Conversation: 705-009
Prev:  705-008 Next: 705-010Start Date: 10-Apr-1972 11:45 AM
End Date: 10-Apr-1972 12:23 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Porter, William J.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie"); Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:31:42
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:09:48
NARA Description:
On April 10, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, William J. Porter, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:45 am to 12:23 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 705-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 705-9 Date: April 10, 1972 Time: 11:45 am - 12:23 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with William J. Porter and Henry A. Kissinger. Greetings Vietnam -Negotiations -The President’s instructions to Porter -State Department Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:45 am. Press -Presence at meeting -Kissinger's opinion -Paris Photograph session -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins -Distribution -Press -Porter 25 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Bull left at an unknown time before 12:23 pm. Atkins entered at an unknown time after 11:45 am. [Photograph session] Atkins left at an unknown time before 12:23 pm. US leadership -The President’s view -Department of State -Partisanship -Crisis in nation -Sentimentality -Tactical concerns -Foreign service -Recruitment of young men -Problems -Modern education -Shortsightedness -Need for risks and strong convictions -Military -The President’s previous conversation with Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -Bureaucracy -Need for strength -Ability to speak up Vietnam -Paris peace talks -Porter’s handling -US position -Cessation -Reasons -US seriousness -Porter’s strategy -Possible statement -William H. Sullivan -Conversation with Kissinger -Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG] -Timing of Porter's return to Paris -Public stance 26 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 705-9 (cont.) -US position -Robert J. McCloskey and Ronald L. Ziegler -The President’s January 25, 1972 speech -Michael J. Mansfield’s support -Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu's resignation -North Vietnamese position -Escalation of military activity -Resumption of talks -Timing -Escalation of military action -Announcement -US conditions -Past negotiations -US position -North Vietnamese position -Wording -Porter’s statement -Build-up for press -Wording -Review of negotiating record -US offers -North Vietnamese position -US response -North Vietnamese violations of international law -Limits to negotiations -Porter’s statement -Preparation of press -Porter’s record -Previous trips to Vietnam -Statement to the press -Emphasis on positive -Porter’s handling -US delegation -Release of statement -Television coverage -Duration -Peace offer -North Vietnamese response -Infiltration -Offensive -Possible statement 27 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 705-9 (cont.) -North Vietnamese offensive -State Department response -US air strikes -B-52s -Increase -Numbers -Targets -Vinh -Size of strike -Proximity to Hanoi -Mikoyand and Gurevich [MIG] -Location of targets -Saigon area -New squadrons -Naval gunfire -Destroyers -Number -Cruisers -Number -Targets -Negotiations -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin's conversation with Kissinger -Soviet role -US settlement US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] relations -Biological Warfare Treaty -Dobrynin’s remarks -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] negotiations -George R.S. Baring’s [Earl of Cromer] remarks -The President's remarks at signing ceremony -Disregard of sentimental rhetoric -Non-proliferation and seabed treaties -Importance of treaty -Peace in the future -Arms limitation -SALT -Super powers -Encouragement not to use force -Dobrynin -Press 28 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 705-9 (cont.) -Call to Kissinger -Message to Kremlin -Biological Warfare Treaty -The President's remarks at ceremony -Tone -Dobrynin's presence -USSR’s support of India over Pakistan and support of United Arab Republic [UAR] -Soviet foreign policy -The President's remarks at treaty ceremony -Future SALT agreement Vietnam -Battle reports -Quang Tri -South Vietnam -Artillery and infantry -Damage to tanks -Air Force -Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -North Vietnamese offensive -Reports of problems -Lack of coordination -Tanks -Artillery -South Vietnam -Air power -Military Region Three -South Vietnamese retreats -Thieu -Importance to overall strategy -US strategy -Negotiations -Henry Cabot Lodge and Dr. David K. E. Bruce -North Vietnamese objectives -Return of (Madame) Nguyen Thi Binh to Paris -Major cities -Quang tri -Hue -Thieu -Cease-fire 29 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 705-9 (cont.) -North Vietnamese objectives -Demilitarized zone [DMZ] -Critics’ response -Possible excuses -Cease-fire offer -Thieu government -Capture of cities -Problems -Possible US action -Soviets -Thieu government -North Vietnamese offensive -Kissinger’s view -Setbacks -Losses -Cambodia and Laos -1970 and 1971 -Prediction for 1973 -North Vietnamese offensive -Commitment of divisions -Battle reports -Logistical problems -Time factor -Replacements -DMZ -Movement of troops -325th division -Location -Movement of troops -DMZ -Training divisions -Compared with Tet offensive -Vietcong -Main forces -Losses -Long Tien -Possible weather concerns -Troop locations -Air strikes -320th division -Theiu report 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 705-9 (cont.) -Concentration -B-52s and Tactical Air [TACAIR] -Effectiveness -Casualties -Potential number -Weapons -B-3 -320th division -Theiu -Withdrawal to Laos -ARVN units -1st Airborne -Operations -Objectives -Possible political motivations -Negotiations -Possible North Vietnamese offer -Quang Tri province -Ceasefire -Thieu government -Possible resignation -Porter’s schedule -Objectives -Hue -Soviets Porter and Kissinger left at 12:23 pm.