Conversation: 700-002
Prev: 700-001 Next: 700-003Start Date: 3-Apr-1972 8:40 AM
End Date: 3-Apr-1972 9:09 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]; Kissinger, Henry A.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:21:14
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:39:55
NARA Description:
On April 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:40 am and 9:09 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 700-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 700-2
Date: April 3, 1972
Time: Unknown after 8:40 am and 9:09 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with an unknown person.
Tape for Rose Mary Woods to transcribe
-Personal file
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 8:54 am.
Vietnam
-Briefing
-Melvin R. Laird
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 9:09 am.
-Kissinger's order on reports from Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Kissinger's conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Delivery to the President
-Laird
-Editing of reports from Abrams
-Delays
-North Vietnamese attack
-Scope
-Tanks
-Number
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Donh Ga
-Abrams's assessment
-Press reports
-Compared with Laos coverage
-Soldiers' opposition to war
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-Military Assistance Command, Vietnam [MACV]
-Bombing
-Laird
-The President’s recent trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Reports on possible attack
-Kissinger's conversation with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Haig’s call to Gen. Robert E. Pursley
-Attacks over Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
-David Kraslow
-Call to Kissinger
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Laird
-Withdrawals
-US response
-Bombing attacks
-Laird
-Promise to Abrams
-Abrams
-Pursley
-Attitude toward war
-Clark M. Clifford
-Robert S. McNamara
-Abrams
-Call from Kissinger
-Report to the President
-Possible leaks
-US military operations
-Kissinger’ schedule
-Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG]
-The President’s possible meeting with Moorer and [David] Kenneth Rush
-Laird
-Problems
-Attacks on North Vietnam
-Air attacks
-Kissinger's conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Weather limitations
-Battle of the Bulge
-Bad weather attacks
-Reluctance to attack North Vietnam
-Press reports
-Defense Department
-Moorer
-I Corps
-Helicopters
-Transportation to combat zone
-Restrictions
-Rush
-North Vietnamese attacks
-ARVN losses
-DMZ
-Provincial cities
-Hue and Da Nang
-Kontum
-Quang Tri
-Assessment of gains
-Retaliation
-Rainy season
-Kissinger's meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Berlin treaty
-Soviets
-Importance of summit
-PRC
-US message
-North Vietnamese attacks
-US bombing
-Intensity
-Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-The President's meeting with Moorer
-Importance of attacks
-Direct orders
-Laird
-Rush
-News summaries
-State and Defense Departments
-DMZ
-Kissinger's meeting with John A. Scali
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Ronald L. Ziegler, Robert J. McCloskey and Daniel Z. Henkin
-WSAG meeting
-Public relations efforts
-Geneva 1954 accords and 1968 understanding
-Supply depots and anti-aircraft
-Public relations efforts
-Departments of State and Defense
-Ziegler's statement
-Gerald L. Warren's comments
-Involvement of Americans
-Abrams
-ARVN
-Possible situation
-Consequences
-Necessity of US response
-Japanese, Soviet and PRC cooperation
-Air attacks
-Delays
-Laird
-Weather
-Preparations
-JCS
-Immediate action
-Briefing
-ARVN
-Possible situation
-Consequences
-Soviet Union
-PRC
-Election
-Kissinger’s prognostication
-May 1, 1972
-Negotiations
-The President's trip to Kentucky
-101st Airborne
-Alternate schedule
-North Vietnamese attack
-US response
-Press reports
-US casualties
-Hostility to US policy
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 700-3 (cont.)
-Vietnamization
-Distortions of ARVN strength
-Latest reports
-Tanks
-Briefing
-WSAG meeting
Kissinger left at 9:09 am.