Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 022-071
Date: Monday, April 3, 1972 at 7:24 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-071

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] Hello.
[0:04] Henry, I wanted to be sure that...
[0:07] I think the idea of the Navy taking... Now, that means going in 40 miles, doesn't it?
[0:15] About 35.
[0:15] 35 miles, fine.
[0:16] I think that is a very good idea.
[0:18] First of all, the Navy does know how to do some things.
[0:23] Second, Moore will love the idea.
[0:25] He is a naval commander.
[0:27] And you just tell him to get every damn ship
[0:30] out there, you know, bring that thing from the Indian Ocean if it's still there, whatever we've got, and just tell them to knock the hell out of that stuff.
[0:37] Also, they can send their carrier aircraft in there and bomb that road, can't they?
[0:41] Oh, yes.
[0:42] Now, that's being done anyway.
[0:43] But anyway, but I think shelling it, of course, is much more precise.
[0:48] That's right.
[0:49] You can get more cruisers and destroyers there.
[0:52] They can help in the battle for Kwan-Tree because their range goes beyond Kwan-Tree.
[0:56] Does it really?
[0:57] Yeah.
[0:58] Especially the cruisers.
[0:59] Well, it certainly goes to the Da Nang area, too.
[1:02] The Da Nang's on the sea.
[1:04] Also, a huge naval movement would be well noticed.
[1:07] I wish you would call Moyer right now and tell him it's authorized.
[1:12] You don't have to send that through Laird now, do you?
[1:15] Well, we ought to let Laird know, but he won't stop us.
[1:17] Well, let him know, but just tell Moyer to get a hold of the little admiral out there at Sinkback and get every damn naval ship that can fire guns in that range and get him in there.
[1:28] and bombard the hell out of that place.
[1:31] We ought to get another carrier out there, too.
[1:32] Well, have we got any more?
[1:35] We've got one more.
[1:37] Where is it?
[1:37] Order it out there, right away.
[1:39] I think at this point...
[1:40] Put in every...
[1:41] But I think your idea, though, the carrier is fine.
[1:44] We've got four.
[1:45] Order the other carrier.
[1:46] But order some cruisers and destroyers.
[1:49] Those guys love to have something to shoot at.
[1:51] Would you order them down from the Sea of Japan?
[1:54] Everything.
[1:54] Tell them that this is it.
[1:56] This is the time to pour it in.
[1:59] And also that message will get to the enemy.
[2:02] I think we can break their back.
[2:10] Really pour it in.
[2:10] Okay, pour it in.