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Conversation: 662-005

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Start Date: 1-Feb-1972 11:39 AM

End Date: 1-Feb-1972 11:52 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Bull, Stephen B.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:03:44

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:17:45

662a.mp3

662b.mp3

NARA Description:

On February 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:39 am to 11:52 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 662-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 662-5

Date: February 1, 1972
Time: 11:39 am - 11:52 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger

     Visit by Kissinger to James B. (“Scotty”) Reston home
           -Call to Reston
           -Attendance
                 -J. William Fulbright and John W. Gardner
           -Reston’s attacks on the President
                 -Consequences

     Scientific exchanges
          -President’s instructions
                 -Fidel Castro
                 -Salvador Allende Gossens

     Visit by Kissinger to Reston home
           -Foreign Relations Committee
           -Common Cause
           -Moderation of criticism
                -Duration
                -Fulbright view
                      -Reston
                -Kissinger view
           -Vietnam policy defense by Kissinger
           -Attendance
                                    20

                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. 10/06)



     -Fulbright
-Vietnam policy defense by Kissinger
     -Criticism of the President’s plan
     -Moral crisis
           -Foreign Relations Committee
                  -North Vietnam
     -Concessions by US
     -John W. Gardner
           -Kissinger’s praise for the President
     -Troop reduction
           -Number
     -Fulbright view
           -Possible assistance
           -Reston
     -Critics’ attitude
           -Daniel Schwarz [?]
     -Cambodia
-Moderation of criticism
     -Freedom of the press
           -Kissinger’s previous talk with Reston
-Reason for meeting
     -Future contact
-Establishment
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
     -Kissinger defense
     -Benefits
     -Criticism
     -Effects
           -Historic perspective
     -Gardner view
           -Future conversations with Kissinger
     -Reston view
           -Support of PRC trip
           -Max Frankel
           -Press briefings
                  -Historic perspective of PRC trip
     -Fulbright view
     -Reston view
           -Daily briefings
                  -Possible press attitudes
                        -PRC
                                                21

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                       Conv. No. 662-5 (cont.)


                    -New York Times role
                          -Attacks on the President’s speech, January 25, 1972
                          -Possible cease-fire
                                -Timing
          -Vietnam negotiations
                    -Reston view
                    -Gardner position
                    -Establishment
               -Appraisal of meeting
                    -Reston view
                    -Restraint and debate

     Rogers’s previous conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:39 am.

     President’s schedule
          -Apollo XV astronauts
                -Peter M. Flanigan
                -Previous dinner at Camp David
                -Haldeman

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:52 am.

     PRC trip
         -Preparation
              -Rogers’s interest in consultations
                    -Haldeman’s talk with Rogers
              -Reading
              -Establishment impression
              -Kissinger’s comments at meeting

     Kissinger’s schedule

Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:39 am.

     The President’s schedule
          -Astronauts
               -Gifts
                      -Watches
                           -Delivery
                                             22

                           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 662-5 (cont.)


                -Photograph session

Kissinger and Bull left at 11:52 am.