President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the political fallout regarding Jewish leaders' pressure on U.S.-Soviet relations, specifically concerning the potential cancellation of an upcoming summit. Nixon expresses extreme frustration with the influence of Jewish groups and the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, vowing to publicly blame American Jewish leaders if their advocacy causes the summit to collapse. Both participants agree that the administration must prioritize American national interests over these specific lobbying efforts, even at the risk of inciting antisemitic sentiment.
On April 19, 1973, Henry A. Kissinger and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 2:05 pm to 2:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 038-114 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 38-114 Date: April 19, 1973 Time: 2:05 pm -2:08 pm Location: White House Telephone Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President. [See also Conversation No. 429-12] Jewish leaders’ meeting with President -Soviet Jewry -Compared with Congress members’ meeting -Leonard Garment -US – Soviet summit Cancellation Jewish Americans -Blame -Publicity -United States negotiations with Soviet Union -66- NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM (rev. January-2011) Conversation No. 38-114 (cont’d) -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson amendment [Jackson-Vanik Amendment] [?] -Soviet summit -Cancellation -Jewish Americans -Blame -Publicity -Anti-Semitism
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