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Conversation: 647-007

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Start Date: 13-Jan-1972 10:35 AM

End Date: 13-Jan-1972 11:05 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Laird, Melvin R.Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Ziegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:20:38

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:50:51

647a.mp3

647b.mp3

647c.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Melvin R. Laird, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:35 am to 11:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 647-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 647-7

Date: January 13, 1972
Time: 10:35 am - 11:05 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Melvin R. Laird and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

     Greetings

     Vietnam announcement
          -Questions
          -News summary

     Vietnam
          -North Vietnamese attacks
               -Media coverage
               -Probability of success
               -South Vietnamese
                    -Prospects
                    -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
                          -Morale
                                -American Broadcasting Corporation [ABC]
                    -Possible questions at forthcoming news briefing
                                         5

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                  Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.)


Possible questions at forthcoming news briefing
     -North and South Vietnamese capabilities
     -Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
     -Reliance on South Vietnam for its security

The President's statement of US troop withdrawals
     -Date of withdrawals
     -Possible follow-up questions
          -Handling
                 -Noting circumstances
          -Prisoners of war [POWs]
                 -Remaining US forces
          -Administration record

Democratic candidates
    -Edmund S. Muskie, Hubert H. Humphrey
    -Previous positions on Vietnam
          -1968 campaign

Vietnam
     -US troop withdrawals
          -Levels

POWs
   -Deadline
         -North Vietnam’s response
                -Call for overthrow of South Vietnam government
   -Critics of the President's policy
         -Possible responses
                -Aid to North Vietnam
                -North Vietnam’s position
                      -US withdrawal
                      -Cessation of aid to South Vietnam
                      -Overthrow of South Vietnam government
                -Humanitarian aspect
                -Nguyen Van Thieu

Laird's possible responses
     -Projected enemy activity
           -Press coverage
     -Tone
                                          6

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                          Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.)


     -Withdrawals
     -South Vietnamese defense capabilities
          -Chances of success
          -US combat role
          -North Vietnam

Press stories
      -Energy activity
            -Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam
            -Timing
      -South Vietnamese defense performance
            -US confidence
            -Defeats and victories
      -Cambodia
      -Laos

South Vietnamese
     -Military capabilities
           -Manpower, training, materiel, morale
     -Towns
           -Kontum
           -Laird’s possible answers
                -Phrasing
           -Composition
     -Central Highlands
           -Montagnards

Troop withdrawal announcement
     -Format
           -Ceilings
           -Press interest
           -Future announcement
                 -Timing
     -Laird's comments
     -Laird, Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS], Thieu

Laird’s possible answers
     -South Vietnam defense capabilities
     -Nixon doctrine, Vietnamization, Cambodia
           -Press questions
     -Air and sea power
                                          7

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. 10/06)
                                                                Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.)


          -Possible future use
               -Conditions
                     -1972
                     -Laos, Cambodia
                     -US forces
                     -POWs
                     -1972 election
               -The President’s possible remarks

The President’s possible remarks
     -US troops
          -Confidence in Vietnamization, South Vietnam defense capability

Vietnam
     -Remaining US troops
         -Responsibilities

Possible action by the North Vietnamese
     -Psychology of attack
           -Evidence

US casualties in Vietnam
     -Helicopters
     -Press reports of increases
     -Compared to the Battle of the Somme, March 21 – April 6, 1918
           -British casualties
                 -Compared to Germans
     -Compared to New York City death statistics

Troop withdrawal announcement
     -Vietnamization
     -Attacks by the North Vietnamese
           -Prediction
           -Timing
           -Publicity
                 -Psychological effect
     -South Vietnamese defense capabilities
           -Possible failures
                 -Terrain
                       -II Corps
     -Air activity
                                                8

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                         Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 10/06)
                                                                 Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.)


                 -Effectiveness
                      -ABC reports

     Air strikes
           -Damage reports
                 -B’52s
                 -Four-day strike of December 1971
                      -Effectiveness
           -Effectiveness
                 -Weather
                 -Evidence
           -US responses to North Vietnamese attacks
                 -Remaining US troops

     South Vietnam
          -Success
          -Economic progress
               -Inflation
          -Progress

     Rate of withdrawal
          -US goals in South Vietnam
                -POWs
                -Self-defense

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 11:00 am.

     Reporters at announcement release

     Questions for Laird
          -Duration

     Television cameras

     The White House Press Room

Ziegler left at 11:01 am.

     The President's statement

     Laird's comments
                                                  9

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.)


           -Vietnamization
                -Confidence in South Vietnam

     Troop announcement
          -Troop ceiling
               -Future announcement
          -Coordination with South Vietnam, Laird, JCS
          -Laird
               -Questions
               -Confidence in South Vietnam
               -US ground combat role

     [David] Kenneth Rush
          -Meeting with Laird
          -Hugh Scott
          -Proposed meeting with John C. Stennis, Margaret Chase Smith
          -Possible appointment as Deputy Secretary, Secretary of Defense

     Ambassador William J. Porter

The President, Laird and Haig left at 11:05 am.