Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 501-003
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 1971 at 8:55 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/501-003

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] No problem.
[0:18] Just what he wanted.
[0:19] More than he had to treat.
[0:20] You know, he's been taking around that some sentences from drafting, he
[0:25] He would say, instead of saying they will agree to agree, he should just say, we should just say they will agree.
[0:32] Of course.
[0:34] We try.
[0:34] But whether you say they'll agree, they have agreed to agree, or simply say they will agree, that's just a more elegant way of putting it.
[0:47] That's all right.
[0:48] You know very well.
[0:53] I know her feelings.
[0:53] We should dress in a much simpler way.
[0:54] I know we're not getting this much
[0:55] Oh, yeah.
[1:04] Oh, that's no problem.
[1:07] I went through the negotiating history with him, and he said, oh, yeah, they gave you, made you a March proposal.
[1:18] I said, yeah.
[1:22] That's what he wants to know.
[1:24] Are they here today?
[1:33] Yes.
[1:41] Well, he'll do what we tell him.
[1:42] But they're no hurt feelings, whatever.
[1:48] Of course, he raises a thousand details.
[1:50] What does this include?
[1:51] Does it this?
[1:52] Does it that?
[1:53] And I just told him that's what we got you there for, to negotiate, but it doesn't include murder.
[2:17] The question is, will it rework out, can it rework out, and so forth and so on.
[2:19] Why does it rework out?
[2:19] It's all in the letter.
[2:20] Well, we don't have to say, I'll get it out in the background, because somebody will ask me about the freeze, and I'll
[2:24] I'll, uh, I'm making an effort to shorten the, uh, the statement which we drafted for you, just for your consideration.
[2:40] Uh, you didn't, I, I was, I won't be able to look at it because it's going to run across the day at 11.05, and I return it at 11.05.
[2:50] I think development is a better word.
[3:12] I'll use the word breakthrough.
[3:15] You should say breakthrough.
[3:18] I would read this statement and I would say this statement to both sides.
[3:41] I should just put one other sentence at the end of the sentence.
[3:49] You see what I mean?
[4:17] Absolutely, Mr. President, unless you say...
[4:30] It's a lot to be said for that, Mr. President, because this thing can still go south.
[4:35] It can still go south.
[4:38] I mean, the agreement can't go south.
[4:39] I mean, the announcement can't go south.
[4:43] In my view, I have a significant involvement.
[4:44] I said that this
[4:46] You might say that we're going this way.
[5:08] I'm sorry.
[5:08] I initiated discussions.
[5:09] They would not like that, but I initiated the discussion.
[5:11] Oh, yeah.
[5:11] Oh, no.
[5:11] No, I wouldn't say it.
[5:12] I would just take character.
[5:12] You can add.
[5:13] I'll say this in background, Mr. President, rather than you don't.
[5:14] Everything you say will be in background in this meeting.
[5:16] No, that's the way I'll handle Humphrey.
[5:31] I think I should say that I have negotiations with the leaders of the Soviet Union.
[5:42] Maybe I should distinguish my role from the assault role and see my client.
[5:46] You think so, or not?
[5:49] I would say not, because we'll get it, we'll get all of that out.
[5:57] But you can say, I, uh, no, you can say some months ago I initiated...
[6:09] Some months ago, I...
[6:11] I...
[6:13] Who took the first step?
[6:17] Now I can get it out.
[6:18] As long as you don't say it.
[6:20] I won't say it.
[6:22] But let me make a draft statement which is very brief, understand?
[6:36] Come to the sentence at the beginning and then read the statement and walk out.
[6:38] That's what I'm saying.
[6:39] But that, in many ways, would be the most impressive, Mr. President.
[6:41] All right.
[6:41] Yes, gentlemen.
[6:41] I have this.
[6:42] I have this.
[6:42] And then I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:43] I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:44] I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:45] I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:45] I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:46] I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:47] I don't think I would publish it at all.
[6:48] It's the most impressive, Mr. President, because you have a good story, and we can do all of it at once.
[7:15] Thank you.
[7:18] We don't have to settle in.
[7:40] I'll get in touch.
[7:40] It's a very long time.
[7:41] I'll settle in in four or three years.
[7:41] Say, look, we haven't told other people here.
[7:42] It's a question of whether he wants to have this deal.
[7:43] It's important that it's not with Russia.
[7:44] The other thing is, the other thing is, it's important to know that people are important, but not to be with Russia.
[7:49] We've got to be sure they don't wrap around us.
[8:05] I think they should get Buckley and get Wilson.
[8:06] And tell them it's very important to write the most important people.
[8:08] Mr. Benjamin, what I would like to do all of a sudden tomorrow for 15 minutes is to get the verification panel in the head of all the people.
[8:11] And if you could talk to them for five minutes, I'll do that.
[8:15] I agree.
[8:26] Because they're going to be the ones not to do the briefing, but they'll be called by the director of the state.
[8:29] I agree with that.
[8:29] We'll do all that.
[8:29] I'm sorry.