Conversation: 714-022
Prev: 714-021 Next: 714-023Start Date: 20-Apr-1972 4:29 PM
End Date: 20-Apr-1972 4:48 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Hope, Lelsie T. ("Bob"); Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)]; Bull, Stephen B.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 04:10:11
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:28:36
NARA Description:
On April 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Lelsie T. ("Bob") Hope, Ronald L. Ziegler, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:29 pm to 4:48 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 714-022 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 714-22
Date: April 20, 1972
Time: 4:29 pm - 4:48 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope and Ronald L. Ziegler.
Weather
Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Meeting with the President
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 4:29 pm.
Haig
-Meeting with the President
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 4:48 pm.
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Strength
-Number of divisions
-US retaliation
-Compared to Inchon landing
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:29 pm.
48
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
Haig
-Location
Bull left at an unknown time before 4:48 pm.
Vietnam
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Effects on North Vietnam
-Objectives
-US reaction
-South Vietnamese collapse
-South Vietnamese performance
-US reaction
-Bombing
-Size of force
-Carriers
-Destroyers
-Cruisers
-B-52s
-Number of sorties
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Hanoi and Haiphong
-Retaliation
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
-Regular troops
-Compared to Vietcong [VC]
-US reaction
-Bombing
-Cessation
-Conditions
-US casualties
-Rate
-US participation
-Air and sea support
-Vietnamization
-South Vietnamese response
-Air sorties
-Number by South Vietnam
-Ability to resist
-Bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong
-Soviets
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] and Soviet summits
49
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
-Stakes of war
-The President’s stature
-Bombing
-Dwight D. Eisenhower’s evaluation
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Naval response
-Blockade
-Soviet and North Vietnamese reaction
-Options for US
-Avoidance of defeat
-US defeat
-Consequences
-Impact on Southeast Asia and Middle East
-Middle East
-United Arab Republic [Egypt]
-Threat to Israel
-US policies
-Poker game analogy
-North Vietnamese offensive
-US response
-Negotiations
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-1972 election
-Consequences of defeat
-Peace demonstrations
-Demonstration at Soviet embassy
-American Legion
-Press reports
-Response
-Charles W. Colson
-Press reports
-Press
-Defeatism
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Speech to American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE]
-Attack on Democrats
-Golf ball
-Message
John B. Connally
-Speech to ASNE
-William P. Rogers and Melvin R. Laird
50
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
Vietnam
-Future US actions
-Haig briefing for White House staff
-Unknown US Lieutenant Colonel in Vietnam
-Attack on reporters
-State Department
-Reporters’ alleged action
-Helicopters
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-Commendation
-Publicity
-US press
-Behavior
-Bob Hope Show
-Visit to Vietnam
-Response
-Press distortions
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 5s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
Jack N. Anderson
-Hope's joke
-Henry A. Kissinger
Photograph album
-Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
Golf game
-Arrangements
-California
Well wishes
51
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
-The President's family
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Delores (Reade) Hope
Vietnam
-US policies
-1972 election
-Bombing
Hope and Ziegler left at 4:48 pm.