Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 157-042
Date: Saturday, December 9, 1972 at 7:46 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kennedy, Richard T. (Col.)
Recording device: Camp David Study Table
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/157-042

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.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] Mr. President?
[0:02] Yes.
[0:03] This is Colonel Kennedy, sir.
[0:04] Yes.
[0:05] You called.
[0:07] You wanted to have a message, sir?
[0:09] Oh, yes.
[0:09] I thought, sir, you saw Henry's message.
[0:12] Yes, I did.
[0:13] And I thought perhaps you might want to send a brief reply that he'd have in the morning.
[0:18] Right.
[0:19] I drafted something.
[0:20] I can read it.
[0:21] Fine.
[0:23] Your report of Saturday's meeting is encouraging.
[0:26] Nevertheless, I realize how significant the BMZ provision is from both Saigon's point of view and our own.
[0:34] After hearing Al Haig's report on Sunday, I will give you my further thoughts.
[0:39] Again, I want to say what a superb job you have done against the toughest odds this past week.
[0:45] The concessions you have extracted represent a major achievement and testify to your negotiating skill and the firm, relentless approach you have taken in these sessions.
[0:53] Very good.
[0:55] All right, sir.
[0:55] Well, I'll send it off.
[0:56] Good.
[0:56] Send that off.
[0:57] Then after I meet...
[0:58] When Al gets in late tonight, right?
[1:01] Well, it'll be about... Our latest estimate is about 4 o'clock, sir, in the morning.
[1:05] Fine.
[1:05] Have him go... Well... Where will he go when he gets in?
[1:12] Oh, he'll go home, of course.
[1:13] Fine.
[1:14] He'll go home.
[1:15] Right.
[1:17] Then, as Henry noted, he wants to get hold of Dobrynin.
[1:21] Right.
[1:22] On this point.
[1:23] Now, should he...
[1:26] Should he come here?
[1:27] Should I meet him there?
[1:29] What would be the best thing?
[1:30] Either way, sir, I think whichever suits your convenience and health.
[1:36] I mentioned that you were up there, and it's no problem at all, whichever you prefer.
[1:41] Entirely up to you.
[1:45] I would think that...
[1:50] Either way, because the fact that he does it, we'll get out in any event.
[1:55] Right.
[1:56] We'll tell him when he gets in the morning to have a good sleep.
[1:59] Yes, sir.
[2:00] And then come up here about tomorrow, about noon.
[2:02] All right, sir.
[2:03] Bye.
[2:03] Good.
[2:04] See you in the afternoon.
[2:05] We'll get our message off, okay?
[2:06] All right, sir.
[2:07] Bye.
[2:07] And I'll send this one off now.
[2:09] Bye.
[2:10] Thank you.