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Conversation 339-023

TapeTape 339StartFriday, May 19, 1972 at 1:58 PMEndFriday, May 19, 1972 at 3:20 PMTape start time03:04:38Tape end time03:14:23ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.;  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig to express intense frustration regarding the bureaucracy's failure to execute his orders concerning the Vietnam War. He sharply criticized the CIA for a lack of imagination in psychological warfare and denounced the Pentagon for harboring "McNamara-era" personnel who he claimed were sabotaging his policies. To rectify these performance issues, Nixon mandated an increase in B-52 deliveries and announced he would bypass standard command structures by selecting a naval commander to oversee specific bombing operations in North Vietnam.

Vietnam WarBureaucracyB-52 operationsPsychological warfareMilitary commandCIADefense Department
AudioNARA Description

On May 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and 3:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 339-023 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 339-23

Date: May 19, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:58 and 3:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President dictated a memorandum to Henry A. Kissinger and Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

     Vietnam
          -President's orders
                -Responsibility
                      -Departmental bureaucracies
                -Weapons for South Vietnam
                      -Defense Department
                -Consequences
                -Psychological warfare program
                      -Central Intelligence Agency [CIA], Richard M. Helms
                             -The President’s view
                -Defense Department
                      -Staff
                             -The President’s view
                             -Robert S. McNamara
                -Meeting with Kissinger
                      -B-52 deliveries
                -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                      -Trip to Southeast Asia
                -Bombing in North Vietnam
                      -Air Force performance
                             -The President’s view
                             -Responsibility
                      -Hanoi-Haiphong area
                             -Jurisdiction
                      -Targets
                -Discipline
                      -State Department
                      -Defense Department

                                      (rev. Dec-01)
                         -Air Force
                   -CIA
               -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
                   -Chiefs of Staff
                   -Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
                   -Ellsworth F. Bunker

     Instructions to Rose Mary Woods
           -Copies
                -Haig
                -Kissinger
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.

Chief, we need some tape.
Yes, sir.
I haven't kissed you in a day.
I am thoroughly disgusted with the way... ...you look at me.
I have thoroughly discussed the consistent failure to carry on orders that I have given.
Over the past three and a half years, particularly, the vast critical increase
He didn't use me, of course, to blame the bureaucracy for hurting him, but we always have a problem with bureaucracy.
responsibility to rise under the department's guard to see that when I give an order, it is carried out faithfully for that reason, or that I am told as quickly as it is found that it is not being carried out, that that is the case, why it has not been carried out.
I refer specifically to the fact that I have ordered on occasion after the occasion,
all that we have gotten from has gone into the runaround and sometimes delivered
I want it clearly understood that from now on, the moment that I have him, and that I even offer him, that I find another instance where there is such showing in support of the nation.
The man who will be held responsible in the present nation will be requested not to be the one to help him.
The performance of the psychological warfare field is nothing short of disgraceful.
The mountain has labored for seven weeks by introducing critters, not much more than a mile.
I may have some program now underway, but it totally lacks imagination.
And I have no confidence whatever bureaucracy will carry it out, period.
I do not simply blame Helms and the CIA, period.
After all, they do not support my policies, because they basically are all Georgetown-oriented, part of the most part, fighting the George, Georgetown Society-oriented.
On the other hand, the Pentagon deserves an even greater share of the blame, period.
After all, they are supposed to take orders from the commander-in-chief.
The trouble is that we left too many of the McNamara people around in a lot of places, and they are constantly sabotaging everything we're trying to do.
Finally, I told Henry today that I wanted more B-52s sent to Vietnam.
I want this order carried out regardless of how many heads have been rolled and carried out.
Even though the bomb load is smaller, until they are, until they can be remodeled, the psychological effect of having 100 more D-52s on the line will be enormous.
I eagerly expect this order to be carried out.
Or I want to see the head of the man.
Or I want the head of the man.
insult to all this injury is to have the military whine around to Aiken that they were not getting enough support from the commander-in-chief and giving him tirelessly the hit in North Vietnam.
I want you to convey directly to the Air Force that I am thoroughly discussing with their performance in North Vietnam.
Their refusal to fly unless the suit is four thousand feet or more is
I do not blame the fine Air Force pilots who do a fantastic job in so many other areas.
I do blame the commanders.
playing, quote, how not to lose, end quote.
So long, now can't bring themselves to start playing, quote, how to win, end quote.
Under the circumstances, I decided to take it.
The order will be given directly from a naval commander whom I will select.
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