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Conversation 316-006

TapeTape 316StartTuesday, January 25, 1972 at 2:45 PMEndTuesday, January 25, 1972 at 2:55 PMTape start time01:51:23Tape end time01:58:20ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.;  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to finalize specific language and strategic messaging for the President’s forthcoming Vietnam speech. The discussion focused on refining the phrasing regarding troop withdrawal timelines, election processes, and a proposed reconstruction program for Indochina to ensure the policy objectives were clearly communicated. They also weighed the potential international reactions to these proposals, specifically considering the involvement of French diplomacy and the reception from foreign officials.

Vietnam WarSpeechwritingForeign PolicyDiplomacyPost-war Reconstruction
AudioNARA Description

On January 25, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:45 pm to 2:55 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 316-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 316-6

Date: January 25, 1972
Time: 2:45 pm - 2:55 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Kissinger's schedule
          -The President's conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Privacy]
[Duration: 15s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************

     The President’s health

     The President's forthcoming Vietnam speech
          -William P. Rogers's views
                -Attendance at speech
          -Changes
          -Ronald L. Ziegler

[An unknown person talked with the President at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 2:55

pm.]

[Conversation No. 316-6A]

       Call to the President
             -Error

[End of telephone conversation]

       The President's forthcoming speech
            -Changes
                  -Phraseology
                        -Robert H. Finch's view
                        -Indochina
                              -Laos and Cambodia
                              -South Vietnam
                        -Peace settlement
                              -Troop withdrawal
                                    -Timing
                        -Vietnam election
                        -Reconstruction program
                              -Drafts
            -Kissinger's previous meeting with Earl of Cromer [George R.S. Baring]
            -Cromer's views
            -Possible French reaction
                  -French cooperation
            -Cromer’s views
                  -Television
            -William F. Buckley, Jr.

Kissinger left at 2:55 pm.
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.

No, I didn't mean to say that.
I think you were trying to say that.
I saw your schedule and told Paul.
We've still got a chance to make this up.
Could I, I just have two accrues, I think.
You should be an accruer of the court.
Not an accruer, but I think they have someone to say something.
I sent him a copy.
I figured he's down.
He's happy with it now.
It was damned good.
He's kind of, you know, you told him I was going to leave, but then he should take over and he doesn't have to come down and then take it.
Can I suggest from page seven?
Old Ziegler, have you talked to him?
No.
He really is?
Yeah.
Yeah.
You call me?
Could you change the word on page seven, many Americans who believe in the monarchy of the United States of America?
And could I suggest, because we covered all of it, which includes vows,
Now,
One point which I just want to be sure you don't feel leaves a impression, I guess, other than this last five minutes.
I wonder if that leaves Ukraine as a plot of an overall settlement.
Nine months after an overall settlement.
After an agreement on an overall settlement.
Yes.
After an agreement on an overall settlement.
I think that's after an agreement on an overall settlement.
You see, then we don't leave the impression to ask somebody.
I know this sounds too suspicious.
No, no, no.
I know that the president, I've practically noted that before myself and then slipped my mind into it.
But I want you to respond to this.
We can't answer them all.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Now, I do think we should put this thing, this thing, on page 15.
Well, you don't have my button, you don't have mine.
Rather than although, use the word but, of the election.
Although, it doesn't make this point sharply, the election.
Although, it changes the button.
Good.
And also on the same page, you'll undertake a major reconstruction throughout all of China, including North Vietnam.
You can see it throughout all of China, including North Vietnam.
See what's going on.
I should say that.
No one will know.
No one will know.
We had that, I think, you know.
No.
We did.
We've had it in other drafts, but it's not in this one.
No, no.
I just want to make sure we're mentioning it on August 16th.
I just want to make sure.
No, we don't need... We've covered the fact that on the other one that our plan included...
I'm going to go back, hard and softly, and I'm just going to drop the July 26th meeting.
I was used to each other going to the LK.
That's fine.
We'll do it another time.
I've had a problem with that, and so on.
And you'll be had for a year.
And I'll show them the experts' speech, and they'll take it, and they'll take it, and they'll take it.
And since I was there, I'd like to start with that.
If you'd like it, I don't...
I don't want to...
I guess I'm asking your judgment, you know, for another time.
My judgment is, Mr. President, it adds a little...
If the French would like it, and it adds a little to the mystery...
If the French would cooperate, and how can they say that they didn't help?
They said, we don't... Well, we're just saying...
And also, it's a very high level, right?
That's what I'm saying.
That's what I'm saying.
That's what I'm saying.
That's what I'm saying.
I'll put it on that.
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