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Conversation: 639-014

Prev:  639-013 Next: 639-015

Start Date: 18-Dec-1971 2:10 PM

End Date: 18-Dec-1971 2:31 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Haig, Alexander M., Jr.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:25:34

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:46:12

639a.mp3

639b.mp3

639c.mp3

NARA Description:

On December 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:10 pm to 2:31 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 639-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 639-14

Date: December 18, 1971
Time: 2:10 pm - 2:31 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Gen. Alexander M. Haig. Jr.

     The President’s schedule
          -Recent meeting with Zulfikar Ali Bhutto

     Pakistan
          -United Nations [UN]
               -Bhutto’s speech


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 5s ]


     PAKISTAN
                                             18

                         NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)




END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


         -Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
               -Toughness
               -Future with US
                     -Possible outcome
               -George H.W. Bush
               -Feelings toward US
         -People’s Republic of China [PRC]

    [Unintelligible]

         -Effect on US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] relations
              -President’s opinion
                    -Henry A. Kissinger
                    -Need for discretion
                    -US role
         -Outcome of conflict

    Middle East
        -Haig’s opinion
        -Possible trouble spots
        -Egypt
              -USSR involvement
              -Kissinger
        -Egyptian arms
        -USSR air coverage

    South Asia
         -Gains in the Middle East

    Middle East
        -Negotiations
              -State Department
        -Egypt
              -Possible frustrations
                                              19

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. 10/06)
                                                               Conv. No. 629-14 (cont.)



    Pakistan
         -USSR action
              -Restraint
         -Kissinger's role
              -USSR view
              -Yuli M. Vorontsov
         -Meeting with USSR Agriculture Minister
         -USSR-India relations
              -Dacca


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 25s ]


    INDIA


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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


              -[Unintelligible]
              -US position towards the USSR
         -PRC role
         -US plans
              -USSR and PRC
                   -John A. Scali

    Vietnam
         -North Vietnam
              -Objections
                   -Laos
                   -Cambodia
                         -Possibility for internal collapse
         -Cambodia
                                           20

                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                   Tape Subject Log
                                     (rev. 10/06)
                                                              Conv. No. 629-14 (cont.)


            -Gen. Lon Nol
                   -Health
      -South Vietnam
            -Unknown leader
            -Forces
                   -Chup
                         -Regiment 271
                               -Rout 6
            -Strategy
            -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] [South Vietnam]
      -Air power
            -ARVN
                   -Cambodians
      -US strategy
            -Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
            -Post-Christmas offensive
                   -Air fields
                         -Mikoyan-Gurevich [MIGs]
                   -Military targets
                         -Vinh
            -Off-shore forces
                   -South Vietnam
      -Paris talks
            -Postponement
            -Enemy initiative
                   -Propaganda
            -William J. Porter
                   -Performance
            -Strategy
                   -Propaganda
                         -Analogy to Korean War

PRC
      -PRC and USSR involvement
      -Effect of India-Pakistan conflict
      -US-PRC relations
           -Strengthening of relations
           -Laos
           -Cambodia
                  -Possible beneficial effects
                                               21

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)
                                                                     Conv. No. 629-14 (cont.)


Haig left at 2:31 pm.