Conversation: 908-013
Prev:  908-012 Next: 908-014Start Date: 1-May-1973 10:44 AM
End Date: 1-May-1973 12:24 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Brandt, Willy; [Unknown person(s)]; Kissinger, Henry A.; Bahr, Egon; Sanchez, Manolo; Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Willy Brandt, unknown person(s), Henry A. Kissinger, Egon Bahr, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:44 am to 12:24 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 908-013 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 908-13 Date: May 1, 1973 Time: 10:44 am - 12:24 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Willy Brandt. The recording began at an unknown time while the conversation was in progress. May Day -Riots, demonstrations -West German holiday -Compared to Labor Day -Parades -New York -Communists West Germany elections -Communists -Brandt’s previous victory An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:44 am. Photographers Henry A. Kissinger The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:50 am. Brandt’s schedule -National Press Club -Senate Foreign Relations committee -13- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Travel -New York -Reception at embassy -Airplane flight West Germany economy -Inflation An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:44 am. Press photographs -Frequency Kissinger Photographs -State dinner -Grand Ballroom -Color The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:50 am. Year of Europe Ostpolitik Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR] President’s schedule -Brandt -Meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev -President’s domestic problems -Compared to Die Spiegel affair [Speigel-Affare] Domestic politics -Campaigns -14- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) Year of Europe -US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] summit -MBFR -Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe [CSCE] -President’s travel to Europe -West Germany Berndt von Staden -Estonia -Wife -Experience in US Kissinger and Egon Bahr entered at 10:50 am. Greetings Bahr -Kissinger President’s, Brandt’s political experience -Domestic problems -“Big play” -Comeback -Previous meeting -Bonn Agenda -Bi-lateral relations -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -Economics -Middle East -Energy problems -Oil dependence US-Europe relations -President’s request for Brandt’s view -US Congress -15- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] -Budget cuts -MBFR, CSCE -Japan -Kissinger’s speech -Economic power ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National security] [Duration: 7 s ] JAPAN END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ***************************************************************** US-Europe relations -NATO -Unilateral troop reductions -MBFR -Off-set agreement -State Department, Foreign Office -George P. Shultz, Helmut H. W. Schmidt -Role of Finance Ministers -Schmidt’s previous role as Defense Minister -Renewal -State Department, Foreign Office roles compared to Treasury -Military and economic independence -NATO and MBFR -Kissinger’s speech -16- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -International Monetary Fund [IMF] meeting in Nairobi, Kenya -Meeting of Finance Ministers -Preparation -Reform -Role of Great Britain, France -Trade policy -US Congress -Trade bill -European Economic Community [EEC] -Commission policy -West Germany’s, Great Britain’s position -Trade liberalization -France, West Germany -Agriculture compared to industry -Gen. Charles A. J. M. de Gaulle -Great Britain’s entry -Trade liberalization -France -Free trade compared to protectionism -EEC -Common compared to national foreign policies -Trade, defense, foreign policy -Paris Conference -European Union -US reaction -President’s visit -EEC compared with NATO -Precedent -NATO meeting reflecting Head of State quality -Meeting with Georges J. R. Pompidou, Brandt, Edward R. G. Heath -Brussels -Informal meetings about trade, monetary policy -EEC Chairman’s attendance -“Big Four” -Timing -17- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:50 am. Refreshment Sanchez left at an unknown time before 12:24 pm. Europe -President’s possible visit -Schedule -Individual countries -Summit -Brussels -Atlantic Charter -France -Brandt’s forthcoming speech to National Press Club and Senate Foreign Relations Committee -Discussions with President -Herbert G. Klein and Ronald L. Ziegler -Pompidou and Heath -NATO input -Duration -President’s possible visit -Schedule -National capitals -Brussels -Scandinavia -NATO meeting -West Germany, France, Great Britain, and Italy -Heath, Pompidou, Brandt, Guilio Andreotti -Politics -Elections -Italy -Constitutions -Terms of office -France, West Germany -Elections -1976 -18- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -West Germany, US, France -President’s visit -EEC -Council -Foreign Ministers -Chairman [?] -Commission -President -Francois-Xavier Ortoli -Council Meeting -President’s chairmanship -Pompidou’s objection -Bahr -Otto von Bismark -NATO and EEC meetings -William P. Rogers, Walter Scheel -Foreign Ministers -European voting bloc -US problem -Informal discussions -Dinner party -Demonstrations -Vietnam War -Great Britain’s, France’s response -President’s meeting with Pompidou -Timing -Iceland -Azores -President’s, Brandt’s experience -Compared to Greenland -Brandt’s meeting with Heath -President, Leonid I. Brezhnev -Brandt’s meeting with Pompidou -President -Kissinger’s contact with Sir Burke Trend -Consensus -Heath and Pompidou -19- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -NATO compared with EEC West Germany’s bi-lateral relations -East Germany -Ratification -Czechoslovakia -Munich Agreement -USSR support -Scheel -CSCE Foreign Ministers’ meeting -Helsinki -USSR, Warsaw Pact -Hungary and Bulgaria -Diplomatic relations -Warsaw Pact agreement -Czechoslovakia -USSR -Meeting with Brezhnev -Kissinger -Agreements, principles of cooperation -Cultural and scientific exchange -Air traffic -Political exchange -France -Meeting with Brezhnev -Status of Berlin -East Germany’s Communist Party -Relations with USSR, West Germany -CSCE -Helsinki -Vienna -Brezhnev’s letter to President -Dates for Foreign Ministers’ meeting -Pompidou, Brandt -Andrei A. Gromyko’s appointment to Politburo -Foreign Minister -CSCE results -20- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Reply to Brezhnev’s letter CSCE -USSR viewpoint -Detente -Disintegration -Romania, Poland, Hungary -Problem of euphoria -Danger -Helsinki talks -NATO -Integration Neo-isolationism in US -President’s meeting with Congress -NATO, foreign aid -Past agenda -Vietnam War -Peace agreement -Moscow, Peking summits -Internationalists -John J. McCloy, [First name unknown] Clay [?], Dean G. Acheson -Unilateral disarmament -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield -Disagreement -Vietnam -Europe -Pacifism, Communism -Impact of US domestic politics US-Europe relations -NATO -US credibility -Neo-isolationism -Economic confrontation -Military cooperation -21- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Impact of domestic politics -West Germany, US -Public opinion -Post-World War II generation -Idealism compared with realism -Public statements -Hope -Negotiations with USSR -Leadership -Brandt -President -Public support -Congressional relations -Brandt -West Germany’s strength -Ostpolitik -US role in Europe -President -Congressional relations -Bi-partisan Congressional leadership meeting -Moscow, Peking summits -Vietnam War -Isolationism -US strength -Compared to Brezhnev -Impact of domestic politics -Public opinion problems -Detente -USSR -Trade -Wheat, gas, scientific exchanges -Confrontation -Quid pro quo -USSR’s objectives -US-Europe divisiveness -Impact of domestic politics -Public opinion -22- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -West Germany -Anti-Americanism -Polls -Brandt’s speech at National Press Club -Contents -US military in West Germany -Nuremberg -Delegations to US ambassador -Bonn -F. J. Strauss -[Christian Socialist Union] -Compared to West Germany military -Land use issues -Peasants -Opposition -Social Democratic Party Congress -Brandt’s foreign policy -Support and opposition -Pacifism -NATO -USSR -Brezhnev -Goals -Divisiveness between Western Europe and US -NATO and Warsaw Pact alliances -Contradictions -Romania -Stability -People’s Republic of China [PRC] -USSR Communist Party Central Committee resolution -Population of Siberia ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [National security] -23- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) [Duration: 49 s ] PRC END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ***************************************************************** US bilateral relations with PRC, USSR US-Europe relations -USSR viewpoint -Berlin -US presence -Berlin Agreement -US role -MBFR and CSCE -Changes since 1969 -MBFR -Superpowers compared to “indigenous” forces -Georg Leber [Defense Minister] -Domestic considerations -West Germany compared to Czechoslovakia and Poland -NATO -Symbolic cut -Kissinger and Bahr consultations -Defense ministers -US studies Middle East Josip Broz Tito -24- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [National security] [Duration: 6 s ] INTELLIGENCE END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ***************************************************************** Josip Broz Tito -Stroke -Brandt’s meeting -Lifestyle -Elizabeth II [Elizabeth, Queen of England] -Whiskey -Yugoslavia’s political integrity -Message for President -Middle East -Anwar El-Sadat’s problems -Egypt’s military -Electability -Mammer Qaddafi -Libya -Religious fanatic -Nationalist -Morocco -Hassan II [Hassan, King of Morocco] [Moulay] -Brandt’s meeting when foreign minister -Military deployment Middle East -25- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Syria, Iraq -Military build-up -Brandt’s meeting with [Unintelligible name] -Baghdad -Political negotiations -Tito -Meetings with Nahum Goldmann -Jewish World Congress -Influence in Israel -Impact on Yugoslavia [?] -Foreign Ministers’ meeting -Bahr and Kissinger -US negotiation efforts -Arabs ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [National security] [Duration: 9 s ] NEGOTIATIONS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ***************************************************************** Middle East -US negotiation efforts -Talks -Leaks -Publicity -Brandt’s visit -26- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Scheel’s trip to Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon -Brezhnev’s vist to West Germany -Brandt’s visit to Israel -Postponement due to elections -Arab opposition and support -Hafiz Ismail -Sadat -Request for Brandt’s moderating influence -Israel’s election -Oil -World consumption -Energy crisis if regional instability -Peace negotiations -US role -President’s priority -Israel’s survival -Critique of intransigence -Pressure on Israel -Golda Meir -Settlement -West Germany’s support -Israel’s position -Territory -Security guarantee -Palestinians, Arabs, USSR -USSR’s military support -US military support -Sixth Fleet -Inevitability -US public opinion -Aid to Israel -Balance of power -Congressional support -New York Times position -USSR’s role -Brezhnev -Domestic political opposition -27- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Cooperation with US -Imposed settlement -Israel’s opposition -Pressure on Israel, Egypt -Intransigence -Support for Eygpt -Expulsion of USSR’s military advisors -Support for Sadat -Cooperation with US -US role -Private talks -Pressure on Israel -Compared to Egypt -Palestinians ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [National security] [Duration: 30 s ] PALESTINIANS END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ***************************************************************** Middle East -Peace negotiations -Israel -Abilities -Ethos -Election -28- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -President’s meeting with Meir -US military aid -Air planes -Military -Courage -Historical example -Masada -US-West Germany’s efforts Energy -US-West Germany meeting -Kissinger and Bahr -President’s message to Congress on energy policy -Domestic issues -US study -President’s Statement on Energy and Natural Resources -US market regulation -Free competition -Standard Oil of New Jersey, Texaco -Compared to West Germany, Great Britain, Japan -Producing nations -Consuming nations -Condominium [?] -Competition -Iran -Mohammed Reza Pahlavi [Shah of Iran] -Libya -Algeria -Expropriation -France -El Paso Natural Gas -US influence -Industry regulation -US corporations -International cooperation compared to competition between consuming nations -US and France -29- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012) Conversation No. 908-13 (cont’d) -Netherlands and Japan -Production -Price -Saudi Arabia -Kissinger’s meeting with Minister of Oil Production ***************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 [National security] [Duration: 10 s ] OIL PRODUCTION AND INVESTMENT END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ***************************************************************** Energy -US policy -Diversification -Coal -Delay -Compared to West Germany State dinner -President’s remarks, Brandt’s remarks The President et al. left at 12:24 pm. -30- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Tape Subject Log (rev. October-2012)