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Conversation: 810-002

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Start Date: 31-Oct-1972 11:10 AM

End Date: 31-Oct-1972 11:36 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Rockefeller, Nelson A.White House photographer

Recording Device: Oval Office

810-002.mp3

NARA Description:

On October 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Nelson A. Rockefeller, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:10 am to 11:36 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 810-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 810-2

Date: October 31, 1972
Time: 11:10 am - 11:36 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Nelson A. Rockefeller and Henry A. Kissinger; the White House
photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the meeting.

         Greetings

         Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
            -Cuts in text
            -Vietnam

         Vietnam negotiations
             -History of US peace agreement
                 -1968 bombing halt
             -Possible agreement
                 -Deadline
             -Message from Hanoi
                 -North Vietnamese position
                      -View of US negotiating tactics
                      -Deadlines
                      -The President's previous message to Hanoi
                 -Possible publication of negotiation record
                 -Demand for settlement
             -North Vietnamese leaks of terms
                 -Phom Van Dong’s interview in Newsweek
                      -Attempted modification of settlement terms
                                 3
        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                        Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. Nov-03)

             -Coalition government
-Orders to North Vietnamese cadres
    -Ignore cease-fire to seize territory
-North Vietnamese interpretation administrative structure
-North Vietnamese troop withdrawal
    -No reinforcement provision
-Message from Hanoi
    -Kissinger’s view
         -1972 election
         -Factors conducive to settlement
         -Bombing
-Possible publication of negotiation record
-Possible backgrounder by Kissinger
    -Timin
         -The President’s speech [“Look to the Future”] November 2, 1972
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
    -Use of information regarding orders to Vietcong [VC]
    -The President’s view
         -Differences between negotiating parties
             -Peace
             -1968 agreement
-Phom Van Dong’s interview in Newsweek
    -Attempted modification of settlement terms
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
    -The President’s view
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
    -Analysis
         -Timing of possible settlement
             -1972 election
-US position
    -North Vietnamese strategy
         -Quality of agreement
-North Vietnamese strategy
    -Concessions
         -Nguyen Van Thieu
    -1972 election
    -Military Situation
         -Cadres
         -Bombing
             -B-52s
                  -19th parallel
                                 4
        NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                        Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. Nov-03)

                        -Previous US internal restriction
                   -20th parallel
                   -19th parallel
                        -Supply dumps
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
    -Possible press questions
         -Kissinger’s “Peace is at hand” remark
              -Progress of negotiations
    -Rockefeller’s view
-Administration press strategy
    -Possible publication of negotiating record
         -Breakdown of talks
              -Blame on North Vietnamese
    -Nature of agreement
         -North Vietnamese position
    -Kissinger’s forthcoming backgrounder
         -Timing
              -Rockefeller’s view
              -Kissinger’s view
                   -Information from Hanoi
                        -US press reaction
-Possible clarification of points
    -North Vietnamese troop withdrawal
    -North Vietnamese seizure of territory
    -Pham Van Dong’s interview
         -Coalition Government
-Rockefeller’s view
    -The President compared to Winston S. Churchill
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
    -John N. Mitchell’s request of Rockefeller
-Thieu
    -Kissinger’s previous meeting with Thieu
    -Necessity of US consultation with Thieu
         -North Vietnamese pressure for settlement
         -Possible publication of negotiation record
-Rockefeller’s dinner with Abraham M. Rosenthal
    -Foreign Affairs Editor of New York Times, [James Greenfield]
    -New York Times
    -Greenfield’s view of Kissinger’s press briefing
    -Editorial
    -Consistency of the Administration’s negotiating position
                                             5
                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. Nov-03)

           -Far left
                -Attitude toward Thieu
                     -Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
           -US position
                -Press statements
                     -Conciliation
                -Status of negotiations
                -Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Jay Lovestone
                     -George Meany
                -George S. McGovern stance
                     -Signing of agreement
                          -Abrogation of agreement
                              -Arms to South Vietnam
                              -Aid to South Vietnam
                              -Effects on talks




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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 50s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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       Support for the President
          -New York Times
          -Catholic community
                -Jewish community
          -Catholic community
                -Vietnam War
                     -Francis Cardinal Spellman
                         -The President’s previous trip to Vietnam as Vice President

       Vietnam negotiations
                                                6
                      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. Nov-03)

             -Administration’s desire for peace
                 -North Vietnamese demand for settlement
                 -Need for clarification of settlement terms
             -Kissinger possible backgrounder
                 -Paris Situation
                 -Timing
                 -Issues
             -Propaganda
             -The President’s defense of national interests
             -Nature of agreement
                 -South Vietnam

        The President’s schedule
            -Possible post-election meeting with Rockefeller
                -Camp David
                     -Lyndon B. Johnson,
            -Forthcoming signing of 1973 Appropriations Act

Rockefeller and Kissinger left at 11:36 am.