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Conversation 225-009

TapeTape 225StartWednesday, November 15, 1972 at 9:08 AMEndWednesday, November 15, 1972 at 9:14 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the diplomatic strategy regarding a letter intended for North Vietnamese leadership, balancing firm demands with subtle overtures to maintain negotiations. They expressed concern over the breakdown of communication channels in South Vietnam, specifically noting the absence of effective intermediaries like Ellsworth Bunker and Creighton Abrams. The two men aimed to pressure their counterparts while avoiding public escalations that might undermine the perception of their negotiation efforts.

Vietnam WarDiplomatic correspondencePeace negotiationsNorth VietnamForeign policy
AudioNARA Description

On November 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 9:08 am to 9:14 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 225-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 225-9

Date: November 15, 1972
Time: 9:08 am - 9:14 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 153-28]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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?
Hi, Henry.
Did you get the letter down there?
Fine.
Good.
Well, there's no substance, but I just thought we ought to put a few subtleties in there.
I put in a few things that were very tough, like an unalterable.
But also I put in some soft things, like I would look forward to seeing you in San Clemente.
But I want to be sure you've got it because, you know, the helicopter wasn't running yesterday.
Well, we were socked in here, so they had to drive it down.
I, I don't know, I don't see how, uh, maybe, like, maybe, uh, continue to, uh, stall it out, but I don't see how he can.
Uh, what in the hell is he gonna do?
Uh, the, uh, the way that, uh, the way that, the way that letter is written, it's put in a context that, uh, we, uh, we have to go another way if he doesn't go.
But I don't know, I, I don't know if, uh,
We don't want to do that because of the fact that it would be an effect.
They say, well, hell, you could have done that all along.
You see what I mean?
It's not that good an option.
He's probably savvy enough to know that.
one of our real problems here is that we don't have any real communication between Bunker and him anymore.
That's the point.
Bunker used to go in and be able to talk to him.
Now he doesn't talk to him.
Same is true.
Abrams is not there anymore.
But anyway, yeah.
Leonard is so tough that he's, but he just, I suppose, Henry could just come back, looking over again, his letter to us, with another goddamn song to dance here about, well, I, you know, a debating point, and then it's got to be pretty good.
I have some ideas on that then.
Is that what the time to ask to deliver a letter and got to put off?
Yeah.
Changes.
of action and we're asking him to come along.
Isn't that it?
Oh, not all.
Okay, thank you.
Bye.
Bye.
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