Conversation: 549-025
Prev: 549-024 Next: 549-026Start Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1971 7:05 PM
End Date: Wednesday, July 28, 1971 8:54 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Agnew, Spiro T. (Vice President); Rogers, William P.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Scali, John A.; Sanchez, Manolo; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Farlans, Joseph S.; White House photographer; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 03:56:00
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 05:44:24
NARA Description:
On July 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, John A. Scali, Manolo Sanchez, Ronald L. Ziegler, Joseph S. Farlans, White House photographer, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:05 pm to 4:54 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 549-025 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 549-25
Date: July 28, 1971
Time: 3:05 pm - 4:54 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Spiro T. Agnew, William P. Rogers, and Henry A. Kissinger.
The President's schedule
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Congressional ceremony
-Speakers
-Photographs of meeting
Agnew's Trip
-Portugal
-Reports
-Rogers, Kissinger
-Perceptions
-Saudi Arabia
-The press
-Time magazine
-The President's conversation with Kissinger
-Walter Cronkite
-Press coverage
-Time, Newsweek
-Comparison with daily news reports
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Kenyan Ambassador to the US
-Ambassador from Kenya
-Letter to Newsweek
-Compared to the president’s experiences
-Conversations with foreign leaders
-Reactions
-Eisaku Sato
-Lee Kuan Yew
-Bombay, India
-Governor
-University President
-Sese Seko Mobutu
-Jomo Kenyatta
-Ethiopia
-Monarchy
-The Pentagon Papers case
-Foreign reaction
-Ethiopia
-Nairobi
-Perception of the press
-Portugal
-Lee Kuan Yew
-US Ambassador
-Kuwait
-John P. Walsh
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Comments to the press
-Conversation with Agnew
-Ireland
-Saudi Arabia
-Nicholas Thacher
-Promotion
-Compared to the President’s previous Vice Presidential trip
-[Forename unknown] Vance Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Thacher
-Robert C. Hill
-William J. Porter
-Charles T. Cross
-Singapore
-Lee Watson (?)
-Singapore
-Ambassadorial post
-Lee Kuan Yew
-Business experience
-Lee Kuan Yew
-Education
-Wife
-Harvard University
-Arab nations
-Relations with the Soviet Union
-Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Kuwait
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 42s ]
EGYPT
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-John A. Scali
-The People’s Republic of China [PRC] initiative
-Newsweek article
-Agnew’s prior knowledge
-Rogers
-Kissinger’s efforts
-Pakistan Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Source of story
-White House
-The National Security Council [NSC]
-State Department
-Agnew’s forthcoming memorandum to the President
Warsaw talks
-Rogers
Agnew’s trip
-The State Department
-Foreign Service
-Memorandum of conversation [Memcon]
Scali entered at 3:28 pm.
-Articles about trip
-Scali
-Wire services
-Memcon
-Significance of visits
-The Middle East
-Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Congo
-Korea, Singapore
-Agnew's handling of trips
-Briefings
-Rogers’ conversation with Davidson (?)
-Impressions
-Nature of trip
-Press reports
-Newsweek
-The PRC move as main press focus
-Editing
-Japan, Korea
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Report
-Kenya story
-Presentation of trip
-Newsweek
-Role
-Story
-Possible White House source
-Perceptions Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Handling
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Scali’s role
-Kenyatta
Scali left at 3:38 pm.
Sudan
-Coup attempt
-The Soviet Union
-Mohammed Gaafar el-Nimeiry
-Foreign policy towards the West
-Rogers’ conversation with Sudanese Ambassador to the United
Nations [UN]
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National Security]
[Duration: 19s ]
SUDAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
******************************************************************************
-Counter-coup
-Executions
-The Soviet Union
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Arab-Soviet relations
-Anwar el-Sadat’s message to Rogers
-Israel
-Sadat, Mammar Qadaffi, el-Nimeiry
Africa
-Egypt Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Cable to Sadat
-US diplomatic presence
-President’s opinion
-Vice Presidential trip
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
[National Security]
[Duration: 26s ]
EGYPT
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 10
******************************************************************************
-Morocco
-King Hassan II
-Cancellation of US trip
-Arab summit
-Coup attempt
-Repairs to Summer Palace
-Dean G. Acheson
Israel
-Arab view
-Arab Jews compared to European Jews
-Moshe Dayan
-Golda Meir
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Sadat’s opinion of Dayan
-Dayan
Spain
-Gen. Francisco Franco
-Reaction to the PRC initiative
-Health
-Diplomatic reception Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Cuban charge d’affaires
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[National Security]
[Duration: 14s ]
SPAIN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
******************************************************************************
-Succession
-Luis Carrero Blanco
-Conversation with Agnew
-Agnew’s conversation with Franco
-Ethiopia [Kenya]
-Jomo Kenyatta
-Prime Minister
-Prince Juan Carlos
-Status
-Gregorio Lopez Bravo de Castro
-Franco
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[National Security]
[Duration: 55s ]
SPAIN Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
******************************************************************************
-Franco
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 8s ]
PORTUGAL
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
******************************************************************************
Portugal
-African colonies
-Nixon administration’s position
-Public opinion
-Compared to past administrations
-The President’s opinion
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
African leaders
-Mobutu
-Role as post-colonial mediator
-Humor
-The President’s opinion
-Riverboat
-Helicopter
-Pilots Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Agnew’s tour of the Congo River
-Lifestyle
-Popularity
-Army
-Draft of university students
-Anti-communist
-Wife
-Relationship to the US
-Visits
-Residence
-Gardens
-Compared to the White House
-Staff
-Taiwanese
-Chiang Kai-shek
-Jomo Kenyatta
-Agnew’s opinion
-Presentation of monkey cloak
-[Unintelligible name]
PRC initiative
-Background briefing for Agnew
-Kissinger
-Rogers, the President, Agnew
-Dissemination
-Papers
-Rogers’ conversation with Agnew
UN membership issue
-Rogers responsibility
-John B. Connally
-Japan, Australia
-Taiwan, Republic of China [ROC]
-Sustain membership
44
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Security Council
-PRC
-Expulsion
-Reaction
-Taiwan
-PRC
-Handling
-Timing Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Television coverage
-President’s role
-Rogers’ statement
-Briefing paper
-Kissinger
-Taiwan
-Security Council
-US stance
-Great Britain, Canada, Italy
-Expulsion
-US stance
-Possible statement
-Probable questions
-Handling
-Order of appearance
-Congress
-J. William Fulbright, Dr. Thomas E. (“Doc”) Morgan
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Agnew
Canada
-Mitchell Sharp
-Conversation with Rogers
-Pierre E. Trudeau’s invitation to Aleksei N. Kosygin
-Time of announcement
-Invitation to the President
-Timing of possible visit
-Canada’s general election
-Public reaction
-Political consequences
-Timing
-Postponement
-President’s visit
45
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Appearances
-Canada’s general election
-US Presidential election
-Schedule
******************************************************************************
Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
[National Security]
[Duration: 21s ]
CANADA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 14
******************************************************************************
Agnew’s schedule
Agnew and Rogers left at 4:07 pm.
Vietnam negotiations
-Le Duc Tho
-Schedule
-Issues
-Political
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Strategy
White House leaks
46
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15
[Privacy
[Duration: 3s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 15 Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 4:07 pm.
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 4:17 pm.
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 16
******************************************************************************
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 15s ]
CANADA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
**********************************************************************
47
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
UN membership issue
-Prospects
-Handling
-Rogers
William F. Buckley, Jr.
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Kissinger's conversation
-Stance of conservatives
-The President
-Fulbright
-Administration’s position
-Forthcoming trip to Europe
-Forthcoming meeting with the President or Kissinger
-Conservative criticism
-The PRC initiative
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[National Security]
[Duration: 18s ]
CANADA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
**********************************************************************
The President’s schedule
Ziegler entered at 4:17 pm.
Federal Reserve Board
-Vacancy
-Speculation
-Connally
48
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Conservatives
-Administration’s reaction
-PRC initiative
The economy
-Ziegler’s conversation with Connally
-Balance of trade Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Effect of wartime compared with peacetime economy
-Howard Stein
-Call to Kissinger
-Stock market
Agnew
-Trip
-Scali’s role
-Briefing of Rogers, the President
-Knowledge of the PRC initiative
Ziegler left at 4:18 pm.
Stein
-Federal Reserve Board
-Burns
Dinner
-Atlantic Oil, Westinghouse, North American Insurance
-McGeorge Bundy
-President’s leadership
Foreign policy
-New York Post
-Vietnam negotiations
-Le Duc Tho's schedule
-The PRC
-Agnew briefing
-Comparison to Rogers’ briefing
-Kissinger's negotiations
-Chou En-lai
-Negotiations
Joseph S. Farland and a White House photographer entered at 4:21 pm.
49
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
Pleasantries
Farland’s schedule
-Pakistan
-Letter
The White House photographer left at an unknown time before 4:33 pm.
Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
The PRC initiative
-Farland's role
Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 4:21 pm.
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Agha Hilaly
-The State Department
-Vietnam negotiations
-Announcement
-Voice of America [VOA]
-Agha Muhommad Yahya Khan
Pakistan-Indian relations
-Public opinion
-Kenneth B. Keating
-Farland
-PRC initiative
Congress
-Farland's conversation with Charles H. Percy
-State Department luncheon
Francis L. (“Fred”) Kellog
-Testimony
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 4:33 pm.
Congress
-Testimony
-[Unintelligible Name]
-Briefing
-Charles [Unintelligible Surname]
50
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
[National Security]
[Duration: 7m 56s ]
Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
INDIA-PAKISTAN
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 19
******************************************************************************
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
[Privacy]
[Duration: 1m 4s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
******************************************************************************
-Compared to Farland's experience as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
-Rafael Trujillo
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
[National Security]
[Duration: 28s ]
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 17
51
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
******************************************************************************
Farland
-Loyalty
-State Department
-Ambassador to Pakistan
-Tenure
Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
******************************************************************************
-Abner (?)
-Kissinger
-Possible future post
-Japan
-Language skill
-Europe
-Romania
-Conversation with the Ambassador from Thailand
-Importance of ambassadorial post to Thailand
-Possible future post
-Vienna
-Bangkok, Japan, Romania
-Handling of future ambassadorial appointments
The PRC initiative
-Farland’s role
-Pakistan
-Yahya Khan
-Potential effect
-Liberal reaction
-Chou En-lai
52
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-US foreign policy
-The Soviet Union
-Vietnam
-The PRC's position in the World
-The Soviet Union
-Japan
-Soviet Union
-Arms control Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)
-Taiwan
-Chiang Kai-shek
-UN membership issue
-Great Britain, Canada, Italy
-Reaction from the right
-US Congress
-Otto E. Passman, William J. (“Jack”) Edwards
-Human Events, National Review
-Public reaction
-American Legion
-The President's role
-Democrats
-Hubert H. Humphrey, Edward M. Kennedy, Edmund S. Muskie
-John N. Mitchell’s comments to Farland
Pakistan
-Farland's return
-Conversation with Kissinger
-Letter
-Handling of departure from post
-Yahya Khan
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18
[Privacy]
[Duration: 38s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 18
******************************************************************************
53
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/08)
-Tenure
-Conversation with Kissinger
-George D. Aiken's conversation with Farland
Farland left at 4:54 pm.
Conv. No. 549-25 (cont.)