President Nixon met with Danish representative Torben Ronne and Henry Kissinger to discuss international security, specifically regarding the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and ongoing Vietnam War tensions. The discussion emphasized the need for a coordinated alliance position on arms control and regional stability, while Ronne expressed concerns regarding potential unilateral diplomatic recognition of Hanoi by other Scandinavian countries. Nixon reaffirmed the administration's commitment to consulting with Denmark on sensitive regional matters and acknowledged the Danish government's support regarding troop levels and foreign policy alignment.
On May 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Torben Ronne, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:43 am to 12:08 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 506-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 505-21/506-1
Date: May 28, 1971
Time: 11:43 am - 12:08 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Torben Ronne and Henry A. Kissinger.
[An unknown portion of the conversation was not recorded while the tape was changed]
People's Republic of China [PRC]
-US relations
-Soviet Union relations
-Relations with world
-PRC initiative
-US objectives
-World peace
-Travel
-Trade
Soviet Union
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Conversation between Danish Foreign Minister and Soviet Ambassador Semyon K.
Tsarapkin
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Tsarapkin
-Travel
-Norway
-Denmark
-Tsarapkin
-Leonid I. Brezhnev speech
-William P. Rogers
-Brezhnev speech
-US position
-NATO
-Vietnam
-Ronne's appreciation
-Troop levels
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
The Vietnam War
-US politics
-Compared to Great Britain
-US involvement
-Denmark
******************************************************************************
Conv. No. 505-21/506-1 (cont.)
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 3m 17s ]
DENMARK
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
US-Denmark relations
Presentation of gifts by the President
-Cuff links
President’s greetings to the Danish Prime Minister
Invitation
July 4th
Ronne and Kissinger left at 12:08 pm.
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.