President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations, focusing on strategies for communicating with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu and managing domestic press relations. The participants evaluated potential candidates for an emissary to Thieu, including John Connally, to deliver a firm message regarding the settlement agreement. Additionally, they reviewed the timing of the troop withdrawal plans and the political impact of the peace terms ahead of the 1972 election.
On November 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Thomas A. Pappas met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:04 pm to 12:16 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 390-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 390-1
Date: November 2, 1972
Time: 12:04 pm- 12:16 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Vietnam Negotiations
-Press relations
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
-Kissinger’s possible backgrounder
-Ronald Ziegler’s view
-Procedure
-Quotations
-Emissary to Nguyen Van Thieu
-Candidates
-John B. Connally
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-Ability to take instructions
-Hawkishness
-Democratic affiliation
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Letter Delivery
-Melvin R. Laird
-Toughness
Thomas A. Pappas talked with the President between 12:07 pm and 12:09 pm.
[Conversation No. 390-1A]
[See Conversation No. 32-148]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam negotiations
-2-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 390-1 (cont’d)
-Connally as emissary to Thieu
-Trip timing
-Haig
-Letter delivery
-North Vietnamese talks with Kissinger
-Message to Theiu
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Public statements about the President
-Trust, confidence
-Possible formal protest
-Bunker
-Choice
-Haig’s role
-Settlement agreement
-Letter delivery
-Timing
-Connally as US emissary to Thieu
-Trip
-Ultimatum
-Announcement
-Leak
-Xuan Thuy statement
-“Message to Garcia”
-Xuan Thuy statement
-Settlement agreement
-Timing
-1972 election
-Announcement
-US bombing
-Effect
-Timing
-Northern South Vietnam
-North Vietnamese
-1972 election
-Thieu's stance
-Rationale
-South Vietnam’s viability
-Population, geography
-Vietcong [VC]
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 390-1 (cont’d)
-North Vietnamese forces
-Troop withdrawals
-Antiaircraft units
-Number of divisions
-325th and 711th divisions
-Announcement
-Timing
-Settlement agreement
-Size of force in South Vietnam
-Reinforcements
-Laos, Cambodia
-Thieu
-Thieu
-US option
-Last conversation with Kissinger
-Tone
-Public support in South Vietnam
-Press and media coverage
-Peace terms
-Publication
-Timing
-New York Times, Washington Post
-Kissinger’s forthcoming backgrounder
-The President’s May 8, 1972 proposals
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Statement
-Possible telephone call from Kissinger
-Statement
-News summary
-The President’s appreciation for bipartisanship
-Prospects for success in 1968 or 1969 compared to 1972
-1972 election
-Possible victory margin
-Opponents’ complaints
-Peace terms
-Quality
-Polls
The President’s schedule
-Kissinger’s schedule
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
(rev. Mar.-08)
Conversation No. 390-1 (cont’d)
-Health
-Trip to California
-Campaign trips
-Duration
-California
-North Carolina
-New Mexico
-Chicago
-Oklahoma City
-Ziegler's statement
-Vietnam
Kissinger left at 12:16 p.m.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.