Conversation: 338-001
Prev: 337-029 Next: 338-002Start Date: Thursday, May 4, 1972 9:25 PM
End Date: Thursday, May 4, 1972 9:55 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Connally, John B.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.); Woods, Rose MaryRecording Device: Old Executive Office Building
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:00:24
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:22:56
NARA Description:
On May 4, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John B. Connally, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:25 pm and 5:55 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 338-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 338-1
Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown after 5:25-5:55 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, John B. Connally, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and
Adm. Thomas H. Moorer. The recording began at an unknown time while the meeting was in
progress.
Vietnam
-A rehearsal
-Possible South Vietnam offensive
-North Vietnamese artillery
-Concentration
-Ground forces
-South Vietnam positions
-Artillery
-Availability
-Reasons
-US blockade
-Effectiveness
-Mining
-Ships
-Time
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Confidentiality
-Blockade
-Ports
-Speed
-Timing
-Ships
-Positioning
-Air strikes
-Possible delays
-Intensity
-Supply convoys
-Artillery
-Reports
-Highway One
-Gen. John W. Vogt
-Highway 137
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 338-1 (cont.)
-Vankari Pass
-Highway 1052
-Dimilitarized zone [DMZ]
-North Vietnam losses
-South Vietnam counteraction
-North Vietnam losses
-Haig mission to South Vietnam
-Air strikes
-Dikes
-Prestige of the US military
-The President’s view
-US plans
-Officers
-Amphibious landing
-Bombing
-Weather
-Hanoi and Haiphong bombing
-The President’s view
-Duration
-Intensity
-Civilian casualties
-The President’s instructions
-Duration
-Intensity
Moorer and Haig left at 5:35 pm.
Vietnam
-Stakes of US
-The President’s view
-Power
-Connally’s view
-Bombing
-Communist takeover
-Cambodia
-Laos
-President's goals
-Attacks on North Vietnam
-Extent
-Air strikes
-Duration
-Intensity
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 338-1 (cont.)
-Anticipated criticism
-President's response
-Public support
-Public stance
-Communist sanctuaries
-North Vietnam
-Laos
-Cambodia
-President's offers
-Peace offers
-Ceasefire
-Concessions
-President's actions
-Consequences for North Vietnamese offensive
-Support
-Lyndon B. Johnson's policies
-Deficiencies
-North Vietnam offensive
-President's response
-Criticism
-Senate
-Publicity
-South Vietnam civilian casualties
-Media coverage
-Responsibility
Connally left at 5:40 pm.
Speechwriters
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-Speech announcing blockade
-Compared with the President's previous speech on Vietnam
-William L. Safire
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Writing ability
-Safire
-Compared with Andrews
Vietnam
-President's speech announcing blockade
-Wording
-Organization
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 338-1 (cont.)
-Contents
-Blockade compared bombing
-Advantages
-Public opinion
-Psychological impact
-Purposes
-North Vietnam
-The President’s view
-Blockade
-Announcement
-Air strikes
-Announcement
-Melvin R. Laird
-Blockade
-Preparation
-Number of ships involved
-Laird
-Soviet Summit
-Cancellation
-Consequences
-Advantages
-Pacifist option
The President talked with Rose Mary Woods at an unknown time between 5:40 and 5:55 pm.
[Conversation No. 338-1A]
Woods's schedule
-Dinner with the President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
[End of telephone conversation]
-Camp David
-Time
Haldeman left at 5:55 pm.