Conversation: 710-004
Prev: 710-003 Next: 710-005Start Date: 17-Apr-1972 5:02 PM
End Date: 17-Apr-1972 5:50 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Laird, Melvin R.; Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.);Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:06:56
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:53:47
NARA Description:
On April 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Melvin R. Laird, and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:02 pm to 5:50 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 710-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 710-4
Date: April 17, 1972
Time: 5:02 pm - 5:50 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Vietnam
-Kissinger’s conversation with John A. Scali
-The president's meeting with People's Republic of China [PRC] table tennis
team
-Location of possible match
-Problems
-Possible cancellation
-Announcement
-Possible cancellation
-Moscow trip
-Bombing in North Vietnam
-Bombing
-Risks
-Consequences
-Kissinger’s and the president's soviet trips
-Necessity
-Kissinger’s conversation with Stewart J.O. Alsop
-The President's Soviet trip
-Scali
-Visit of People's Republic of China [PRC] team
-Possible cancellation
-Michael J. Mansfield’s trip to PRC
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
-Possible cancellation
-Hong Kong stopover
-Mansfield’s arrival in PRC
-Table tennis match
-Scali's memorandum
-The President's meeting with Melvin R. Laird and Thomas H. Moorer
-Kissinger’s handling
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 5:10 pm.
PRC
-Table tennis team visit and match
-Arrangements
-Possible cancellation of meeting with the President
-Arrangements
-Announcement
-Possible actions
-Meeting with the President
-Cancellation of team's tour
-Arrangements for team's visit and match
-Scali's memorandum
-Setting
-Time
-Tour of White House
-Meeting with the president
-Graham B. Steenhoven
-Greetings
-Chuang Tse-tung
-Table tennis team
-Schedule
-Tricia Nixon Cox’s attendance at match
-Statements on US bombing of North Vietnam
Haldeman left at 5:12 pm.
Vietnam
-Meeting with Laird and Moorer
-Length
Laird and Moorer entered at 5:13 pm.
Greetings
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
William M. Colmer luncheon
Vietnam
-Laird’s testimony
-Coordination with William P. Rogers's and the President’s statements
-Possible questions
-Vietnamization
-Failure
-South Vietnamese performance
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Modern Soviet equipment
-Military operations
-Soviet equipment
-US bombing
-South Vietnamese performance
-New South Vietnamese division
-Offensive
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
-Hue
-Movement
-Damage to North Vietnam
-Fifth South Vietnamese division
-Improvements
-Commander
-Change
-An loc
-Tanks
-Air support
-Air cover
-South Vietnamese Air Force
-Capabilities
-Sorties
-Number
-B-52s
-TACAIR
-Damage to North Vietnam
-South Vietnamese performance
-Laird’s testimony
-Future fighting
-South Vietnamese performance
-Capabilities
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
-Destruction of tanks
-Figures
-Weapons used
-Antitank capabilities
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-South Vietnamese tanks
-Number
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Combat teams
-Military Region Two
-Irregular forces
-An loc, Hue and other cities
-Difficulties
-South Vietnamese responsibilities
-US support
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Importance
-Compared with Tet offensive
-Casualties
-US and South Vietnam
-US forces
-Ground elements
-Press
-Medal and citation to unknown Lieutenant Colonel
-South Vietnamese performance
-Improvements
-Laird’s testimony
-Bombing
-Military targets
-Military installations
-Nuclear weapons
-Exclusion
-Bombing
-Targets
-Hanoi and Haiphong
-Soviets
-Ships to North Vietnam
-Caution
-Negotiations
-Rogers and Laird testimony
-Laird position
-Conditions
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
-Duress
-Need for substance
-Edmund S. Muskie proposal
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnamese invasion
-DMZ
-Illegality
-Continuation
-US reaction
-Support for South Vietnam
-Protection for US personnel
-Curb of aggression
-South Vietnamese performance
-Cease-fire
-US support
-Risks
-US personnel
-South Vietnamese
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Congress
-Antiwar resolution
-Condemnation of invasion
-Bias
-Charge of assisting the enemy
-Public relations
-Television
-Laird
-John C. Stennis
-Appearance on Today Show
-F. Edward Hebert
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Stennis and Hebert
-Hawks
-Television appearances
-US policies
-Congressional support
-Possible erosion
-Laos operation
-Naval action
-Blockade
-Further discussion
-Newport News
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
-Other cruisers
-Effectiveness
-Cruisers
-US forces
-Strengthening
-Public statements
-Confidentiality
-Number of ships
-Navy forces
-North Vietnamese knowledge
-Carriers
-Panama Canal
-Cape Hope
-Arrival
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Withdrawals
-US strikes
-South Vietnamese performance
-Air sorties
-Effectiveness
-Aircraft
-Maintenance
-Training
-US goals
-US support
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Return
-Negotiations
-Conditions
-Previous discussions
-Failures
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Withdrawals
-DMZ
-US position
-Soviets
-Support of North Vietnam
-US reaction
-US credibility
-Middle East
-Surface to air missile [SAMs]
-United Arab Republic
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
-North Vietnamese aggression
-Risks
-Precedents
-Soviets
-US response
-Vietnamization
-South Vietnamese performance
-Press reports
-Errors
-Success of program
-Military operations
-An loc
-South Vietnamese control
-North Vietnamese assaults
-21st South Vietnamese division
-Roads
-Clearance
-North Vietnamese units
-271st regiment
-Artillery and tanks
-US Armed Forces
-Honor and confidence of public
-Blockade
-Imposition
-Time
-Mining
-Advantages
-Advantages
-Selectivity
-Mining
-Disadvantages
-Elimination
-Small ships
-Supplies
-US equipment
-Military operation against the Do Son Peninsula
-Commander [Forename unknown] Moss
-Rescue from water
US Navy
-Practice
-Colebra
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 710-4 (cont.)
-Ecological concerns
Vietnam
-US operations
The President's schedule
-Dinner with relatives
The President, Kissinger, Laird and Moorer left at 5:50 pm.