President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Alexander Haig met to discuss the volatile diplomatic landscape of the Middle East, focusing specifically on Israeli concerns regarding potential border adjustments and U.S. policy. The participants examined the implications of a return to 1967 borders, the role of the Soviet Union in the region, and the necessity of maintaining military support for Israel. The discussion concluded with a consensus on the need to consult Joseph Sisco to better align future U.S. policy options ahead of a scheduled meeting with Secretary of State William Rogers.
On February 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:44 pm to 2:55 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 460-019 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 460-19
Date: February 26, 1971
Time: 2:44 pm - 2:55 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger and General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
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[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-020. Segment partially declassified with 16m23s cleared for release and
25s remains exempt as 460-019-w001 per Executive Order 13526, 3.3(b)(1)(6) on 10/17/2018.
Archivist: MM]
[460-019-w001]
[Duration: 16m 23s]
Alexander M. Haig Jr.’s attendance
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[460-019-w001]
[Duration: 25s]
MIDDLE EAST
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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Middle East
-Reports to the President
-February 26, 1971
-Yitzhak Rabin
-Israeli government
-Israeli attitude toward Joseph J. Sisco
-Israel
-Boundaries
-Security Council
-Effect on US policy
-Possible outcome
-US position
-Arabs
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-US policy
-Henry A. Kissinger’s view
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Israeli response
-Inaccurate reports
-Israeli frontiers
-US support
-1967 borders
-Henry A. Kissinger’s memorandum
-Israeli communication with Egypt [?]
-William P. Rogers
-1967 borders
-US position on borders
-Israeli position on borders
-Egypt
-Henry A. Kissinger’s opinion
-Jordan
-The President’s letter
-US position
-Israeli position
-Security Council
-Potential outcomes
-US actions
-Arms
-Arab actions
-Israeli actions
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics’ [USSR] intervention
-Henry A. Kissinger’s view
-Possible solutions
-Jordan borders
-1967 borders
-Egypt
-US support for Israel
-The President’s position
-Yitzhak Rabin [?]
-Israeli action
-Cease-fire
-Arabs
-Henry A. Kissinger’s view
-Provocation
-1970 and 1972 elections
-US support
-Military arms
-Congress
-Henry A. Kissinger’s conversations with Yitzhak Rabin
-Israel
-Israeli position on borders
-1967 borders
-US support
-The President’s view
-Need for Joseph J. Sisco's view
-Future US policy options
-Melvin R. Laird
-William P. Rogers
-George H. W. Bush
-William P. Rogers’ forthcoming meeting with the President
-Joseph J. Sisco
-US position with Israel
-The President’s position
-Continued Israeli support for cease-fire
-Israeli reaction to Egyptian reply
-Joseph J. Sisco
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 2:44 pm
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The President, et al. left at 2:55 pmNo transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.