Conversation: 718-002
Prev:  718-001 Next: 718-003Start Date: 3-May-1972 10:06 AM
End Date: 3-May-1972 10:19 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:13:55
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:28:39
NARA Description:
On May 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:06 am to 10:19 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 718-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 718-2 Date: May 3, 1972 Time: 10:06 am – 10:19 am Location: Oval Office The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman. 4 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.) President's schedule -A meeting -Arrangements -Time -Meeting with L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III and Richard G. Kleindienst -Announcement of appointment -Time -President's previous meeting with Republican Congressional leaders -Kleindienst's schedule -Time -Ronald L. Ziegler’s role -Kleindienst’s role ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [Personal returnable] [Duration: 53s ] END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ***************************************************************** Henry A. Kissinger entered at 10:07 am. Greetings Meeting with Republican Congressional leaders -Kissinger -Support for President Vietnam -North Vietnamese offensive -New York Times reporters -Craig Whitney [?] and Sydney Schanberg -[First name unknown] Butterworth Instructions to Haldeman 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.) Kissinger's schedule -Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG] meeting Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] negotiations -Submarines -Information leaks -William P. Rogers's version -Numbers -Purpose -Rogers -Gerard C. Smith -President's story President's schedule -Meeting with Kleindienst -Time Vietnam -North Vietnamese offensive -Melvin R. Laird's press conference -South Vietnamese performance -The President’s instructions -Postponement -J. Edgar Hoover funeral -Laird's reluctance Haldeman left at 10:10 am. WSAG meeting -Kissinger's attendance -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s attendance Vietnam -North Vietnamese offensive -Course of action -Letter to Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Tenor -New proposals -Further discussions -President's message 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.) -Nguyen Van Thieu -Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. -South Vietnamese strengths -North Vietnamese weaknesses -Casualties -Kontum, Hue -Losses -Divisions -South Vietnamese military dispositions -Kontum, Pleiku -Abrams -Tactics -Possibility as Army Chief of Staff -Chances of stopping -Kissinger's evaluation -South Vietnamese command -Changes -Gen. Hoang Xuan Lam -Gen. Pham Van Phu -South Vietnamese forces -3rd Division -Loss -Remaining strength -Kissinger’s view -Hue -Possible capture -Strategy -Kontum -South Vietnamese -Attitude toward communists -Outcome Kissinger's schedule -WSAG meeting -Meeting with President 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. Dec-01) Conv. No. 718-2 (cont.) Vietnam -North Vietnamese offensive -William J. Porter -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer briefing -Bombing plans -Haiphong -Laird's attendance -Position on bombing -US options -Military action -Soviet Summit cancellation -Porter's instructions -Moorer’s briefing -Attendance by Kissinger and Haig -Kissinger's meeting with President -Time President's schedule -Hoover eulogy preparation Porter -Instructions for walkout -William H. Sullivan -Laird -WSAG -Sullivan -Views Kissinger left at 10:19 am.