Conversation: 834-003
Prev: 834-002 Next: 834-004Start Date: 5-Jan-1973 10:18 AM
End Date: 5-Jan-1973 11:50 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On January 5, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:18 am to 11:50 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 834-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 834-3
Date: January 5, 1973
Time: 10:18 am - 11:50 am
Location: Oval Office
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman met with the President.
Edward E. David, Jr.
-New position in private sector
-Science advisor
-Desired position
-Outside consultant role for administration
-Qualities
-Achievements
-Wife
-New job
-Herbert G. Klein
Departing staff members
-Farewells
-David
Heads of State
-Talks with the President
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Yen Chia-Kan
-John Lynch
-Korea Official
-Lynch
-S. Zalman Shazar
-Korea Official
-Carlos P. Romulo
-Kissinger
Lynch
-Meeting with the President
-Irish constituents
Kissinger entered at 10:22 am.
Kissinger's calls to Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield, Gerald R. Ford, and Hugh Scott
Vote in Senate
-Charles H. Percy's vote
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-“Hawks”
-Kissinger
-John C. Stennis
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Mansfield
-J. William Fulbright
-Percy
-Call to Col. Richard T. Kennedy
-Palm Springs
-Mansfield
-Ford
-Leslie C. Arends
Kissinger's call to Congressmen
-Scott
-Ford
-Carl B. Albert
-Mansfield
-Scott
-Percy
-Call to Kissinger
Congress
-William E. Timmons
-“Hawks”
-William P. Rogers
-Fulbright
-W. Stuart Symington
-Mansfield
-Melvin R. Laird
-Goldwater
Kissinger's calls to Congressmen
-Stennis
-Goldwater
-John G. Tower
Fulbright
Percy
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Conversation with Kissinger
-Resolution in Senate
-Tom C. Korologos
-Role in negotiations
-Kissinger's proposed call to Ford, Scott
Mansfield
-Cambodia
Congress
-Actions
-Negotiations
-Motives
-The President's breakfast with leaders
-Explanation of bombing policy
-October 1972 agreement
-Le Duc Tho
-North Vietnamese actions after election
-Supervisory machinery
-Kissinger in Paris
-North Vietnamese position
-Reasons for bombing policy
-Kissinger in Paris
-Cease-fire
-Negotiations
-Congressional actions
-Political climate
-Consultation with Kissinger
-SALT II
-European Security Conference
-Briefing for Congressmen
-Duration
-Negotiations
-The President's supporters in Congress
-Defense of bombing policy
-Charles W. Colson
-The President's policy on speaking out
-Negotiations
-Democrats
-Bombing
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Negotiations
-Arends, Mansfield
Democrat Caucus concerning Vietnam
-Edward “M. (“Ted”) Kennedy resolution
-Colson
-Proposed assignment
-Laird, Rogers
Laird
-Press conference
-Position on bombing
-Letter to the President
-Loyalty to the President
New York Times article
-Gerard C. Smith
-Strategic Arms Limitations Talks [SALT]
Rogers and Laird
-Richardson
-Position on Bombing
-Laird's letter to the President
-Rogers
Congress
-Timmons and Korologos
-Work with congress
-The President's discussion with Colson
-Dealings with Congress over negotiations
Bombing
-Chances of success
-Resolutions
Mansfield
-Dealings with Kissinger
-Democrat resolutions
-North Vietnam reactions
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
Chinese
-Relations with North Vietnamese
-Le Duc Tho
Uganda
-Withdrawal of US Ambassador
-Idi Amin
-Call for armed action
-US diplomatic relations
-Thomas Patrick Melady
-Timing
Colson
Goldwater
-Talk with Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Support for the President on Vietnam
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Caspar W. Weinberger
-George P. Shultz
-Timmons
North Vietnam Offensive
-South Vietnam
-Willingness to negotiate
-Timing
Goals of negotiations
-Peace
-Cease-fire
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-US Withdrawal
-Thailand, Indonesia
-Nguyen Van Thieu
Colson
-Attacks on Democrat opponents
-Focus on negotiations
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
Kissinger
-Meeting with the President at Camp David
-Public opinion toward negotiations
-Support for the President
Bombing
-Opposition by intellectuals
-Support by public
-Laos
-Cambodia
-Anticipations
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] News
-Casualties in Vietnam
-Compared to 1968
-Support from White House staff
Opposition to the President's policies
-Cambodia
-Abraham Lincoln
-John J. McCloy
-Republicans
-Leadership
-1960 election
-Question of fraud
-Bay of Pigs
Mansfield
-Kissinger talk
-Chances of success on POWs
-Relations with administration
-Confirmations
-Opposition
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 11:00 am.
Kissinger left at 11:00 am.
Briefing on reorganization
-Vietnam
-Information for press
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Talking points
-The President's Vietnam policy
-Chronology
-Breakthrough in negotiations
-North Vietnamese responses
-Actions after election
-Kissinger in Paris
-South Vietnam
-Resumption of negotiations
-Peace with honor
-POWs
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Peace
New York Times article
-North Vietnamese return to talks
-Discussion of substance of Vietnamese talks
-Bombing halt
-Possible statement on television
-Congress
Joseph C. Kraft article
-Kissinger's opposition of bombing
-Ziegler's response
-Kissinger's support for the President on bombing
-Kissinger's talk with Kraft
The President's meeting with the leadership team
-Oliver F. (Ollie) Atkins
Press coverage for Lynch meeting
Presence of wives at future receptions
Ziegler left at 11:12 am.
Kissinger
-Kraft article
-Favorable coverage
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Haldeman
-Talk with Kissinger
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 11:12 am and 11:53 am.
[Conversation No. 834-3A]
Ziegler's response to press on Kraft article
-Proper approach
Reston article
[End of telephone conversation]
Kraft article
-Recommendation that Kissinger should resign
-Kissinger's possible response
-Agreement with President on bombing
-Kraft
-Opposition to Kissinger
Kissinger
-Dealings with liberals
-Compared to Rogers
-Attitude
-Kraft article
-John A. Scali
-Social life
-Scali
-Persecution mentality
Congress
-Vietnam
-White House attitude
-Ehrlichman
-Shultz
-Timmons
-Colson
Congressional breakfast
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Photographers
-Ziegler
Haig award [Defense Distinguished Service Medal
-The President's presentation
-Press reports
Public relations [PR]
-Colson
-Ehrlichman
-Kissinger
-Interests
-Vietnam negotiations
-Colson
-Bombing
-Congress
Spiro T. Agnew
-TV appearance
Rogers
-Kissinger
Laird
Agnew
-John B. Connally
-Meeting with the President
-Hugh Scott
-Appointment
-Jack Miller
-Frederic V. Malek
Connally
-Relations with the Presidnet
-Evans and Novak article
-Texas Republicans
-Anne L. Armstrong
Vietnam
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Kissinger
-Position before the election
-North Vietnam
-Cambodia
-Compared to Laos
-Cambodia
-May 8 mining of Haiphong
-Soviet summit meeting
Kissinger
-Conversation with Percy
-Conversation with James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Percy
-Samuel L. Devine
-Barber B. Conable, Jr.
-Tower
-Fulbright
-Rogers
-Kissinger breakfast with Reston
-Immaturity
PR responsibilities
-Colson
-Ziegler
-Timmons
-Colson successor
-Ziegler
-Timmons
-Ehrlichman
Congress after 1972 elections
-Democrats
-Relations with Republican leadership
-Relations with Democrat and Republican rank-and-file
-Timmons
-Robert J. Dole
-Value to White House
-Reelection in 1974
-Scott, Ford
-Norris Cotton
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)
Conversation No. 834-3 (cont’d)
-Roman L. Hruska
-William E. Brock, III
-Clarence J. Brown
-Devine
-Conable
-Democrats
-Fulbright
-Kennedy
-Symington
-Wilbur D. Mills
-Albert
-F. Edward Hebert
-Stennis
-Robert C. Byrd
Vietnam
-Bombing halt
-Public opinion
-Columnists
-Vietnam settlement
-Troop withdrawal
-POWs
-Vietnamization
-Nguyen Van Thieu
Congress
-Dealings with White House
-Ehrlichman, Shultz
Trip to Camp David
-Time of departure
-Weather
Reception
Haldeman left at 11:50 pm.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Feb.-09)