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Conversation 033-101

TapeTape 33StartSaturday, November 18, 1972 at 12:53 PMEndSaturday, November 18, 1972 at 12:54 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the administration's second-term reorganization, noting Melvin Laird's acceptance of Elliot Richardson's appointment. The conversation then shifted to the surplus of U.S. military aid in South Vietnam and the potential for dispatching Laird on a diplomatic mission to deliver a firm ultimatum to President Nguyen Van Thieu. They agreed that such a mission, to be accompanied by Alexander Haig, should only occur following the finalization of the Vietnam peace agreement.

Second-term reorganizationMelvin R. LairdVietnam WarUS military aidNguyen Van ThieuAlexander M. Haig, Jr.Peace negotiations
AudioNARA Description

On November 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 12:53 pm to 12:54 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 033-101 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 33-101

Date: November 18, 1972
Time: 12:53 pm - 12:54 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

       Second term reorganization
            -Elliot L. Richardson
                  -Melvin R. Laird's reaction to appointment

       Vietnam War
            -South Vietnam
                 -Amount of US aid
                       -Helicopter Engines
                 -Laird
                       -Possible mission to South Vietnam
                             -Message to Garcia [Nguyen Van Thieu]
                             -Timing
                                   -Settlement agreement
                             -Knowledge of Military And Congress
                             -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Uh, hello.
Dr. Kisner, sir.
There you are.
Incidentally, I'm talking to Laird, uh, a couple things.
He, uh, he's relaxed about Richardson, so I thought that'll work out.
Oh, good.
Uh, the second point that, uh, but more important, Laird said that, uh, talked about the amount of stuff we had out there.
They have 500, for example, uh,
extra helicopter engines, you know.
He says, you just can't believe what we've stuffed into the place.
And I'm just wondering if Laird might be the guy that we could send out there with a message to Garcia.
No, Laird is a definite possibility.
I thought that he could— Well, we shouldn't send anybody— No, no, nothing until you finish the agreement.
Right.
The agreement is finished.
Laird goes out.
Laird wants to cap his career, and he says,
You know, he can be goddamn tough and stonewall it and say, look, I represent the military.
I know the Congress.
Bang.
That's it.
Now, either you come along here or we're going to go separate.
You know, we just might do it.
Well, we'll think about it.
But it's a distinct possibility.
I think Haig should go with him if that happens.
Oh, by all means.
By all means.
But we'll have to see where we... You've got to see what comes out of it.
Right, but I've thought of him as a possibility.
Yeah.
Okay, right.
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