President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to review a wide range of sensitive foreign policy issues, including diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China, the ongoing Vietnam peace settlement, and negotiations with the Soviet Union. The discussion centered on the status of American prisoners of war, economic aid, and the strategic management of international trade and nuclear treaty talks. Additionally, they addressed domestic political concerns, such as the impact of the Mansfield Amendment on their foreign policy agenda.
On March 15, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:39 am to 10:55 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 416-035 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 416-35
Date: March 15, 1973
Time: 10:39 am-10:55 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Top experts
-John H. Holdridge
-Language abilities
-Trips to PRC
Dollar crisis
-George P. Shultz
-Instructions from President
-Europe
-Intervention
John T. Downey
-Captivity in PRC
-Two Americans on mission
-Questions
-Whereabouts
Vietnam settlement
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Escapees, absent without leave [AWOL]
-Asylum
-43-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Mar.-09)
-Condition after release
-US note to North Vietnam
-Quality
-North Vietnam’s acceptance
-Economic aid
-South Koreans
-Military equipment to South Vietnam
Laos
-Souvanna Phouma
-Harry F. Byrd, Jr.
-Clifton Daniel
-Most Favored Nation [MFN] status [?]
Mansfield Amendment
-Democratic caucus
-Vote
-Impact on foreign policy
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy [?]
Message for President
-Arrival
-Press conference
Meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev
-News summary
-Negotiations
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Meeting with President
Willy Brandt visit
-Date
Nuclear Treaty
-Kissinger’s conversation with Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s letters
-Soviet Union’s responses
-Soviet Union
-Relations with North Vietnam
-President’s letter to Brezhnev
-44-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Mar.-09)
[Pause]
Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan’s conversation with Indira Gandhi
-Restraint
Kissinger left at 10:55 amThis 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.