Conversation: 458-010
Prev: 458-009 Next: 458-011Start Date: Thursday, February 25, 1971 10:05 PM
End Date: Thursday, February 25, 1971 10:43 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kennedy, David M.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; White House photographer; Yates, Nellie L.; Acker, Marjorie P.; Woods, Rose MaryRecording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:19:16
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:57:43
NARA Description:
On February 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, David M. Kennedy, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House photographer, Nellie L. Yates, Marjorie P. Acker, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:05 pm to 5:43 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 458-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 458-10
Date: February 25, 1971
Time: 5:05 pm - 5:43 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with David M. Kennedy and General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.;No.
Conv. the 458-9
White (cont.)
House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting
Greetings
-Introductions
Kennedy’s forthcoming trip to Vietnam
-Travel schedule
-Vietnam
-Indonesia
-Micronesia
An unknown woman [Nellie L. Yates] entered at an unknown time after 5:05 pm
-Length of flight
-Length of trip
The unknown woman [Yates] left at an unknown time before 5:43 pm
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Assistance
-Goals of trip
-Economic conditions
-Evaluation
-US officials
-South Vietnamese officials
-Vietnamese economic policy
-Post-withdrawal problems
-South Vietnamese domestic problems
-Economic policy
United States’ aid program to Vietnam
-General Nguyen Van Thieu
-Kennedy’s conversation with Thieu
-President’s policy
13
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Economic aid
-Military aid
-Importance of economic policy
-Compared to Korea
-Economics
-Evaluation
-Ability of South Vietnamese to manage their economy
-Different assessments
-Possible solutions
-US advisory group
-Kennedy
-President’s concern
-Post-withdrawal problems
-Goal of Kennedy’s trip
-Personnel evaluation
-South Vietnamese officials
-Bunker
-President’s fear
-South Vietnamese economy
-Communists
Kennedy’s trip to Vietnam
-Goals
-Haig’s view
-Location of expertise
-[Forename unknown] Cooper
-South Vietnamese officials
-Vietnamese election
-Thieu
-Possible effect of economic policy
-US aid
-State Department
-US goal
-Economic self-sufficiency
-Ability of South Vietnamese
-United States’ staff in Vietnam
-Economists
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Compared to Korea
-Henry J. Tasca
-Bert S. Cross
-Need for more economic knowledge
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-South Vietnamese
-Vietnam
-Corruption
-Vietnamese economy
-World Bank
-International Monetary Fund [IMF]
-Asian respect for age
-Bunker Conv. No. 458-10 (cont.)
-Possible US economic advisors
-Cross
-Robert C. Tyson
-Possible position
-Geneva Conference role
United States’ economic advice
-Business
-Expertise
-State Department
-Economic expertise
-Maurice H. Stans
-Commercial attaché
-State Department view
-President’s view
-Kennedy’s role
-William P. Rogers
-U. Alexis Johnson
-Importance of economics
-Foreign service
-President’s view
Kennedy’s forthcoming trip to Indonesia
-Commercial attaché
-Kennedy’s goals
-Evaluation
-American businessmen
Kennedy’s forthcoming trip to Micronesia
-Self government
-President’s view
-Kennedy’s forthcoming trip
-Hawaii
-President’s position
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Okinawa
-Haig’s view
-Xenophobia
-Size
-Guam
-Hawaii
-Relationship with United States
-Role of Peace Corps Conv. No. 458-10 (cont.)
-Kennedy speeches
-Future
-Welfare
-US aid
Kennedy’s forthcoming trip to Hong Kong
-Meeting with Chinese businessmen
-Harold Lee
-Kennedy
-Lee’s views
-Forthcoming cable from the President to Lee
-Background
-J. William Fulbright
Marjorie P. Acker entered at an unknown time after 5:05 pm
-Cable from the President
-Rose Mary Woods
-Meeting with Kennedy
-Lee’s views
-US-Chinese relationship
Acker left at an unknown time before 5:43 pm
-Trade
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Taiwan contacts
-Consul General
-Kennedy’s schedule
-Kennedy’s entourage
-Department of Treasury personnel
-Department of State personnel
-Economists
-Linden Johnson (American businessman)
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Possible meeting with Kennedy
Kennedy’s forthcoming trip to Far East
-Singapore
-Briefing
-Lee Kuan Yew
-President’s view
-Compared to Malaysia Conv. No. 458-10 (cont.)
-Kennedy’s meeting with Yew
-The President
-US-Singapore relations
-Military
-Kennedy’s conversations with foreign leaders
-Report to the President
-Confidentiality
-Reasons
-Military survey team
Kennedy’s possible trip to Thailand
-Kennedy’s conversation with Thai leaders
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 15s ]
THAILAND
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
-Possible state visit
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 16s ]
THAILAND Conv. No. 458-10 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
-Weather
-Bali (Indonesia)
Kennedy’s visit to Far East
-Need for relaxation
-Southeast Asian contacts
-L. Johnson
-H. Lee
-Hong Kong
Kennedy’s previous trip to Mexico
-Length of stay
Lockheed-Rolls Royce
-George R. S. Baring [Earl of Cromer]
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Kennedy’s involvement
-David Packard’s involvement
-Lockheed
-Latest reports
-Peter G. Peterson
-Kennedy’s involvement
-John B. Connally
-Schedule
Kennedy’s role
-Special assignments
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Forthcoming trip to Far East
-Conversations with foreign leaders
-Report to the President
-Messages
-Confidentiality
The President’s previous visit to Far East
-Japan Conv. No. 458-10 (cont.)
-Kennedy
Woods entered at an unknown time after 5:05 pm
Cable to L. Johnson
-Kennedy visit to Hong Kong
Woods left at an unknown time before 5:43 pm
Farewells
Kennedy and Haig left at 5:43 pm