Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 022-073
Date: Tuesday, April 4, 1972 at 9:24 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.)
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-073

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello.
[0:01] Good morning, Mr. President.
[0:02] Hi, how are you?
[0:03] I noticed that you only got off 126 missions yesterday, which I understand because of weather.
[0:09] Well, you got six more, 132, is that right?
[0:12] It's over 200, sir.
[0:14] Let me ask you a question.
[0:16] I don't want to reply in bad weather, but where is that report that I was supposed to have here at 915 with regard to whether or not you could not...
[0:25] and without having those planes just sit on the deck, hit in the B-3 area where they have that immense concentration.
[0:31] What about that?
[0:32] Well, they have been hitting, sir, in the B-3 area.
[0:34] Well, how about taking everything that flies while this weather is bad and socking it in there for a while again, giving them a massive punch?
[0:42] You see, you've got the planes sitting on the deck now.
[0:46] No, sir.
[0:47] The planes are operating.
[0:48] I think we had about 500 sorties over the last 24 hours, sir.
[0:52] They're operating along the whole GMN Trail and the B-3 front and along the down in Military Region 3.
[1:00] And we actually had over 200 in Military Region 1 and just across the DMZ.
[1:07] As you know, some of them got through a hole and...
[1:09] destroyed the bridge over the Ben Hai River and then came down the road and knocked out three tanks.
[1:14] I saw that.
[1:15] By visible.
[1:16] But I think that he's made the report that they made, sir, they have a hundred and that was cut off at a certain time.
[1:22] And I telephoned out there.
[1:24] I sent you instructions yesterday that you wanted the maximum effort.
[1:28] Yeah, I understand.
[1:29] I don't want anybody to fly in bad weather and just to drop it out in the boondocks.
[1:32] But my point is, you can't hit there, then hit...
[1:36] You know, from reading the morning report, you say that you expect that the next blow is going to come in the B-3 area.
[1:43] Is that not correct?
[1:44] That's right, yes, sir.
[1:45] And they're working hard.
[1:46] Are we working that as hard as we can?
[1:48] Yes, sir.
[1:48] There's nothing more we can do?
[1:49] We don't have any aircraft on the deck, let me assure you.
[1:52] Now, point two.
[1:54] Have you carried out the order that I gave last night, 12 hours ago, with regard to using naval gunfire on the road
[2:01] above the DMZ in North Vietnam.
[2:03] Yes, sir.
[2:04] I did that right away.
[2:05] Now, can the naval gunfire reach that road?
[2:08] Yes, sir.
[2:09] It can?
[2:09] Yes, sir.
[2:10] All right.
[2:12] And that will be done.
[2:14] Now, what additional ships are available to get out there?
[2:17] I mean, do you have a few that you could send from Singapore and other places?
[2:21] Yes, sir.
[2:21] We sent four additional destroyers, and I sent another cruiser.
[2:25] Well, if you got any, how long would it take anything to get from Pearl?
[2:28] Is that where most of them are?
[2:30] Well, I think we can use the ones in the western Pacific.
[2:33] In fact, they're already there.
[2:34] I started this action as soon as I told you.
[2:37] How many could you get there, Tom?
[2:39] How many?
[2:39] I mean, could you get a significant number?
[2:42] Because I have a more important assignment that I'll have Henry give to you early.
[2:46] Yes, sir.
[2:46] We could certainly get more there from the 7th Fleet.
[2:49] It would take...
[2:50] You know, about eight days or so to get them prepared.
[2:53] Eight days.
[2:53] But from the 7th Fleet, we can get them within anywhere from four hours to four days.
[2:58] Yeah, yeah.
[2:59] And that includes, what, cruisers, destroyers?
[3:01] Yes, sir.
[3:02] Yes, sir.
[3:03] But right at this moment, there are eight on the lines.
[3:06] Four south, I told them to put four south of the empty and four north.
[3:10] And they are, but you can't get, couldn't you get more than that?
[3:14] Yes, sir, we can get to take a few...
[3:17] Well, order everything that is used.
[3:19] Incidentally, forget the PSYOP and all that crap.
[3:22] It doesn't mean anything anyway.
[3:23] And get all the cruisers and destroyers in the 7th Fleet in that area.
[3:27] We have another purpose for them.
[3:29] And get in there as fast as you can.
[3:31] And give Henry a report by 10 o'clock, because I have a reason I have to have him there, okay?
[3:35] And he'll let you know, okay?
[3:36] Yes, sir.
[3:37] Thank you.