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Conversation 042-055

TapeTape 42StartFriday, April 16, 1971 at 5:30 PMEndFriday, April 16, 1971 at 5:32 PMTape start time01:04:36Tape end time01:06:24ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AudioNARA Description

On April 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 5:30 pm to 5:32 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-055 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 42-55

Date: April 16, 1971
Time: 5:30 pm - 5:32 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 250-23]

     President's People's Republic of China [PRC] initiative
           -John A. Scali
                 -Briefing from Kissinger
                 -Views
                 -Administration's policy
                 -Views on Vietnam withdrawal

     Vietnam
          -Withdrawal
          -Gen. Charles A.J.M. De Gaulle
          -Kissinger's Meeting in Paris
          -Nguyen Van Thieu
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I have Dr. Kissinger calling.
Yeah, yeah.
On the line, sir.
I wanted to be sure that you had checked you've covered Skelly.
Oh, yes.
Yeah, you've covered him.
Fine.
I have covered him.
He's a little restive at it, but I've given him a view of the background, a little of the background, and there's no problem.
Yeah, yeah.
What I meant is, what is he restive about?
You mean he wants to do more or say more or something?
Yeah, you know, he wants to start a big campaign, but...
uh but i think there's such a big campaign going on that it is no no no no we can't push we don't want to push it i mean what's he want to campaign about henry that's my i mean you agree what you had done on china policy and we're getting that out anyway well maybe he's maybe he feels he doesn't he doesn't feel we're getting it out well enough is that his point but he and and what a big move it is but that will rattle the chinese
and then he's still on a withdrawal kick announcing we're pulling out a division a month but that runs counter to first of all there aren't that many divisions there and secondly that runs counter to the other scheme no no no no we don't say anything more about that well he's sorry let him suggest him but we don't no i told him i i spent about 10 minutes a day with him just to give him the sense that he belongs to the community right that's right well that's right and also he'll have some ideas that we'll pick up too but
that's right we can't go on that kick for the reason that it's uh i don't want to say anything more about withdrawal at this point i think as soon as we get as soon as you have your meeting in paris then we'll go out to that exactly and we'll go on to the meeting with uh and we don't do it now it just will stir up again go on with the meeting with two and so forth and so on that's the way to do it okay right mr president
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