Conversation: 729-002
Prev: 729-001 Next: 729-003Start Date: 10-Jun-1972 12:45 PM
End Date: 10-Jun-1972 1:15 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:01:13
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:34:50
NARA Description:
On June 10, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:45 pm to 1:15 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 729-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 729-2
Date: June 10, 1972
Time: 12:45-1:15 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Henry A. Kissinger
-Trip to Japan
-Visit's value
-Future visit of Hirohito [Emperor of Japan] to US
-Timing
-Kissinger's view of trip
People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Note
-Military activity on coast of Vietnam
-Supply ships
-Bombing
-Captured vessels
-PRC merchant ships
-Stockholm Conference
-Problems
-Analysis
-PRC motives
-Soviet Union
-US response
-Joseph Morton
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)
-Christian A. Herter
-The President’s instructions
-William P. Rogers
-United Nations [UN]
-Note of response
-Jonathan T. Howe
-Content
Vietnam
-Blockade of North Vietnam
-US actions
-Equipment
-Destroyers
-Aircraft
-Bombing
-US actions
-PRC response
-US response
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 4s ]
PRC
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**************************************************************************
-Progress of conflict
-John Paul Vann
-Death
-Previous meeting with the President
-The President’s view
-Posthumous Medal of Freedom
-Potential problem
-Family
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)
-Next of kin
-Message to Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Activities
-US policies
-Personality
-Paul D. Harkins
-Haig’s view
-Vann and Fred Ladd
-Reports
Vietnam
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-B-52s
-Raid on power plant
-Accuracy
-Results
-Repairs
-North Vietnam
-US attacks
-Effect
-Reports
-Sources
-Reports on war effort
-Internal signs
-Effect on antiwar groups
-John N. Mitchell
-Strategy
-Public relations efforts
-US policy
-Coverage from PRC and Eastern Europe
-Effect of Kissinger's trip to PRC
-PRC’s possible response to Kissinger's visit
-Nature of visit
-Haig’s view
PRC
-Note from New York
-Arrangements to receive note
-Significance
-The President’s possible response
-Instructions to US delegation in Stockholm
-Firing from merchant ship
-US complaints
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)
-Need for privacy
-Rogers's reaction to PRC statement in Stockholm
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Nature of Rogers statements
-Value
-Compared to Soviet Union
-Value of Stockholm Conference
-Olaf Palme
-The President’s view
Press
-US News and World Report article
-Kissinger's report
-US policy
-Rationale of Strategic Arms and Limitation Treaty [SALT]
-Quality
-Critics
-Effects of Moscow trip
-Effect of mining
Vietnam
-Effect of mining
-Hanoi
-South Vietnam
-US position
-An Loc
-Army of the Republic of South Vietnam [ARVN] 21st Division
-North Vietnamese strength
-Military operation
-Effects of weather
-Enemy strategy
-Small operations
-Hue
-ARVN military operations
-325th Division
-Location
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
-Quang Tri
-ARVN
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Kontum
-ARVN response
-Fighting ability
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)
-ARVN morale
-D'acord (sp? French correspondent) conversation with Haig
-An Loc
-ARVN strength
-Outcome of offensive
-North Vietnam
-Effect on US media
Press
-Newsweek
-Editor
-Coverage of Vietnam War
-Position on mining
-Henry Hubbard
-Relations with editor
Vietnam
-Position of the North Vietnamese
-Peace negotiations
-Effect on election
-Strategy of Administration
-Public relations efforts
-Reporting
-Doves
-Presidential election
-North Vietnam view
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 17s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
*****************************************************************
Vietnam
-Kissinger
-Japan
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)
-Views of George S. McGovern
-Bombing
-Effect on Hanoi
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Bombing halt
-Length
-Madame Nguyen Thi Binh
-Bombing halt
-Bombing
-Continuation
-The President’s policy
-Mining
Environmental Conference in Stockholm
-Soviet Union boycott
-Motives
-PRC
-East Germany
The President's trip to the PRC
-PRC and Soviet Union policies
PRC statement at Stockholm Conference
-Herter’s response
-Haig’s view
State Department
-Decisions
The President's foreign policy
-May 8, 1972 decision
-Middle East
-Cuba
-Jordan
-South Asia
-India
John B. Connally's trip
-Reception
-Message from the President
-The President’s comments
-Australia
-Press reaction
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)
-Bolivia stopover
-Timing
-Success of trip
Vietnam
-PRC
-Soviet Union
-Trucks
-US action
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[National Security]
[Duration: 6s ]
PRC
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
**************************************************************************
-Railways
-Truck bridges
-Bombing
-North Vietnam
-Effectiveness
-Casualties in North Vietnam
-B-52 strikes
-Kontum
-An Loc
-Frenchman's report
-Effect on morale
PRC
-Reports
Haig left at 1:15 pm.
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 729-2 (cont.)