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Conversation 160-013

TapeTape 160StartSaturday, January 6, 1973 at 2:54 PMEndSaturday, January 6, 1973 at 2:59 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceCamp David Study Table
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the status of Vietnam peace negotiations and the potential for Chinese and Soviet influence on Hanoi's leadership. They evaluated the persistent demands for changes in the agreement and the role of North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho. Nixon instructed Kissinger to utilize presidential messaging to strengthen his bargaining position during upcoming sessions.

Vietnam WarParis Peace AccordsLe Duc ThoHenry KissingerPRC-Soviet relationsDiplomatic negotiations
AudioNARA Description

On January 6, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:54 pm to 2:59 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 160-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 160-13

Date: January 6, 1973
Time: 2:54 pm - 2:59 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See also Conversation No. 240-3]

       Kissinger's schedule

       Kissinger's meeting with unknown person
             -Vietnam negotiations
                                                -13-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. August-08)

                                                           Conversation No. 160-13 (cont’d)

                  -Le Duc Tho
                  -Issues
            -European security conference
                  -Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
                  -Kissinger’s view
            -Vietnam negotiations
                  -People’s Republic of China [PRC] and Soviet Union
                  -Kissinger’s view
                        -Chou En-lai
                        -Unification of Vietnam
                        -Influence of Soviet Union
                  -Le Duc Tho
                        -Public statements in Paris
                  -Possible changes in agreement
                  -The President’s view
                        -Negotiations
                  -Instructions for Kissinger
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.
Mr. President.
You, uh, finished your lunch?
Yes, I have.
Are you still there?
No, I'm still in the, uh, no, no, I'm in the office.
Oh, fine, fine.
How'd it go?
Anything new?
Nothing new, uh, because we talked mostly, this was scheduled to discuss other matters.
Right, right.
He hasn't had a report yet, or said he hasn't had a report from the doctor.
So, this is much of.
But apparently these guys lie to them so much that he's totally confused as to what the issues are.
Ah, they're right.
He listed a whole batch of them that were already settled.
Frankly, as long as Vietnam is going on, I just can't turn to it effectively.
That's correct.
Well, you know, you really come down to the point, Henry, as to whether the Chinese and Russians really are going to put a little pressure on them or not.
I don't know.
Who are the Chinese?
Yeah, yeah.
in the Chinese.
One, they don't want Vietnam Unified under Hanoi.
Yeah.
And two, they don't want that influence to predominate in Hanoi.
Yep.
But, uh, and I think that message from Joe is... Well, that does seem to me to have some significance.
They do not talk lightly.
Now, the doctor who arrived today in Paris
He says what?
Uh-huh.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We're not insisting on any changes, are we?
I don't think.
I don't know.
But it's there that they're insisting on the changes, aren't they?
Exactly.
It may be, of course, that he's referring to it.
One thing about it, sometimes I wonder if our restraint and our public statements may be misinterpreted to them.
You know, they play everything up to the propaganda hilt and we refuse to talk and so forth.
What do you think?
I don't think so.
they have been pretty restrained except he couldn't let this opportunity go by around the airport right right the one thing i want to tell you adding to it needless to say in the course of these meetings if you need to say that you have a rep just received a message from me or you know anything you you feel free to
to use one you know right you know the various things we've covered and uh and they're all there so you just pull out anytime anytime you want you pull out a piece of paper and say well i just got this message right you know okay right or ask for one anytime you need one so that because you mustn't be i want you to be in every the strongest possible position okay henry goodbye
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