Conversation: 859-032
Prev:  859-031 Next: 859-033Start Date: 21-Feb-1973 11:33 AM
End Date: 21-Feb-1973 12:04 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Downey, William; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On February 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, and William Downey met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:33 am to 12:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 859-032 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 859-32 Date: February 21, 1973 Time: 11:33 am - 12:04 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Henry A. Kissinger. Gridiron dinner -President's non-attendance -Ronald L. Ziegler Zulfiker Ali Bhutto’s visit -Misunderstanding -Delegation -Stag dinner -Level of authority Foreign visits -37- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) -Bhutto’s delegation -Meeting with President -People’s Republic of China [PRC] -Stag dinner -Pakistan -India’s reaction -Secretary General, Foreign office -Foreign visitors -Kissinger’s attendance -State Secretary’s attendance Gridiron dinner -George S. McGovern -Past dinners -Invitees -Adlai E. Stevenson, II -President -McGovern campaign -Accusations -Morality -McGovern -Attendance at dinner -Image President's schedule -Kissinger -Reporter White House Correspondents Association dinner -Invitation -Time to consider Thieu visit -Arrangements -Announcement -38- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) Ambassadors -Graham R. Martin -William H. Sullivan -Philippines -Saigon -Martin -Southeast Asia -Bangkok -Loyalty to administration Nguyen Van Thieu visit -Announcement -Washington compared with San Clemente -Gridiron -Trip to Washington -Spiro T. Agnew -State dinner PRC mission -Dr. David K. E. Bruce -Offer of position -PRC’s reaction -Congressional reception -Vietnam supporters -Kissinger's attendance -Joint Chiefs of Staff -PRC position -Loyalty to administration -Alfred Le Sesne, Jenkins [?], John H. Holdridge compared with Bruce -Idea man -Political appointee compared with career foreign service -Contact with White House -State Department -PRC position -Career man -39- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) Ambassadors -Emory C. Swank -Cambodia -Weakness -Cyrus R. Vance -Clark M. Clifford -[First name unknown] Kelsey [?] President's public position -Congressional relations Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:33 am. President's discussion with Kissinger -Delegation Foreign visitors -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman -List of foreign visitors -Gridiron dinner Bull left at an unknown time before 11:52 am. Gridiron dinner -President's non-attendance -Avoidance -Schedule conflict -McGovern -Reasons for not going -McGovern -Behavior after 1972 election -Boycott of Inaugural -Conciliation -Non-attendance -Problems -40- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) President's opponents -Support for President -Kennedy program Luxembourg foreign minister -Conversation with Kissinger -Vietnam -President’s policies -Europe -President’s speech before South Carolina legislature -Indochina -Middle East Japan PRC -Diplomacy -President and Kissinger Bruce -Kissinger’s agreement with President President's call to William F. Downey The President talked with an unknown person [Bull?] at an unknown time between 11:33 am and 11:52 am. [Conversation No. 859-32A] Call to Downey -John Downey -Prisoner in PRC -Brother Downey’s return telephone call -White House operator -41- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) [End of telephone conversation] Kissinger's telephone call to wives Kissinger's talk with Downey A banquet for PRC’s ping-pong team -Songs -Propaganda film -President’s attendance -Film -President’s image European relations -Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS] -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] -Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster -Competence -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Age -Conventional thinking -Dwight D. Eisenhower -Retirement Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. -Chief of Army Staff -Melvin R. Laird -Competence -Compared with Goodpaster -Haig -Change in position -Middle East -Take initiative -Nightmare -42- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) The President talked with Downey between 11:52 am and 11:57 am. [Conversation No. 859-32B] [See Conversation No. 43-150] Kissinger talked with Downey at an unknown time between 11:52 am and 11:57 am. [End of telephone conversation] Downey’s statement to Kissinger -Gentlemanly behavior Kissinger’s talk with Downey -President’s discussion with PRC -Brother’s release from prison -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy -Issue John F. Kennedy -Henry Fairlie's Great Expectations -Kissinger’s reading -Failures -Image of success -President's policies President's foreign policy legacy -Major changes -Impact on “American consciousness” Vietnam -December bombing -Reaction -Inauguration -Protests -Impact -43- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) -US strength -Credibility -Prisoners of War [POWs] -Pride -Support for President -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -Sacrifice -Value -Intellectuals -Bombing -Protests -Killings -Damage to North Vietnam -Kissinger’s team during recent trip -Airports -Military, civilian -President's decision -Lyndon B. Johnson -Policies -Resignation, surrender -Tet offensive -President’s reaction Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:57 am. Arrival of James Keogh Bull left at an unknown time before 12:04 pm. President's meeting with Keogh -Kissinger's presence -Keogh's position -United States Information Agency [USIA] Kissinger -Visit to office -44- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. Nov.-09) Conversation No. 859-32 (cont’d) Kissinger left at 12:04 pm.