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Conversation 421-019

TapeTape 421StartWednesday, March 21, 1973 at 6:01 PMEndWednesday, March 21, 1973 at 6:05 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.)Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and General Brent Scowcroft discussed potential military responses to North Vietnamese infiltration and supply efforts in violation of existing agreements. The conversation focused on the strategic timing for resuming bombing campaigns, weighing the value of current military action against the ongoing status of American prisoners of war. Nixon and Scowcroft evaluated whether a limited, signal-based bombing campaign would effectively establish a foundation for future military escalation should North Vietnamese provocations continue.

Vietnam WarMilitary StrategyPrisoners of WarNorth Vietnam InfiltrationBombing Policy
AudioNARA Description

On March 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:01 pm and 6:05 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 421-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 421-19

Date: March 21, 1973
Time: Unknown between 6:01 pm and 6:05 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft.

       Vietnam
            -US military actions
                 -Prisoners of war [POWs]
                 -Nguyen Van Thieu
            -North Vietnam infiltration
                 -Resupply efforts
                 -Press conference [?]
                                               -15-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. Mar.-09)
                                                         Conversation No. 421-19 (cont’d)

                  -New York Times report [?]
             -Resumption of bombing
                  -Alternatives
                  -Military value
                  -Henry A. Kissinger

The President and Scowcroft left at 6:05 pm.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hi.
You know, I'm not sure.
They're talking about what they're going to do to the police.
We're better off doing it now rather than then.
We'll make a much clearer case when we still have P.O.W.s.
And then after the Q has come, what I'd like to see would be judged.
And there certainly is not going to be any clear case
The bulk of the evidence indicates that they don't know off on their reason why it does this internet with no reason at all.
The pattern is just about the pattern of the previous year.
Very heavy.
Now the answer to this is yes.
the momentum of the provocation, which would probably be to press conferences.
I'm not sure it's so much between now and two or three weeks as it is between, if it's a case of now or never.
The question is whether now is the correct answer.
That's right.
Well, it's not clear.
It certainly has no answer.
It gives a slight signal.
We do it for a few days, and we stop.
So then if they don't stop, there is a foundation.
Thank you.
No, I don't.
I don't feel as though.
They were able to go on and we wanted some kind of performance.
That's right, then we're almost
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