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Conversation 311-026

TapeTape 311StartSaturday, January 1, 1972 at 3:56 PMEndSaturday, January 1, 1972 at 4:03 PMTape start time00:49:37Tape end time00:52:06ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing strategy for addressing the North Vietnamese treatment of American prisoners of war (POWs) and the potential for linking prisoner releases to troop withdrawals. The President directed Kissinger to formulate a brief, public response to the situation while emphasizing the need to keep these deliberations confidential. They also briefly touched upon the selection of military assets or options to be utilized in upcoming maneuvers.

POWsVietnam Wartroop withdrawalforeign policysecrecy
AudioNARA Description

On January 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:56 pm to 4:03 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 311-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 311-26

Date: January 1, 1972
Time: 3:56 pm - 4:03 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 17-134]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Henry, I wonder if you could give some thought as to some way we could get a brief answer on the POW thing.
I think that's the...
Weapons that we're going to select.
I realize we're going to handle them.
These ones, of course.
But the only thing we're talking about, the only thing we're saying here is the same thing.
There's a lot of data out there.
They are being cruel and barbaric.
They are using environment laws.
Go ahead.
Well, they're not all the time.
All we can say, I guess, is that we are borrowing.
The thing that, of course, the way it's going to be put is the old question about the prisoners for withdrawal and so forth.
Of course, we're coming to a point where we're going to be able to do that if we want to do it now.
I don't know if there's any way to handle that.
That's just
Yeah, right.
All right.
Yeah, yeah.
Now we'll try.
Okay.
Don't let the leak out while we're trying, I'm glad.
Let us do this one.
Try it.
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