Conversation: 716-003
Prev:  716-002 Next: 716-004Start Date: 1-May-1972 5:31 PM
End Date: 1-May-1972 5:53 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 01:25:25
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:49:11
NARA Description:
On May 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:31 pm to 5:53 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 716-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 716-3 Date: May 1, 1972 Time: 5:31 pm -5:53 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Henry A. Kissinger. Vietnam -Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Le Duc Tho -Public record -Statement by President -The President’s view -Wording -An announcement -Statement -Strength -North Vietnamese offensive -President's response -Public support -Polls -Bombing -Extent -Negotiations -US demands -North Vietnamese action -Demilitarized zone [DMZ] -March 29, 1972 status quo ante -Prisoners of war [POW] release -US bombing -US proposals -January 25, 1972 -Withdrawal -POWs -North Vietnamese response -Negotiations -Kissinger's opening statement -North Vietnamese [Le Duc Tho’s] responses -Tenor of Kissinger's remarks 17 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 716-3 (cont.) -President's Intentions -North Vietnamese offensive -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s view -National Security Council [NSC] meeting -Melvin R. Laird's previous predictions -Vietnamization -Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. -Risks -Success -Reasons -US aid -Tanks -Japan -Trained personnel -South Vietnamese Losses -Military Region [MR] 1 -South Vietnamese tank losses -North Vietnamese artillery -Soviet weapons -Effectiveness -North Vietnamese artillery -Number of rounds -Estimates -Quang Tri -An Loc -Cambodian operation -Kissinger’s view -South Vietnamese response -Offensive capabilities -Defensive capabilities -South Vietnam -Cambodia -Offensive ability -US support -North Vietnamese offensive -US response -Lack of new ideas -Laird -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -Abrams -South Vietnamese defeat 18 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 716-3 (cont.) -US public response -US public opinion -Kissinger's dinner with Rowland Evans and Thomas W. Braden -US response to offensive -The President’s view -North Vietnamese offensive -North Vietnamese targets -Selection -Kissinger’s forthcoming briefings -Abrams -Moorer -Briefing of President -Options -Dikes -B-52s -Populated areas -Problems -Press coverage -Risks -Haiphong -Recovery -Air strikes -Piers -Petroleum, oil and lubricant [POL] dumps -B52s -Air strikes -Soviet weapons -Quality Soviet Union -Military capabilities -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] -Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster -Compared with US military capabilities -The President’s view US military establishment -Reorganization -1972 election -John B. Connally -Appointment as Secretary of Defense 19 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 716-3 (cont.) -The President’s view Vietnam -North Vietnamese offensive -Air strikes -Connally's opinion -Support in Texas -Destruction -Thanh Hoa -Weather -Kissinger, Haig -South Vietnamese performance -Abrams's evaluation -Laird -Morale -Air strikes -Impact -B-52s -North Vietnamese casualties -South Vietnamese actions -Counterattacks -Plans -Dong Ha, Quang Tri -Ronald L. Ziegler's statements -Stance to press -North Vietnamese offensive -South Vietnamese losses -Public stance -Press reports -Impact on US public -Laos operation -Provincial capitals -Memorandum [?] -Retyping Kissinger’s schedule Kissinger left at 5:53 pm. 20 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 716-3 (cont.)