← 278-054278-056 →

Conversation 278-055

TapeTape 278StartThursday, September 16, 1971 at 11:15 AMEndThursday, September 16, 1971 at 11:48 AMTape start time02:50:35Tape end time02:52:55ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the political management of the Mack Truck deal with the Soviet Union, emphasizing the need for a swift and effective public relations strategy to address political fallout. The two also coordinated the President’s messaging regarding the UN Security Council vote on China, specifically focusing on the US stance on Taiwan. Additionally, they reviewed protocol for a potential meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko and addressed the broader implications of US policy toward Vietnam.

US-Soviet relationsMack Truck dealPublic relationsChina-UN representationTaiwanAndrei GromykoVietnam
AudioNARA Description

On September 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:15 am and 11:48 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 278-055 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 278-55

Date: September 16, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:15 am and 11:48 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Foreign policy
          -Us-Soviet Union relations
                -Mack Truck deal
                -Arrival
                -Publicity
                      -Gerald R. Ford
                -Peter G. Peterson
                -Public relations plan
          -Andrei A. Gromyko's forthcoming arrival in the US for United Nations [UN] session
                -Timing
          -People’s Republic of China [PRC]
                -UN Security Council
                -US position on Taiwan, Republic of China
                      -State Department
                            -Message
                      -President’s forthcoming statement
          -Vietnam
                -US aid
                      -Communist takeover
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

On this Mack truck thing, are you sure we are not at fault?
Remember, I've been pressing on that thing because it's a hell of a hot political issue.
But when it comes, could I just respectfully suggest, do it fast and get a hell of a lot of enlisting on it because we haven't got any adequate thing that might be called forward on long-term care.
It's a very important and handsome matter on this field.
I want that personally to be, I mean, I don't want St. Peter's to jump on it, but I want it personally to be pulled over.
so that he gets to me at the earliest possible time of the PR plan when it's okay.
So it's been a problem.
If I'm asked incidentally about seeing Gromyko, should it be said or not?
Well, I won't give the date.
I don't know the date.
But nevertheless, if that's a, sorry, if that was a question, the date, yeah.
The Red China...
the State Department sent out the support council, the county's security council.
That, of course, is what was inevitable.
But that position is one thing.
In other words, we just say, that is our position, period.
I'll go through Gantt Park, and I'll come back and say what I want to say.
Do you think I need, you know, do you think State's got to say hello to them?
I'll just say, I'm going to keep it very, very brief.
We support one, we oppose the other, and we're doing everything we can in an effective way.
This is one effective way to do it.
That says the United States should have been cut off.
They would choose government, the couple, the situation, and the assessment that we see won't be discussed.
I don't know whether to comment.
No?
Okay.
← 278-054278-056 →