← 417-016417-018 →

Conversation 417-017

TapeTape 417StartWednesday, March 7, 1973 at 12:24 PMEndWednesday, March 7, 1973 at 2:31 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the strategic signaling of the administration's foreign policy following a meeting with German Ambassador Rolf Pauls. They evaluated the diplomatic necessity of pressing Chancellor Willy Brandt to ensure consistency between his private and public stances. Additionally, the President authorized an intensified aerial bombing campaign in Cambodia, insisting that strikes must be operationally significant rather than targeting minor assets like individual trucks.

Foreign PolicyDiplomacyRolf PaulsWilly BrandtCambodiaAerial BombingMilitary Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On March 7, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:24 pm and 2:31 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 417-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 417-17

Date: March 7, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:24 pm and 2:31 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.

       Foreign relations
              -President's meeting with Rolf Pauls
                      -Willy Brandt
                      -Public compared with private meetings
                             -Historical record

       Cambodia
            -Potential bombing strike
                   -Timing
                   -Targets
                          -Ho Chi Minh Trail [?]
                          -F-105 Airplane
                                  -Truck
                   -Cessation [?]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
I hope I wasn't too up with our good friend Paul's.
I was watching you out of the corner of my eye.
Well, it wasn't that they're talking to me, but I just thought we ought to just let a shot across the bow there.
What do you think?
And did it get off to him?
But of course, he probably disagreed with Brown for it.
Right?
But that's letting these people know that they can't have it both ways.
And you, you, you know, you often said that.
I don't.
He'll get that back to bottom.
Now on this other thing, the strike that you're going through, we're going to try to plan that for the weekend.
But let's be damn sure now that we really get something here.
Now you don't want to fly a lot of stuff over there right now.
That's good.
But let's step it up.
I mean, I see no reason not to really whack the hell out of them.
I can't believe it.
On the trail, I understand.
But if they're continuing to .
But if there's not, you know, this trail, remember, you're probably about to use a F-105 to hit one truck.
None of that crap.
Okay, we'll look it up.
← 417-016417-018 →