Conversation: 559-008
Prev:  559-007 Next: 559-009Start Date: 10-Aug-1971 11:59 AM
End Date: 10-Aug-1971 1:04 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Matak, Sisowath Sirik; Porson, Sophia K.; Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie"); Kissinger, Henry A.; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:11:31
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:15:56
NARA Description:
On August 10, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Sisowath Sirik Matak, Sophia K. Porson, Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins, Henry A. Kissinger, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:59 am to 1:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 559-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 559-8 Date: August 10, 1971 Time: 11:59 am - 1:04 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Sisowath Sirik Matak and Sophia K. Porson. Photograph -President’s 1953 visit to Cambodia -Location -Angkor Wat Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins and members of the press entered at 12:00 pm. Press photograph Atkins and the members of the press left at 12:02 pm. Henry A. Kissinger entered at 12:02 pm. Interpreter Sisowath's reception in US -Los Angeles -Disneyland An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:02 pm. Refreshment 16 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) The unknown person left at an unknown time before 1:04 pm. Presentation to President Cambodia -People -1970 invasion -Media -Predictions -Associated Press [AP] -Population -Defense of country -Territory -Vietnam War -North Vietnam -Vietcong -Cambodian military -Volunteers -Defense -President's 1953 trip -Norodom Sihanouk -Neutrality -Khmer people -Communist forces -Sanctuaries -People -Morale -Support for government -Defense plan -Dividing line -North and Northeast -Population -North Vietnamese -People -Support for government -Percentage -Communists -North Vietnamese -Percentage -Large cities -Phnom Penh 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.) -Population -Problems -Water, food, electricity -Prospects -Military -North Vietnamese forces -Dry and rainy seasons -Numbers -Divisions -Number -First -Cambodian action -Route 4 Operation -Kompong Som -South Vietnamese -Morale of people -Phnom Penh -US press -Confidence -North Vietnamese -Territory -North and Northeast -Vietnam -US presence -Withdrawal -Concerns -Cambodia army -US air support -South Vietnamese forces -Cooperation -Effect on Cambodian population -Khmer people and government -Asia -Nixon Doctrine -US withdrawal -People's Republic of China [PRC], Japan, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Vietnam -Cambodian support -US relations with PRC -US-PRC relations 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.) -Universality -PRC -Proximity to Cambodia -President's forthcoming meeting with Chou En-lai and Mao Tse-tung -Possible effect -US commitments -Predictions -Difficulty -Position of PRC -Matak’s experience -Ambassador to PRC -Asianization -Geneva Agreement -US presence -Importance -Air and sea forces -Compared to ground forces -US Congress -View in Southeast Asia -Japan -Role -Compared to PRC -Cambodian security -North Vietnam Stephen B. Bull [?] entered at an unknown time after 12:02 pm. National Press Club Bull [?] left at an unknown time before 1:04 pm. -USSR -North Vietnam -PRC -US military presence -Naval, air, ground -Asia -Defense responsibilities -US aid -Withdrawal -South Vietnam 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.) -US casualties -US aims -Asian independence -Asian rim -PRC -Peace -PRC -Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Thailand -Relations with PRC -US commitments to other nations -Asian independence -Peace -President’s forthcoming talks with PRC -Possible effect -Peace -Melvin R. Laird, William P. Rogers -Prime minister -Laird, Rogers -President’s statement -President's visit, 1953 -Cambodians -US military and economics aid -US Congress -Chief of State -Lon Nol -Communist aggression -Goals -Territorial integrity -Freedom -Possible postwar settlement -Geneva Agreement -PRC, Taiwan -Matak's National Press Club appearance -Angkor Wat -The President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon Press conference -President’s regrets The President, et al. left at 1:04 pm. 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 559-8 (cont.)