Conversation: 911-009
Prev: 911-008 Next: 911-010Start Date: 3-May-1973 9:48 AM
End Date: 3-May-1973 10:12 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bruce, David K. E.; White House photographer; Members of the press; [Unknown person(s)];Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On May 3, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, David K. E. Bruce, White House photographer, members of the press, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 10:12 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 911-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 911-9
Date: May 3, 1973
Time: 9:48 am - 10:12 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with David K. E. Bruce. The White House photographer and members of the
press were present at the beginning of the meeting.
Greeting
Bruce’s schedule
Arrangements for photograph
-Seating
[Photograph session]
The White House photographer and members of the press left at an unknown time before 10:12
am.
Long March
Bruce’s mission to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Symbolism
-Social dynamics
-Evaluation of leadership
-Mao Tse-tung
-Chou En-lai
-Compared to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Leonid I. Brezhnev [?]
-Observations of people, country
-Compared to routine, narrative cables
-US-PRC relations
-President’s view
-Importance
-Subtlety
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)
-Compared to USSR
-President’s reception in PRC
-Return visit
-Potential Chou visit to US, United Nations [UN]
-Significance for peace
-Effect of USSR-PRC relations
-US support
-PRC’s relations with India
-USSR
-PRC’s relations with Japan
-US relations with Japan
-PRC’s foreign policy concerns
-Underdeveloped nations
-“Revolutions of the mind”
-Africa
-US presence in Europe
-Effect on USSR
-US withdrawal from Asia, Europe
-Congress members
-US presence in Europe
-PRC’s support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Reading
-PRC history
-Diplomacy
-Mission goals
-Preservation
-Contacts
-PRC’s impression of US
-Strength
-USSR
-Middle East diplomacy
-US friendship
-Compared to Romania, Tanzania, Albania
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 9:48 am.
Refreshments
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:12 am.
US relations with PRC
-Bruce’s assessment of policy change
-President’s reputation concerning communism
-“Silent confrontation”
-Effect
-Breakthrough
-Effect on USSR
-Compared with US-USSR relations
-President’s forthcoming meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Superpower status
-Europe, Middle East interests
-Danger
-Need for communication
-USSR’s power, expansionism
-Communication with PRC by Bruce
-Communism
-President as “Man of the Pacific”
-Common interests
-“Lynchpin of peace in the world”
-Forthcoming summit with Brezhnev
-Bruce’s knowledge
-Kissinger
-Visit to PRC [?]
-Kissinger’s role
-Bruce’s role
-President’s ambassador
-State Department
-Bureaucracy
-William P. Rogers
-State Department
-Security
-Back channel
-Kissinger’s visit
-Briefings
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)
-Contrasted with Bruce’s experience at Vietnam Paris peace talks
Cambodia
-Settlement
-PRC
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 7 s ]
CAMBODIA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
Cambodia
-PRC
-Conversations with President, Kissinger
-Nerodom Sihanouk
-Support
-Statements
-Coalition government
-Role of Sihanouk
-Sihanoukville
-Port of entry
-South Vietnam
-Military situation
-North Vietnamese infiltration
-Sihanoukville
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)
-US presence
-Thailand
-US policy aims
-Neutrality
-Settlement
-Withdrawal
-North Vietnam
-Coalition government
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National security]
[Duration: 2 s ]
CAMBODIA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
*****************************************************************
Cambodia
-Imperial dynasty
-Restoration
-PRC support
-Contradictions
Bruce’s mission to PRC
-Residence
-Alfred Jenkins
-Austerity
-Chinese women
-Peking
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. September-2012)
Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)
-Food and drink
-PRC’s generosity
-Space for communication equipment
-Assurances of meaningfulness
-Compared to John T. Downey
-Incarceration
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] intervention
-Bruce’s view
-PRC compared to USSR
-Conversation with chief interpreter at restaurant dinner
-President’s potential future visits
-Mao
-Ability to travel [?]
-Health
-Bruce’s health
Watergate
-State Department
-John D. Ehrlichman and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Importance of PRC relationship
Bruce left at 10:12 am.