (rev. 10/08)



            -Effect on negotiations
-Breakthrough possibilities
-Dr. David K. E. Bruce
-Last chance for talks
-POWs
-Drawbacks of Congressional efforts
-Carl T. Curtis [?]
-Political problems                             Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
      -Fear on part of President’s enemies
            -Cambodia precedent
            -J. S. Cooper-Frank F. Church amendment
            -Edmund S. Muskie
            -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
            -Hubert H. Humphrey
      -Facts of involvement
            -Pentagon Papers
      -Democratic position changes
            -Muskie
            -Humphrey
            -Kennedy
            -John F. Kennedy
      -Fear on part of President’s critics
-Reasons for negotiations
-President’s efforts for Republican image
      -Effect on elections
-Chances of negotiations
      -Responsibility of Congress for failure
-Policy history of critics
-Combat situation
      -US reduced role in ground combat
-Drawbacks of Congressional action
      -Destruction of President’s position
-Future tactics
-Present tactics
-Rumors
      -Significance
      -Past use
            -Example of bombing halt negotiations
      -Movement
      -Clark M. Clifford efforts
            -Xuan Thuy
      -Strategy
                                   36

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                           Tape Subject Log
                             (rev. 10/08)



                -Bruce
                -Effect on President’s position
                -Cyrus R. Vance
                -Clifford
          -E. M. Kennedy criticism
                -Strategy
          -Reason for criticism
          -Alternatives to talks                    Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
                -Robert J. Dole
                -Revolution
          -Announcement
-Congressional strategy on anti-war bills
    -Blanket opposition
    -Albert
    -[Thomas] Hale Boggs
    -Supporters of President
          -Reasons
          -View of Nedzi-Whalen Amendment
    -Opposition to President
          -Efforts against non-supporters
    -Senate situation
          -Milton R. Young
          -Leonard B. (“Len”) Jordan [Idaho]
          -Robert A. Taft, Jr.
          -Reasons for wavering
                -Taft
                      -Ohio newspaper reports
          -Non-supporters
                -Albert
                -History of President’s efforts
                      -Troop withdrawals
    -Albert
          -President’s fulfillment of promises
          -POWs
          -Bruce
    -Drawback of deadlines
          -Loss of bargaining “chips”
                -Effect on POWs
    -General effect of resolution passages
          -End of negotiations
          -Recall of Bruce
          -Position of Congressional leaders
                                          37

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/08)



                -Civil War
                -Relation to World War II negotiations
                -Taft

Congressional schedule
    -Conference timing
    -Confirmation of H. R. Gross
    -Meeting of President and leaders                            Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
          -Timing
          -Length
          -Up-to-date reporting of floor status

Pentagon Papers
     -Alger Hiss case
          -Whitaker Chambers
          -Publication of secret papers

Congressional strategy
    -John B. Anderson
          -Contact with President
    -Senate leaders and House leaders
          -Taft
          -Robert W. Scott [?]
    -Problems of contact with President
          -Leaks
    -Negotiation announcement
          -Political impact
    -Eugene J. McCarthy
          -Christian Science Monitor editorial
          -Democratic leaders
    -Democratic strategy
          -Credit for ending war
          -Strategy towards Herbert C. Hoover’s administration
                -Charles Michelson
          -Lyndon B. Johnson
          -Lawrence F. O’Brien, Jr. statement
    -Republican strategy
          -Elections
    -Negotiations
          -Impact of Congressional action
    -Albert
          -Action on amendments
                                               38

                               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 10/08)



                      -Albert’s vote
           -Scheduling of anti-war resolutions
                -George S. McGovern-Mark O. Hatfield
                      -Effect of Senate vote on House
                -Contact with White House
                -Head-counting
                -Discipline of troops in Congress
                -Focus on outcome of war                            Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
                -Taft
           -Control of troops
           -Thomas J. Houser

Ford, et al. left at 6:10 pm