Conversation: 456-024
Prev: 456-023 Next: 456-025Start Date: 23-Feb-1971 6:42 PM
End Date: 23-Feb-1971 7:18 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob");Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 05:25:45
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 05:56:41
NARA Description:
On February 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:42 pm to 7:18 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 456-024 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 456-24
Date: February 23, 1971
Time: 6:42 pm - 7:18 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger
Vietnam
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. visit
-Melvin R. Laird
-General Nguyen Van Thieu
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Purpose
-Military situation
-Purpose
-Kissinger’s conversation with John Sherman Cooper
-Democrats
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy, Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield, and J. William
Fulbright
-Administration response
-Troop withdrawal
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-General Do Cao Tri
-Successor
-Ellsworth F. Bunker’s message to Kissinger
-Laos Briefing
-E. Ross Adair
-Age
-Congressional service
-John B. Connally
-William P. Rogers
-John N. Mitchell
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 6:42 pm
The President’s schedule
-National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Timing
-Swearing-in ceremony
-Frank J. Shakespeare
-George H. W. Bush
-NSC meeting
Middle East
-Israeli/Arab talks
-Prospects
-Kissinger’s view
-Administration position
-Report to the President
-Middle East
-Laos
The President’s schedule
-NSC meeting
-Timing
State Department translator
-Lieutenant General Vernon A. Walters
-President’s view
-Possible position at White House
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 1s ]
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA Conv. No. 456-24 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
******************************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-William J. (“Jack”) Edwards
-William E. Timmons
-Public relations
-Administration policy on Vietnam
-Meetings with reporters
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr., [Arnold] Eric Sevareid, John A. Scali, and John W.
Chancellor
-NSC meeting
-Briefings by Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
-Vietnam
-Briefing by Joseph J. Sisco
-Middle East
-Briefing by Richard M. Helms
-Laos
-Attendance
-Bush
-Connally
-Mitchell
-The Vice President
-Undersecretaries
-David Packard
-General John W. Vogt, Jr.
-Moorer
Kissinger left at 7:02 pm
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 22s ]
Conv. No. 456-24 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
******************************************************************************
The President’s conversation with Kissinger
-Middle East
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National Security]
[Duration: 30s ]
MIDDLE EAST
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
******************************************************************************
-Kissinger
-Israel
-Rogers
-Workload
Kissinger
-Role in administration
-Foreign policy
-President’s position
-United States-Soviet Union relations
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-President’s role
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-The President’s role
-Workload
-Rogers
-Haldeman’s conversation with Rogers
-State Department leak
-Kissinger’s comments to press Conv. No. 456-24 (cont.)
-Gerard C. Smith
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] negotiations role
-President’s role
-Aleksei N. Kosygin
-Rogers
-Department of State
-Middle East
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[National Security]
[Duration: 46s ]
MIDDLE EAST
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
******************************************************************************
-Kissinger’s view
-Israel
-Compared to Vietnam
-Role
-Press briefings
-Meetings
-Middle East
-William L. Safire
-Laird
-Writing style
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Safire and Raymond K. Price, Jr.
Haldeman left at 7:18 pm