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Conversation 337-020

TapeTape 337StartWednesday, May 10, 1972 at 1:05 PMEndWednesday, May 10, 1972 at 3:35 PMTape start time03:41:07Tape end time03:45:11ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the efficacy of CIA-led propaganda efforts and military operations in Vietnam. Nixon expresses frustration with the intelligence agency's historical performance while emphasizing the need for improved coordination and higher-quality materials regarding U.S. air strikes. The conversation centers on leveraging psychological operations to impact the morale of North Vietnamese leadership and their forces.

Vietnam WarCIAPropagandaAir strikesMilitary moralePsychological warfare
AudioNARA Description

On May 10, 1972, 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 1:05 pm and 3:35 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 337-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 337-20

Date: May 10, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:02 and 3:35 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President dictated a memorandum to Henry A. Kissinger.

     Vietnam
          -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
               -Propaganda
                     -South Vietnam, Hanoi area
                            -Support for the President
                            -US military action
                                 -Impact on North Vietnam leaders and people
                                 -Air strikes
                     -Supervision
                     -Improvement
                     -Quantity, quality
                     -Needs
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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 was hoping to remember the weapon system's fate or not, but it's never been seen before.
The North Vietnamese are used against South Vietnamese forces.
It should shake us up for the future.
As you know, I have very little confidence in the CIA department.
program yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
of the ships that are
uh... uh...
He needs to clear strikes.
Very certain morale problems are common among the troops in the area.
Some do not.
The other side of this line is the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army does not.
They care.
Can't be reached by such a case.
It's a global threat.
I see the CIA does a better job than they've ever done before.
It's great.
I have a feeling from looking at the CIA materials across my desk
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