Conversation: 504-013
Prev:  504-012 Next: 504-014Start Date: 27-May-1971 2:42 PM
End Date: 27-May-1971 4:26 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Rogers, William P.; Bull, Stephen B.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:10:32
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 04:31:22
NARA Description:
On May 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, William P. Rogers, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:42 pm to 4:26 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 504-013 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 504-13 Date: May 27, 1971 Time: 2:42 pm - 4:26 pm Location: Oval Office The President met with Henry A. Kissinger. Unknown person's letter to Time magazine -Tone -North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] -Democrat -NATO -Letter William P. Rogers entered at an unknown time after 2:42 pm. Lunch 30 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Food -Refreshments People's Republic of China [PRC] Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR] -Forthcoming NATO meeting -Melvin R. Laird -Rogers attendance Conv. No. 504-11 (cont.) -European Security Council -Negotiations -Reductions -Strategy -Germans -European Security conference -Berlin issue -Willy Brandt's comments on May 26, 1971 -Andrew J. Goodpaster -Defense Department -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] -Negotiations -Laird -Limited, mutual reduction -Tanks -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield -Amendment -Mutual balance -Final agreement -Prospects -Type of reduction agreement -10% Reduction -Troops -Effect on the US -Manpower -Tanks -Symbolism -Congressional support for administration position -Europeans -German Desires -US strategy -Pace -Limited initial goals 31 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Final balanced force division -Complexity -Europeans -10% Reduction -Progress of negotiations -Prospects -Role of the US -Timing Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Force reductions -10% -USSR -Estimation of their response to force reductions -Studies -NATO Council -Kissinger’s conversation with unknown person -NATO Council -NATO Allies -Consultation Albanian resolution -US position -Possible failure -United Nations [UN] vote -Important question -Admission of PRC -Expulsion of Taiwan -Prospect of passing -PRC admitted, Taiwan expelled -UN Security Council -Possible advantages of supporting ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 [National Security] [Duration: 30s ] CHINA 32 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1 ****************************************************************************** -Possible political consequences for President -Young people -Dual representation Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 [National Security] [Duration: 13s ] CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5 ****************************************************************************** -US allies -Taiwan -Possible UN resolution -PRC -Admission by majority vote -Taiwan -Expulsion by two-thirds vote -Prospects for success -Seat in the Security Council -PRC -UN General Assembly -Taiwan and PRC in the UN -Issue of Security Council Seat -US veto -Credentials issue -PRC -Taiwan seat -US discussion with her allies 33 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Speech -Prospects -UN ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) [National Security] [Duration: 1m ] CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6 ****************************************************************************** -Future course of US policy -PRC -Seat in the UN -SALT -USSR -Effect on USSR in the UN [Unintelligible] -PRC initiative -Ping pong diplomacy -Possible reaction of US public -PRC seated in the UN -Peace in Middle East -US relations with USSR -Berlin -Mutual balance of forces -Vietnam -Possible public reaction -Middle East -China -USSR 34 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Two Chinas in the UN -Foreign policy leadership -Liberals -PRC -Seat in the UN -Expulsion of Taiwan -China lobby -Chiang Kai-shek Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Lack of principle -Intellectuals -1972 election -Democrats -Taiwan -PRC -Two Chinas -Dual UN representation ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 [National Security] [Duration: 46s ] CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7 ****************************************************************************** -1970 UN resolution on PRC -Supporting votes -Abstentions -PRC -Inclusion in UN -Dual representation -Seat in the Security Council -UN vote 35 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 [National Security] [Duration: 1m 42s ] Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8 ****************************************************************************** -US relations with Taiwan Rogers’ forthcoming trip -Duration -Instructions for Rogers -US examination of position ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 [National Security] [Duration: 7s ] CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9 ****************************************************************************** -Need for time 36 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 [National Security] [Duration: 25s ] CHINA Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10 ****************************************************************************** -Change in US policy on PRC -Hardliners in Congress and in the press -China lobby -Exploration of allied views -Options -Press conference Two Chinas issue -US policy -Temporary delay -Chiang Kai-shek -President's decision -News story -US private discussions on PRC -Speech -British -French -American Bar Association [ABA] [?] -Role for Rogers -Possible speech [Unintelligible] -Great Britain -Chiang Kai-shek -US approach to other nations -Possible approaches to be used 37 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Possible phrasing of proposal -How diplomats will respond -Delay -Possible consequences -Chiang Kai-shek -Delay -Role for Rogers -Announcement Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Rogers’ view ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11 [National Security] [Duration: 18s ] CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11 ****************************************************************************** -Principle -PRC ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 [National Security] [Duration: 25s ] CHINA END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12 38 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** -ABA [?] -Timing -Jacob K. Javits’ and George S. McGovern's resolution -Forthcoming hearings -NATO meeting -Laird Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -USSR -Australia -Summary of Rogers’ instructions -Timing -Possibility of President making a speech -Senate -ABA -Television Europe -Franklin D. [?] Roosevelt -US domestic support -Reduction of forces -Need for unity -UN -NATO [Unintelligible] Dr. David K.E. Bruce's replacement -Henry Cabot Lodge -Leonard Unger -Walter P. McConaughy -Foreign Service officers -Public officials -Vietnam negotiations -Prisoners of war [POWs] -[Names unintelligible] -[Forename unknown] Colmer [?] -Unger -Knowledge of Vietnam -Bruce's view of his job -Colmer [?] -Laird 39 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Charles Nelson [?] UN appointment -George H.W. Bush -Unknown candidate -Rogers’ choice Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) ********************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 [National Security] [Duration: 33s ] MEXICO END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2 ********************************************************************** -Manlio Brosio -Medal of Freedom -Austrians -Kurt Waldheim -Austria -Ceylon -Africa -South Africa -John A. Volpe -USSR -U Thant 40 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 [National Security] [Duration: 31s ] MEXICO Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13 ****************************************************************************** Rogers’ upcoming trip -Drugs -Department of Health, Education, and Welfare [HEW] Rogers left at 4:09 pm. PRC -Rogers’ views -Delay -Tactics -Delay Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:09 pm. President's schedule -Meeting with John D. Ehrlichman and Egil G. (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr. in 10 minutes Bull left at an unknown time before 4:26 pm. PRC -State Department -Strategy -Lack of position -Press conference -Rogers -Marshall Green's advice -Two Chinas -Principle 41 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Selfishness -Kissinger’s view -Delay -Two China position -Kissinger's visit to PRC -Universality -Possible votes in UN -PRC accepted by majority Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Taiwan expelled by 2/3 vote -Domestic concerns -Polls -Possible announcements -President -Tactics -Credit Europe -MBFR -Reductions -US position ****************************************************************************** BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 [National Security] [Duration: 11s ] ITALY END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3 ****************************************************************************** -Russians -NATO Leadership -John Foster Dulles style of diplomacy -Jeremiah 42 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Charles A.J.M. De Gaulle -Seventeen Nation Disarmament Conference -Nixon -Intellectual Opinion -Douglas [?] Dillon's comments to Kissinger -President’s Vietnam policy -Kissinger's views -Soft-line Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Intellectuals -Position on Nixon in 1972 -Influence -Senators MBFR -Vienna -Strategy -Reduction of forces -Summit -European alliance -Rogers -Advisors -Tactics -Competence PRC -Rogers trip -Duration -Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan -Message -Date of delivery to PRC -Laird -Pakistani Ambassador -Kissinger's wire to Karachi -Laird -US Ambassador -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer -Code -Alexander M. Haig, Jr. -Moorer -Messages -Speed 43 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Yahya in Lahore -Message to PRC -Date of reply -Chances of a reply -Presidential visit -Possible visit of a public emissary -PRC -Revolutionaries Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Mao Tse Tung -Great March -Visit by the President Russians -Leonid I. Brezhnev -Kissinger's conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin on May 27, 1971 -Trade deal -$500 Million -Possible Summit meeting -Russian strategy -President's eagerness -Berlin -Trade -Summit -US desire for a Summit -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] -Vladimir S. Semenov -Announcement -Kissinger's conversation with Dobrynin -Antiballistic Missiles [ABM] -President's foreign policy style -Possible talking points -Summit -Date -Trade -Berlin -Russians need for a Summit -Kissinger's letters to Russians -Possible response of Llewellyn E. (“Tommy”) Thompson, Jr. -Berlin -Kissinger's cable to [David] Kenneth Rush -Delay -US strategy 44 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Pace of events -Summit PRC -Kissinger’s planned trip ****************************************************************************** Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 [National Security] [Duration: 1m 5s ] TAIWAN END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4 ****************************************************************************** Mansfield Amendment -Meeting in Cabinet Room, May 13, 1971 -John J. McCloy's comments -Time magazine -Dean G. Acheson -Time magazine -Cyrus R. Vance Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:09 pm. President's schedule -John D. Ehrlichman Bull left at an unknown time before 4:26 pm. US politics -Vance -Democrats -Vance -Secretary of State 45 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 9/08) -Edmund S. Muskie -Democrats -May 13 meeting -Hugh Scott -Meeting of the Arts Council -Support for the President -May 13 meeting -Gratitude to Kissinger Conv. No. 504-13 (cont.) -Statements attributed to Acheson and McCloy -Gen. Lauris Norstad -Vance -Clark M. Clifford -Norstad -Tour of duty with NATO Kissinger left at 4:26 pm.