Conversation: 520-004
Prev: 520-003 Next: 520-005Start Date: 15-Jun-1971 10:39 AM
End Date: 15-Jun-1971 10:59 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.;Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:47:08
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 01:06:39
NARA Description:
On June 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:39 am to 10:59 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 520-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 520-4
Date: June 15, 1971
Time: 10:39 am - 10:59 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger
Meeting with Willy Brandt
-Kissinger’s attendance
-Photo session
-Egon Bahr
-Brandt
-President’s view
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-German politics
-Ostpolitik
-Berlin
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Kissinger’s schedule
-Meeting with Arthur K. Watson
-Telegram sent through State Department
-Georges J. R. Pompidou to President
-Algeria
-Export-Import Bank
-Leak
Conv. No. 520-4 (cont.)
Watson
-Invitation to Brandt dinner
-Attendance
Vietnam
-Troop levels
-Kissinger role
-Other negotiations
-Financial arrangements
-Possibilities
Kissinger lunch with John B. Connally
-Updating of Connally knowledge of negotiations
-Connally knowledge versus John N. Mitchell knowledge
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Vietnam
-Leak of documents
-William A. K. (“Tony”) Lake defense
-Berlin negotiations with Soviet Union
-Vietnam talks
-Use of “Separate Channels”
-US-Soviet talks
-Chances of agreements
-Movement in negotiations
-Reason for secrecy
-Knowledge of US actions by officials
-William P. Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird
-Mitchell
-Effect of Departments of State and Defense bureaucracies
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
George S. McGovern-Mark O. Hatfield amendment
-Hugh Scott
-Kissinger’s talk with unknown representative
-Gerald R. Ford role
-Ford conversation with President
-US position
-Milton R. Young
-Narcotics Conv. No. 520-4 (cont.)
-Role of military service
-Change of context
-Kissinger’s meeting with Henry Hubbard
-Articles
-Public position of administration
-Effect of passage of McGovern-Hatfield amendment
-Destruction of negotiations
New York Times disclosures (Pentagon Papers)
-Mitchell
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Substance of articles
-Defense of governmental process
-New York Times role
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 10:47 am
-Attorney General role
-President’s action on assuming the Presidency
-Assessment of policy
-Substance of article
-Role of previous administrations
-Injunction from Justice Department
-Rationale
-Enforcement of law
-Disclosure of classified material
-Procedures
-Legal requirements
-Prosecution of guilty
-Responsibilities of administration
-Flexibility of position
-New York Times response
-Administration response
-Legal process of declassification
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Violation of declassification procedures
-Necessary procedures
-President’s non-involvement in “family quarrel”
-Responsibilities of administration
-Penalties for administration disclosures
-Max Frankel
Ziegler left at 10:54 am Conv. No. 520-4 (cont.)
Kissinger-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin meeting
-Advantages
-Relation to upcoming PRC trip
-Noncommittal acceptance of proffered document
-Soviet desire for summit
-Timing of response
New York Times situation
-Mitchell
-Injunction
-President’s approval
-Rationale
Vietnam negotiations
-President’s meeting with Republican Congressional leaders
-Peter H. Dominick
-Questions
-Coalition government
-”Back channel” negotiations
-Results of nonsupport of President
-Handling Congress
-Effect of New York Times situation during election
-Security of files
-Laird role
-Rogers
-Cabinet leaks
-Campaign problems
-Congressional attitudes
-Kissinger
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Reminder of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-PRC trip
-Packaging
12
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Soviet Union
-SALT
Kissinger left at 10:59 am
Conv. No. 520-4 (cont.)