President Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinated with Senator George D. Aiken regarding the tactical implications of his proposed congressional amendment amidst ongoing secret peace negotiations with North Vietnam. The participants discussed the risk that the amendment might inadvertently signal weakness or encourage North Vietnamese stalling tactics, specifically emphasizing the need for a unified front against competing legislative efforts like the Brooke substitute. Ultimately, the administration sought to balance Aiken's support for the President's policy with the necessity of maintaining diplomatic leverage and preventing premature funding cutoffs that could undermine the peace process.
On August 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, George D. Aiken, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 12:59 pm to 1:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 028-043 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 28-43
Date: August 2, 1972
Time: 12:59 pm - 1:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with George D. Aiken.
(rev. Mar-02)
[See Conversation No. 759-11E]
The President's meeting with Henry A. Kissinger
-Kissinger's trip to Paris
Aiken's amendment
-The President's gratitude
-The President's view
-Statement
-Difficulties
Request for confidentiality
Kissinger talked with Aiken.
Greetings
North Vietnamese
-Peace talks
-Secrecy until completion
Confidence in Aiken
Peace talks
-Seriousness
-Aiken's Amendment
-Problems
-North Vietnamese delays
-Encouragement
-Support for the President
-Seriousness
-Aiken's Amendment
-Show of unity for the President
-North Vietnamese interpretation
-North Vietnamese actions
-Delays
-Edward W. Brooke substitute
-Problems
-No ceasefire
-Deviation from the President
-North Vietnamese delays
-Fund shutoff
(rev. Mar-02)
-Congress
-Conflicts with the President
-May 8, 1972 proposals
-An amendment in Congress
-Problems
-Withdrawal of funds for South Vietnam
-Alan Cranston
-US return to Vietnam
-Problems
-Panama, Jordan
-Aiken's Amendment
-Kissinger’s view
-Administration's comments
-Commitments
-Possible impression
-Domestic opponentsThis 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.