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Conversation 499-010

TapeTape 499StartFriday, May 14, 1971 at 10:00 AMEndFriday, May 14, 1971 at 10:05 AMTape start time00:47:53Tape end time00:53:23ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to refine the wording and timing of a forthcoming public announcement regarding ongoing negotiations. The discussion also addressed the shifting geopolitical climate surrounding the Vietnam War, specifically analyzing confusing signals from Soviet and Chinese diplomatic channels regarding prisoner exchanges and potential military offensives. Furthermore, Nixon touched upon recent discussions regarding U.S. troop levels in Europe, expressing disdain for the perspectives of various establishment figures and reinforcing his intent to maintain firm control over foreign policy strategy.

Vietnam WarPublic RelationsSoviet-U.S. RelationsU.S. Troop LevelsPrisoners of WarForeign Policy Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On May 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:00 am to 10:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 499-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 499-10

Date: May 14, 1971
Time: 10:00 am - 10:05 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
          -Meeting with Kissinger

     Forthcoming Statement
          -Wording
                -Importance
          -Timing
          -Kissinger's conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, May 14, 1971

     Vietnam
          -Prisoners
          -Press reports regarding People's Republic of China [PRC] and North Vietnam
                -Chicago paper
          -Soviet press reports
                -Le Duan
          -Prisoners

     US troops in Europe
          -President's previous meeting
                -Dean G. Acheson's comments to press
                -Attendees
                -Acheson
                -Gen. Lauris Norstad
                -John J. Mccloy
          -President's conversation with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                -Edmund S. Muskie
                -Hubert H. Humphrey
          -William P. Rogers' call to Kissinger

The President and Kissinger left at 10:05 am.
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.

I'll tell you what I had in mind.
I wonder if they... Our best bet is not to take that this year, how does that sound?
It's one that doesn't put a...
It of course makes a better announcement for us now.
But in terms of the control of the game, it's like giving ourselves a deadline, which we may not be able to fulfill due to what they do.
The way it's written now, Mr. President.
Well, I mean in the public statement it says this year.
No, but we've moved it.
It says this year, but it's moved.
It now qualifies for different...
Yes, it only says we will concentrate this year on working out an agreement, not that we will work out an agreement this year.
The public statement now says the two governments have agreed to concentrate this year on working out an agreement, not on working out an agreement.
Now, the whole thing is that I think you should...
have a talk.
I mean, the position of this thing is very important.
And I'll figure out a way to do this.
But I think that we will now.
You'll go ahead at 13 o'clock.
I just talked to again.
It's all set.
Now, Sandy.
We'll get the official confirmation on Monday.
But he says there's no problem.
Well, they better not be.
He just has to be... You know, it's a curious thing about them taking those prisoners back.
That's a curious little... And the Chinese, you notice, they... Did you notice the Chinese gave them a...
Sorry, out of a Chicago paper that the Chinese told them, told the North Vietnamese they couldn't support the total victory or something like that.
See, but there's something funny going on.
For example, the Russians said...
That one was there that was completely anonymity of use.
Now, that they never said before that if they were buying a military offensive they couldn't be sending that because why would the Russians want to see?
It might be that they're going to make us the peace officer then.
So what do we get in terms of the... Something funny is going on because they don't spend four weeks
But in the end, that's accepting those prisoners back.
It's difficult.
Accepting the prisoners, spending a long time.
What do we do?
Oh, that's a great question.
He says, I asked him, do you all agree by the year he said?
He said, if you agree by the year, you take an hour and a half.
You know, really, I looked around and I thought, what a bunch of farts.
You know, most of them.
They're only good with patches of the dust behind the bumps.
You know, like a rock.
No, it's all right, but none of that is as good.
You'll be in a separate sort of a bench.
And of course, right, we used to be madly in love.
But I just thought, that's what it is to me.
But nevertheless, we have played our game.
And I've just told all of them that they are getting musty, and I'll bring them to the spot.
Now that they said they were, I told them to learn.
And I'll let both of them learn.
They just can't do this on their own.
But I'm going to let them learn.
I will drive this boat, and there'll be a chance they're going to see.
But in the meantime, we've got our position in this, so there's much to be done.
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