Conversation: 825-004
Prev:  825-003 Next: 825-005Start Date: 16-Dec-1972 9:37 AM
End Date: 16-Dec-1972 9:50 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On December 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:37 am to 9:50 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 825-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 825-4 Date: December 16, 1972 Time: 9:37 am - 9:50 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Vietnam negotiations -Kissinger’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin -Status of talks -Threat -Soviet Union concern -Breakdown in talks -Delay -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew -Meeting with the President -Timing -Kissinger’s briefing -Conversation with Kissinger -Briefing by Kissinger -Conversation with Kissinger -Kissinger’s briefing -Nguyen Van Thieu -Possible trip to Saigon with Haig -Stalemate -Cut off of US funds -“Dove” line -Meeting with the President -Relations with the US -Agnew -Barry M. Goldwater’s view -Letter to Haig -Charles H. Percy Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:37 am. The President’s memorandum to Kissinger -4- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 825-4 (cont’d) Bull left at an unknown time before 9:50 am. Vietnam negotiations -Congressional relations -Thieu -Goldwater’s view -Settlement agreement -Percy -Cut off of US funds -Thieu -Agnew -Conversation with Haig, Kissinger -Possible trip to Saigon -Kissinger’s briefing -North Vietnam Bull entered and left at an unknown time before 9:50 am. Vietnam negotiations -Kissinger’s briefing -The President’s memorandum to Kissinger, December 15, 1972 -Tone -Richard M. Helm’s conversation with Kissinger -The President’s memorandum, December 16, 1972 -Copy for Kissinger -The President’s possible role -Pace of talks -Enemy buildup -October 8, 1972 -Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” statement, October 26, 1972 -Technical details -Settlement agreement -Long war, short peace -Exchange of messages -Resumption of war -Duration of talks -Casualties -US, North and South Vietnam -North Vietnam’s delays -5- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 825-4 (cont’d) -Settlement agreement -Timing -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Casualties -US, South and North Vietnam -Enemy buildup -Delays -North and South Vietnam -Cease-fire -South Vietnam’s self-determination -Battlefield to ballot box -The President’s memorandum, December 15, 1972 -Prolonging war and talks -Resumption of talks -US military action -Air and sea -Enemy buildup -Haig’s view -Helms’s view -Thieu -Haig’s trip to South Vietnam -Announcement -Agnew -Intentions -Meeting with the President -Compared to the President’s meeting with William P. Rogers -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision -Kissinger’s briefing -The President’s schedule -Meeting with Kissinger -Tone -The President’s memorandum, December 15, 1972 -Kissinger’s demeanor -The President’s conversation with Kissinger, December 14, 1972 -Breakdown in talks -The President’s memorandum, December 15, 1972 -Kissinger’s view -6- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. June-08) Conversation No. 825-4 (cont’d) -Haig’s view -US bombing, mining north of 20th Parallel -Public relations [PR] -Kissinger’s view -Demonstrations -White House -Haig’s view -Breakdown in talks -Press relations -North Vietnam -B-52s -Eastern Establishment The President’s schedule -Meeting with Agnew -Duration -Kissinger’s schedule -Dobrynin -Note from Haig -Meeting with the President Haig left at 9:50 am.