Conversation: 556-001
Prev:  555-019 Next: 556-002Start Date: 6-Aug-1971 9:42 AM
End Date: 6-Aug-1971 10:00 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:00:28
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:17:31
NARA Description:
On August 6, 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 10:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 556-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 556-1 Date: August 6, 1971 Time: 9:42 am - 10:00 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Henry A. Kissinger. [The conversation was in progress when the recording began] Vietnam negotiations -Possible publicity -Possible settlement -Condition -North Vietnam -Acceptance of Nguyen Van Thieu -Timing -Vietnamese election -Possible publicity -Philip C. Habib -Xuan Thuy -David K.E. Bruce -Channels -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters Pakistan -Frank F. Church statement -Massacre -Public opinion Vietnam negotiations -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Possible release -Timing -Relationship to possible settlement US-People's Republic of China [PRC] relations -Unknown person -Totalitarianism -Adolf Hitler -Benito Mussolini -Communists -Pragmatism 2 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 556-1 (cont.) -Francisco Franco -Greece -Philosophical opposition compared to diplomatic relations -PRC -Barry M. Goldwater Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Summit -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Letter -Possible publication -Leonid I. Brezhnev -Channel -Aleksei N. Kosygin PRC -Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R.F. Cox -Possible trip to Peking -Possible commerce with US -Boeing Corporation USSR -Kissinger's call to Gerard C. Smith -[Kama River truck plant contract with Mack Trucks, Inc] -Summit [Pause] Busing -President's position -Liberal’s -Mood of country -Increasing conservatism President's popularity -Visit to New York -Reception -Forthcoming presidential election -Nelson A. Rockefeller's assessment 3 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 556-1 (cont.) US foreign relations -Kissinger’s forthcoming briefing -Five power concept -Hugh S. Sidey -Asia -Reassessment of policy -Combat [French journal] -Foreign commentary -US-Soviet relations -Peking National defense -Budget -Anti-ballistic Missile [ABM] limitations -Smith's proposal -USSR reaction -Domestic political reaction -Conservatives -Possible impact on Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 59s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ********************************************************************** The President talked with an unknown person [H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman?] at an unknown time between 9:42 am and 10:00 am. [Conversation No. 556-1A] 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 556-1 (cont.) President's schedule -Girls Nation meeting -Press coverage -News focus -New Hampshire [End of telephone conversation] ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [Personal Returnable] [Duration: 28s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ********************************************************************** [Pause] Vietnam negotiations -Habib -Leaks -Bureaucracy -William P. Rogers -Habib -Possible publicity -Compared to PRC trip announcement -Effect on PRC President's schedule -Trip to Maine Kissinger left at 10:00 am. 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06)