Conversation No. 828-5

Date: December 27, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:47 am and 10:12 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

       Instructions
             -Talking paper
             -Original and copies

       The President’s schedule
            -[Presentation of mementos]

The President replayed the dictation.

The President resumed the dictation.

       The President’s schedule
            -Presentation of mementos
                  -Cessation
                         -Cabinet Room, Oval Office
                         -Guidelines
                              -Commonness
                                     -Appreciation
                              -1973
                              -Routine

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 8:47 am.

       The President’s schedule
            -Meeting with Col. Richard T. Kennedy

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:20 am.

[The President resumed his dictation]

       The President’s schedule
                                             -5-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. June-08)

                                                             Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

            -January 20, 1973

[This memorandum continues as Conversation No. 828-6]

Kennedy entered at 9:20 am.

       Henry A. Kissinger’s and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s schedule

       Haig’s health
            -Tiredness
            -Puerto Rico
            -Age
            -Physical fitness

       Kissinger’s health
             -Work habits
                   -Energy
                         -Negotiations
                               -Temper
                   -Winston S. Churchill
                         -Naps
                   -Handling of staff

       Vietnam War
            -US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                 -B-52s
                      -Reports
                      -Number
                            -December 26, 1972
                            -Losses
                                  -North Vietnam’s claims
                                        Accuracy
                                  -Damage
                      -Losses
                            -Tactics
                            -Targets
                                  -The President’s conversations with Kissinger
                                  -[Hanoi]
                            -Defenses
                         -6-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                 Tape Subject Log
                   (rev. June-08)

                                        Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

          -Percentages
                -Estimates
          -Defenses
-Tactics
      -Targets
            -Time
      -Waves
            -Number per day
                   -Directions
      -Fighter cover
            -MIGCAP [Anti-Mikoyen and Gurevich Combat Air Patrol]
            -Iron Hand aircraft
                   -Electronic countermeasures [ECM]
      -Intensity of air traffic
-Tactical Air [TACAIR] sorties
      -Number
      -Weather
      -Electronic guidance
            -Long Range Airborne Navigation [LORAN]
                   -Visual bombing
                   -F-4s and PATHFINDERS
                          -A-7s
            -Accuracy
                   -Compared to visual bombing
            -Laser guidance
            -Weather
-Weather
      -People Republic of China [PRC]
      -B-52s
      -Expectations
            -North Vietnam
                   -February, March 1973
      -Washington Special Actions Group [WSAG]
      -Monsoons
-December 26,1972
-December 27, 1972
      -Number of sorties
      -Targets
      -Timing
                                          -7-

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                  Tape Subject Log
                                    (rev. June-08)

                                                           Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                    -TACAIR sorties
                          -Number
                          -Targets
                          -Timing
                          -Weather
                                 -Cancellation
                                 -Changes
                    -Aircraft losses
                          -F-4s


*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National security]
[Duration: 3s ]
[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************


                                -MIG-21s
                                -Search and Rescue [SAR]
                                      -Helicopter
                                            -Laos
                                      -Crew
                                      -MIG-21s


*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National security]
[Duration: 2s ]
[Subject: Intelligence]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
                                 -8-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                                  Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

     -Attacks on MIG fields
           -Soviet Union
           -Location
                 -Hanoi
                        -Northwest
     -Destruction of cities
           -Hanoi
           -Effect
                 -World War II damage
                        -Germany, Italy
                        -The President’s trip to Germany, 1947
                              -Essen
                                    -Krups plant
                              -Berlin
                                    -Soviet Union
                                    -Living conditions
     -Power plants and grids damage
           -Hanoi, Haiphong
                 -Lights
                        -Gasoline generators
     -Shipyard damage
           -Haiphong
     -Vehicle repair shops
           -Hanoi
           -Photographs
     -Rail yards damage
           -Rolling stock damage
           -Disruptive effect
     -Federal civilians’ morale
           -WSAG
           -Cambodia
                 -National Security Council [NSC]
-Negotiations
     -Resumption
           -Timing
                 -January 8, 1973
                        -North Vietnam’s offer, December 26, 1972
                              -Publicity
                                    -The President’s conversation with Kissinger
                           -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                   Tape Subject Log
                     (rev. June-08)

                                            Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                                   -William H. Sullivan
                             -Press relations
                                   -Newspapers
                             -“Doves”
                                   -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th
                                    Parallel
            -Annoucement
                   -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                         -December 31, 1972
                               -January 8, 1973
                         -The President’s conversation with Kissinger
                   -Congressional relations
                         -Reconvention
                               -Pre-January 1, 1973
      -Experts meeting
-Issues
      -Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
      -Signing problem
            -Four parties
                   -People’s Revolutionary Government [PRG]
                         -Nguyen Van Thieu
                               -Possible statement
                                     -Recognition of juridical right as a
                                      government
      -Changes
-Resumption of war
      -North Vietnam’s capacity and determination
            -Resiliency
            -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
            -Tempo of war
            -Spring offensive
      -Soviet Union, PRC
-Thieu
      -Legalistic position
            -Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
      -Survival of government
      -Elections
      -Attitude, credibility
      -North Vietnam’s position
                               -10-

     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                        Tape Subject Log
                          (rev. June-08)

                                                Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                 -1954, 1962 Geneva Conferences
                 -Surrender
-South Vietnam
      -US sea, air, ground power
      -Army
      -Will
-Will
      -North Vietnam
      -South Vietnam
             -Response to North Vietnam’s offensive, Summer 1972
             -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
                   -Effect
             -Trieuphong
             -Quang Tri
             -US role
                   -Dependence
                         -Decisions
      -North Vietnam
             -Soviet Union and PRC aid
                   -Moral and material support
      -Lessons for US
             -US relations with allies
                   -Paternalism
                   -Communists
                         -People’s liberation movement
             -Korean War
                   -Duration
                   -“Gooks”
                         -The President’s experience as Senator
                   -Gen. James A. Van Fleet
                   -South Koreans
                         -Toughness
                         -Relations with US
-Negotiations
      -Settlement agreement
             -North Vietnam’s demands
             -Future of South Vietnam
                   -Congressional relations
                         -Cut off of US aid
                                 -11-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                                  Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                             -Thieu
                                  -Meeting with Haig
                                       -The President’s letter
           -Kissinger
                 -North Vietnam
                 -South Vietnam
                        -Leaks
           -North Vietnam
                 -South Vietnam
                        -Thieu
                              -US costs
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
     -Safety of aircraft crews
           -Parachutes
           -B-52s
                 -Losses
                        -Surface to air missile [SAM]
                              -Hanoi
                 -POWs
                 -Duration of bombing campaign
                 -Size
                        -Bombs
                 -Stability
                        -Control
                        -Utapao Air Force base
                        -Lending efforts
                              -Survivors
                              -Casualties
                 -Damage
                        -Number
                        -Landings
                        -Repair
                 -Number
                        -Replacements
     -Negotiations
           -Resumption
                 -North Vietnam’s offer
                        -Rhetoric
                              -Experts, principals meetings
                                -12-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                                  Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                       -Settlement agreement
                              -Kissinger
                       -Effect of bombing
                       -Lack of conditions
                       -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                              -Timing
                                    -US messages
                   -Tone
             -Breakdown
                   -Resumption of US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                          -North Vietnam’s intransigence
                                -Record
      -Public relations [PR]
             -Kissinger’s briefing
             -Debate
                   -North Vietnam
             -Discontent
                   -Demonstration, Christmas 1972
             -Ground warfare
                   -Television [TV]
             -Disappointment
                   -Expectations
                          -Laos [Lam Son], 1971
             -Timing
                   -Congressional relations
                   -Christmas
                   -Press relations
                   -Christmas
                   -Football
-Press relations
      -Network requests for Hanoi photographs
             -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
             -National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
             -Bomb damage
             -Editorials and news stories
                   -Process
             -US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                   -Failure, success
             -Access
                                 -13-

      NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         Tape Subject Log
                           (rev. June-08)

                                                   Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

           -Availability of new material
                 -NSC
                 -US Information Agency [USIA]
                 -Washington Post
                        -1972 campaign
           -Editorials and news stories
                 -Process
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
     -B-52s
           -Number
                 -North
           -Follow up attacks
                 -Psychological effect
                        -Targets
                              -Bomb damage assessments
                              -Military, strategic effects
                              -World War II
                                    -Germany, Japan
-Psychological warfare
     -Use of radio
     -Leaflets
           -Ecology
           -Themes
                 -Negotiations
                        -Breakdown
                        -Resumption
                              -Cadre
                              -South Vietnam
                        -North Vietnamese government
                              -Peace
                              -Victory
           -Purpose of leaflets
                 -Questioning of cadres
                        -Effect
     -Radio themes
           -Peace
-WSAG meetings
     -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
           -Richard M. Helms
                                       -14-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                  (rev. June-08)

                                                   Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                        -Schedule
                  -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
            -State Department
                  -U. Alexis Johnson
                  -William J. Porter
            -Defense Department
                  -William P. Clements, Jr.
                        -Confirmation
                  -[David] Kenneth Rush
                        -State Department
            -Effectiveness

Nicaragua earthquake relief
     -Engineer company
           -Airlift
           -Firefighting
           -Debris moving
     -Water purification
           -Plants
                  -Engineers
     -Firefighting
     -Population
           -Movement
     -Epidemic control
           -Field hospitals
           -Medical supplies
     -Food supplies
           -Ships
                  -Guatemala
                  -Wheat, flour, rolled oats
     -Refugees
     -Epidemic control
     -Deaths
           -Estimate
           -Compared to Peru
     -Homeless
     -Managua
           -Destruction
                  -Reconstruction
                                      -15-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                               Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. June-08)

                                                      Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                         -Location
                               -Anastasio Somoza Debayle
                               -Fault
                   -Previous earthquakes
     -US efforts

Disaster relief
      -Romania
      -Yugoslavia
      -Peru
      -Bangladesh
      -Iran
      -Earthquakes
      -Distribution and collection
             -Voluntary agencies
                  -House of Representatives
                  -Title II, Public Law [PL] 480
                  -Church World Services
                  -World Health Organization [WHO]
                  -Cut off
                  -Foreign policy
                  -Appropriations
                  -Management problems
                         -Merit
                  -Nicaragua earthquake relief
                         -Red Cross
                         -Church groups
                  -Federal government’s role
                         -Supplements
                               -Food

Vietnam War
     -Press relations
           -Network requests for Hanoi photographs
                  -Bomb damage
                  -Editorials and news stories
     -US bombing north of 20th Parallel
           -B-52s
                  -Number
                                             -16-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. June-08)

                                                             Conversation No. 828-5 (cont’d)

                         -Losses
                         -Timing
                         -Tactics
                               -Timing
                                    -Effect
                                          -Radar

Kennedy left at 10:12 am.