President Nixon and Henry Kissinger coordinated the notification of congressional leaders regarding the upcoming suspension of U.S. bombing in North Vietnam. The discussion focused on managing political fallout, particularly pressure from liberal critics and figures like Hubert Humphrey and Mike Mansfield, while maintaining a restrained public message to avoid the perception of gloating over a military victory. Kissinger was tasked with briefing key members of Congress to ensure they were informed of the administration's decision prior to the official public announcement.
On December 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:04 am to 10:12 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-037 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 158-37 Date: December 30, 1972 Time: 10:04 am - 10:12 am Location: Camp David Study Table The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger. [See Conversation No. 237-46] Vietnam War -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel -Notification of Congress -45- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-37 (cont’d) -Kissinger’s conversation with Michael J. Mansfield -Hearings -J. William Fulbright -Dr. Thomas E. (“Dee”) Morgan -Negotiations -Morgan -House Foreign Affairs Committee -Explanation -Briefings -Timing -The President -Negotiations -Paris -US bombing of North Vietnam -Congressional relations -Hubert H. Humphrey -William B. Saxbe -Humphrey’s statement -Saxbe’s statement -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -Notification of Congress -Kissinger’s telephone calls -Humphrey -Carl B. Albert -Mansfield -Hugh Scott -F. Edward Hebert -John C. Stennis -Barry M. Goldwater -Nelson A. Rockefeller -Ronald W. Reagan -Rockefeller’s reaction -Mansfield -Timmons’s telephone calls -Timing -Announcement -Kissinger’s telephone calls -The President’s decision -Gerald L. Warren -46- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-37 (cont’d) -Meeting with the President -Conversation with the President -Press relations -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision -Bombing and mining north of 20th Parallel -Suspension -Negotiations -Tone -October 1972 -Resumption -Press relations -Los Angeles Times editorial -Public relations [PR] -Saxbe, Humphrey -Kissinger’s location -Palm Springs, California -The President’s television [TV] appearance -Condition -Continuation of bombing -Emotion -Liberals -Kissinger’s attendance at dinner party -Michael Wallace -View -The President’s TV appearance -Timing -Debate -Announcement -Cessation north of 20th Parallel -Statement -Avoiding “gloating” about victory -Congressmen and Senators -Negotiations -North Vietnam -Kissinger’s telephone calls -Necessity -Notification -William P. Rogers’s schedule -Melvin R. Laird’s schedule -47- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. May-08) Conversation No. 158-37 (cont’d) -[David] Kenneth Rush -Warren -Congressmen and Senators -Notification -Announcement -Kissinger’s telephone calls -The President’s call to Kissinger
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.