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Conversation 001-119

TapeTape 1StartFriday, April 16, 1971 at 11:22 PMEndFriday, April 16, 1971 at 11:27 PMTape start time03:53:14Tape end time03:58:37ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger debrief following the President's interview with newspaper editors, evaluating the public reception of his comments on the People's Republic of China and Vietnam policy. They discuss the strategic framing of residual forces in Vietnam and the potential for a historical diplomatic breakthrough with China. Kissinger is tasked with contacting journalist Otis Chandler to relay the President’s appreciation for the quality of the interview questions and to emphasize that the President’s remarks regarding China were aspirational rather than formal policy shifts.

People's Republic of ChinaVietnam WarResidual ForcesPublic RelationsPrisoners of WarAdlai E. Stevenson III
AudioNARA Description

On April 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 11:22 pm to 11:27 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-119 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 1-119

Date: April 16, 1971
Time: 11:22 pm - 11:27 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     President's interview with newspaper editors
           -Statements on People's Republic of China [PRC]
                 -Popular reaction
           -Treatment of prisoners of war [POWs]
                 -David Ginsberg
           -Residual force in Vietnam
                 -Melvin R. Laird
                 -Adlai E. Stevenson, III
                       -Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.
           -President's PRC initiative
                 -Hubert H. Humphrey
                 -State Department
                 -Kissinger's conversation with Laird
          -Residual force in Vietnam
                 -Thailand
          -President's message for Stevenson
          -Army in 1968 Democratic Convention
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

These editors, they had to hear, I mean, I couldn't give them the thing they wanted to hear, recognize Red China, admit them to the United Nations, give them a deadline with regard to this and that.
You notice what I said about residual forces, that we're not going to have a residual, I was very subtle about that, I said, not like Korea, but we're going to keep a residual force as long as it's necessary to see Vietnam can defend itself.
I will test now after I've finished with you.
Uh, talked to Adlai Stephenson, Jr. Did you?
Yeah, and he said, you know, on foreign policy...
I defended him, you know.
I beg your pardon?
Tonight I defended him.
I said it was a terrible thing that they bugged him, you know, during the convention.
You won hands down on foreign policy tonight.
He did?
Yeah.
And I didn't ask him what he thought because I didn't want to embarrass him.
That's good.
Well, you call Otis Chandler and say that the president thought his questions were excellent.
You tell him you thought his questions were excellent.
You just talk to the president.
He thought he really zeroed in on what really people were worried about, which is really true, Henry.
They're worried about kids.
You know, and what I said about kids, you and I know that they're not worth a damn.
But on the other hand, I did say that, look, if we bring peace and if we clean up the environment and the rest,
The kids may think maybe the system ain't all that bad, huh?
Well, you weren't saying anything, Mr. President, that this isn't true.
Whatever one thinks of some of the reactions, you defined the problem.
I think you should call him immediately, okay?
I'll call him this minute, Mr. President.
Yes, please.
Julie, please.
Thank you, sir.
Yes, please.
Try to get Mr. Herb Kline, please.
Yes, sir.
Yes, please.
Dr. Kissinger, please.
Thank you, sir.
Yeah.
Dr. Kissinger is present.
Mr. President.
Henry, the one point that may turn into a minor lead, not a big lead, but...
In fact, when I spoke about the children, I said, well, you know, I hope that they can go to China someday.
Yeah.
And that I hope that I could go someday, you know.
You know.
That doesn't bother you, does it?
It doesn't bother me, but it might just madly turn out that they'll get invited to spend their honeymoon there.
Be great.
But I think we didn't overplay it, did we?
No, no, no, no.
That was a general thing.
Oh, not at all.
That, in fact, I thought was a nice human touch.
Yeah, this is really true, you know.
When I spoke to these kids at Easter and I said, you know, I hope that in your time you'll be able to go to China, and I want our policies to be one that will make it possible, you know.
This is really quite moving to the younger generation, isn't it?
Oh, yes.
Well, it's moving to the older generation.
I mean, the sense of people eager to go back to China is just unbelievable.
yeah yeah no i thought that was better to touch him in fact well we shall see but uh in handling your uh press guys just be sure that you point out that
The President was only speaking in terms of hopes and not in terms of... And that I'd heard you say that many times before.
That I want to go and I want my kids to go and I hope this world will be one where everybody can visit all parts of the world and all that sort of business, you know?
Oh, yes.
Yeah.
Oh, I think we can do that.
That is not at all the problem, Mr. President.
In fact, I thought that was a great plug.
It gave it a human touch.
Yeah, good.
Hilsberg thought what you said about the barbaric treatment of the prisoners would be the big headline, or a big headline.
Well, it was a, it is barbaric.
But I thought that that's exactly what you wanted.
And you notice what I said, that, you know, I said unless both the prisoners and the ability of South Vietnam to defend itself were...
attained that we would continue to maintain a residual force.
Well, I thought that was a masterpiece.
Because it's true.
And it took lead off the hook, too, you see.
Well, all I can tell you is that I've received no indication of doubt in the mood.
What's his view?
We got them on the run.
All he wants now is a free election in October.
Free election?
Oh, shit.
There's no problem on that.
Exactly.
All right.
It's got him worried, huh?
I would sort of tell him, look, Adlai, there's a lot of things going on here that your father was interested in, the President, Rudy's interested in the same things, and now look, let's lead toward this direction, you know?
Because, you know, really,
We make the breakthrough in China.
This is the biggest thing that's ever happened in, you know, 20 years, Henry.
That's a historic turning point, Mr. President.
That's right.
They all know it, don't they?
Oh, no question.
Not a question.
It worries them, but we won't get any credit.
But who knows?
Oh, you'll get credit.
On this, you've gotten full credit.
The first time.
Do you think so?
Oh, yes.
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