President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed strategies for managing public and political perceptions of the ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon emphasized the need to preemptively dismiss media claims that the proposed settlement amounted to a coalition government, coordinating efforts to have Vice President Agnew and conservative allies like the Buckleys publicly defend the administration's position. They also assessed the probability of a North Vietnamese walk-out and agreed that the administration should maintain a firm stance to ensure a favorable peace settlement.
On October 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 10:03 am to 10:07 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-085 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 32-85
Date: October 29, 1972
Time: 10:03 am - 10:07 am
Location: White House Telephone
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.
66
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Oct-06)
[See Conversation No. 377-13]
Greetings
Kissinger’s health
Kissinger's location
Vietnam
-The President's forthcoming briefing of surrogates
-The President's conversation with Alexander M. Haig,Jr.
-Arrangements
-Kissinger's absence
-Negotiations
-Chance of North Vietnamese walk-out
-Kissinger’s view
-The President‘s view
-Kissinger’s role
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 54s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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Vietnam
-Peace settlement
-Nelson A. Rockefeller's reaction
-Press interpretation
-Coalition government
-The President’s intention
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-James L. Buckley
-Criticism from right wing
67
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Oct-06)
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
-Joseph W. Alsop
-Richard (“Dick”) Wilson
-The President’s view
-Conditions
-Cease-fire
-Supervision of elections
-Police, courts, army
-North Vietnamese proposals
-Haig’s forthcoming clarification
-Press reports
-Public impact
-The President’s view
-Joseph C. Kraft
-North Vietnamese response
-US reaction
-Paris talks
-Meetings
-Press coverage
-Andrews Air Force Base
-Implementation
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 31s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
**********************************************************************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.