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Conversation 011-053

TapeTape 11StartTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 9:20 AMEndTuesday, October 12, 1971 at 9:58 AMTape start time01:19:50Tape end time01:21:58ParticipantsKissinger, Henry A.;  Meany, GeorgeRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Henry Kissinger contacted George Meany to provide advance notice of President Nixon's upcoming public announcement regarding a scheduled 1972 summit meeting in Moscow. Kissinger explained that the strategic goal of the summit is to balance Soviet and Chinese interests while advancing negotiations concerning Vietnam and the Middle East. He concluded the call by promising to meet with Meany in the following days to provide a more detailed briefing on the administration's foreign policy strategy.

Foreign PolicySoviet-American RelationsMoscow SummitVietnam WarMiddle EastDiplomacy
AudioNARA Description

On October 12, 1971, Henry A. Kissinger and George Meany talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:20 am and 9:58 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 011-053 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 11-53

Date: October 12, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:20 am and 9:58 am
Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with George Meany.
                                              28

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)




[See Conversation No. 288-11B]

     Introductions

     The President's announcement October 12, 1971
          -The President's meeting with Soviet leaders in Moscow
                -Objectives
                      -Balance
                      -Middle East
                      -Vietnam
          -Text
                -Moscow, 1972
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello?
I have Mr. Meany.
Hello?
Hello?
Mr. Meany?
Yes.
Henry Kissinger.
How are you?
Fine.
Okay.
I wanted to call you because at noon today, the president is going to make an announcement on foreign policy, which...
The what?
The president is going to make an announcement at noon today on foreign policy, which we wanted to give you some advance warning of.
It is that after the meeting in Peking, towards the end of May, there will be a summit meeting with the Soviet leaders in Moscow.
And the purpose of this is, I know you are very busy today, but perhaps in the next few days I could come by and give you some sense of the strategy, which is to keep those two in some sort of a balance with each other.
and to try to get a negotiation going that might affect the Middle East and Vietnam and other parts.
Is he setting a date today?
No, he's just announcing that it will be, let me read you the announcement, may I?
Yeah.
Says the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union in their exchanges during the past year have agreed that a meeting between them would be desirable once sufficient progress has been made in negotiations at a lower level.
In light of the recent advances in bilateral and multilateral negotiations involving the two countries, it has been agreed that such a meeting will take place in Moscow in the latter part of May 1972.
Oh, I see.
It's in 72.
Yes, I understand.
President Nixon and the Soviet leaders will review all major issues with a view towards further improving their bilateral relations and enhancing the prospects for world peace.
And...
This is being, of course, embargoed till noon when we wanted you to have some advance word of it.
Okay.
Good, Mr. Meany.
I'll call you in the next few days and talk to you further about it.
Okay, thank you.
Good.
Goodbye.
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