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Conversation 017-151

TapeTape 17StartSunday, January 2, 1972 at 7:09 PMEndSunday, January 2, 1972 at 7:12 PMTape start time05:53:10Tape end time05:55:28ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed strategies for managing public and media pressure regarding the administration's Vietnam policy, specifically concerns raised by POW wives. They analyzed potential interview questions from journalists like Dan Rather and Mike Wallace, who were questioning whether recent U.S. bombing campaigns and military actions in Laos were impeding the release of prisoners. Nixon decided to affirmatively state that he would continue to raise the POW issue with international leaders, including those from the USSR and China, to reinforce his commitment to their return.

POW/MIAVietnam WarU.S. Bombing CampaignsDiplomacyMedia RelationsForeign Policy
AudioNARA Description

On January 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:09 pm to 7:12 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-151 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-151

Date: January 2, 1972
Time: 7:09 pm - 7:12 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 311-56]

     Prisoner of War [POW] wives
          -Kissinger unable to get in touch with Maj. Gen. James D. Hughes
          -Deadline for US withdrawal from Vietnam
          -Kissinger's dealings with POW wives
          -US bombing of Vietnam
                -Mike Wallace
          -Dan Rather
          -Laos
          -Questions Rather might ask
                -President to discuss POW issue with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
                      [USSR] and People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                      -President's response
          -Release of POW discussed by
                -Kissinger
                -Chou En-Lai
                -President
                -Andrei A. Gromyko

                -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                -Josip Broz Tito
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Mr. President.
Yeah.
Dr. Kissinger.
All right.
Hello.
Mr. President.
Yeah, Henry.
I haven't been able to get views, but from the report, these are the standard questions with which these ladies always begin.
They always have the idea that if we only set a deadline, and that somehow we just aren't doing enough.
And I have in the past always been able to turn them around on it.
I have not noticed.
I'm in correspondence with the board of directors, and I was in correspondence with them as late as two weeks ago.
But this has nothing to do with that, Henry.
This has to do with the relationship with the bombing, you see.
Yeah.
See, that's what his questions were about.
Yeah.
And that's what...
I'm just speaking about their general mood.
Uh-huh.
Yeah, well, you see, that was before the bombing, and that's what Wallace was gigging them on, that the bombing delays.
See, the theme, it's a very subtle question and pretty effective that...
Well, by reason of the bombing, that's going to make them more intransigent.
You know, the same thing on Laos, that kind of argument, see?
Yeah, well... And then they may get through with some of them on that point.
Well, Mr. President, I believe that the sort of line you took to the ladies, I think the average person doesn't understand what the details are.
If they see a president who is dedicated to bringing them back, he can make all these others look like cheap shot artists.
Yeah.
With regard to the idea of saying now, if he says, will you take it up with the Soviet and the Chinese?
Is that a safe thing to say yes?
Yes.
I mean, is that not going to put them on a spot where they come down and... Well, they may come back and say no, but then that's another way of taking it up.
That's right.
I think it's perfectly all right.
What the hell?
I would say yes.
We have already taken it up, and we will continue to take it up.
You mentioned it to Joe and I, did you?
Absolutely, on each occasion.
Good.
All right.
And I mentioned it, of course, to the other characters.
I mentioned it to Gromyko, and I've mentioned it to Green in a dozen times.
Oh, and Tito.
That's right.
That's right.
Okay, thank you.
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