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Conversation: 660-021

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Start Date: Monday, January 31, 1972 4:03 PM

End Date: Monday, January 31, 1972 4:54 PM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Bull, Stephen B.Luns, Joseph M. A.White House photographer

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 05:40:05

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 06:27:17

660-021.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, Joseph M. A. Luns, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:03 am to 11:54 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 660-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 660-021
Date: January 31, 1972
Time: 11:03 am - 11:54 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Malta
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:03 am.
Page | 66
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Cancellation of request for a call to Stewart B. McKinney
Bull left at an unknown time before 11:05 am.
Malta
-Robert F. Ellsworth
-Possible visit
-Possible meeting with President prior to People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Possible deal with United Kingdom
-Dominic Mintoff
-Issues
-Edward R.G. Heath
**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-033. Segment declassified on 05/24/2019. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[660-021-w002]
[Duration: 5s]
Malta
-Possible deal with United Kingdom
-Issues
-Edward R.G. Heath
-Henry A. Kissinger’s opinion
**************************************************************************
Malta
-Possible deal with United Kingdom
-Issues
-Edward R.G. Heath
-Moral issue
-Money
-British Conduct
Page | 67
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
John B. Connally’s schedule
-Pittsburgh
-Forthcoming meeting
-Timing
-Connally’s presence
-Kissinger’s schedule
Joseph M. A. H. Luns entered at 11:05 am; the White House photographer was present at the
beginning of the meeting.
Greetings
-Photograph session
Past meetings with Luns
Luns’s response to Jay Rockefeller’s statement
-US interest in foreign policy
-Compared to morality
Anti-American protests
**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-009. Segment declassified on 11/06/2017. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[660-021-w003]
[Duration: 43m 20s]
US–North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] cooperation
-The President’s view
-People's Republic of China [PRC]–US visit
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]–US visit
-Détente
-US view of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] alliance
-Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Edward R. G. Heath
Page | 68
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Willy Brandt
-Michel Debre
-Agenda
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Consultation with allies
-European security conference
-Enthusiasm
-Purpose
-Need for reality
-Useful discussions
-Campaign rhetoric
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield amendment
-European troop reduction
-Domestic spending
-The President's actual position
-Budget cuts
-Approval prospects
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s [NATO] role
-New isolationism
-Need to fight
-Budget increase
-Importance
-US role
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
-Role of others
-Message to North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] members
-Alliance unity
-External political decisions
-Troop necessity
-Joseph M. A. H. Luns's trip to Canada
-Conversation with Pierre E. Trudeau
-US role
-Europe
-Canadian contribution to North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Importance
-Joseph M. A. H. Luns's conversation with Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Georges J. R. Pompidou's view of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-French contribution to North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
Page | 69
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-French benefits from North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Georges J. R. Pompidou's reaction
-Troop withdrawal
-German role in North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Ostpolitik
-Military effort
-Weakness
-Expenditures
-Options outside North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Western Europe
-Denuclearized zone
-United Kingdom
-Criticism of US
-Group of Ten
-Prospects for economic confrontation with US
-Henry A. Kissinger’s assessment
-Joseph M. A. H. Luns's schedule
-Departure
-February 1, 1972
-Potential meeting with John B. Connally [?]
-Danish problem
-Joseph M. A. H. Luns's view
-Expenditures
-Malta problem
-Dominic Mintoff'’s desire for meeting with the President
-Timing
-Loans
-Joseph M. A. H. Luns’s view
-German problem
-Consideration of German view
-Denuclearization
-Willy Brandt's feeling
-Relations with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Corrective action
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] intentions
-Allies' view
-US contribution to North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-European security conference
-The President’s view
Page | 70
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-France
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] desires
-German options
-Weaknesses
-Necessity of being part of alliances
-Role in North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Bargaining position with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Need for strength
-Role of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Willy Brandt's view
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] strengths and weaknesses
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] desires
-State of alliance
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] role
-David M. Kennedy
-Upcoming conversation with Joseph M. A. H. Luns
-Message to Dominic Mintoff
-Economic aid
-US interest in North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Visits before People's Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Henry A. Kissinger's role
-Need for communication
-Post-People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip contacts
-US plan for North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] information
-Dutch
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] council address
-Drawbacks
-Henry A. Kissinger's role
-Private meetings
-Japan and Thailand
-Left–right struggle
-History
-Goal of right
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Defense of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Peace
-Pragmatism
-Dutch
Page | 71
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Critics in US
-Pro-People's Republic of China [PRC] group
-Pro-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] group
-Department of State [DOS]
-Make-up
-Arguments
**************************************************************************
Recording was cut off at an unknown time before 11:54 am.
Page | 72