Conversation 307-004

TapeTape 307StartWednesday, December 8, 1971 at 12:34 PMEndWednesday, December 8, 1971 at 2:15 PMTape start time00:04:20Tape end time00:07:15ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger strategized on the structure of an upcoming briefing regarding the current international situation. Seeking to balance high-level participation, Nixon determined that CIA Director Richard Helms would be excluded, while Secretary of State William Rogers would be included to maintain a specific optics strategy. The meeting concluded with plans to organize the sequence of presenters to ensure the desired political balance during the sessions.

White House briefingsRichard HelmsWilliam P. RogersPublic relationsForeign policy strategy

Audio

NARA Description

On December 8, 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 12:34 pm and 2:15 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 307-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 307-4

Date: December 8, 1971
Time: Unknown between 12:34 pm and 2:15 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     The President's schedule
          -Forthcoming meeting
               -Richard M. Helms
                      -Television
               -William P. Rogers
               -United Nations [UN]
               -Helms
               -Rogers
               -Kissinger
               -Briefing with Helms and Gen. William C. Westmoreland
               -UN
               -Rogers
                                                3

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                        (rev. 10/06)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I'm going to run this meeting a little differently from this.

I don't want to have Helms on this thing.

You understand?

I'll be on the television front.

I think the thing to do is to get Rogers on some, since he will not be on anything else.

And so I'll let him describe something.

Yeah, that's what I meant.

I thought I'd start with the U.N. and then go into the other thing at a later point.

So the main point of this is we get Rogers in on something during the day and see where he's on.

And then later this afternoon, you will come in so we get the other side.

No, no, no, no.

But I want it so we get the balance.

But you see, there's no reason to have the elements in the West.

I'll just say that we're going to have a briefing on the current situation.

And I'll let Rock respond, OK?

All right, fine.

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