Conversation: 556-001
Prev: 555-019 Next: 556-002Start Date: Friday, August 6, 1971 1:42 PM
End Date: Friday, August 6, 1971 2:00 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:00:28
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:17:31
NARA Description:
On August 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:42 am to 10:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 556-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 556-1
Date: August 6, 1971
Time: 9:42 am - 10:00 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
[The conversation was in progress when the recording began]
Vietnam negotiations
-Possible publicity
-Possible settlement
-Condition
-North Vietnam
-Acceptance of Nguyen Van Thieu
-Timing
-Vietnamese election
-Possible publicity
-Philip C. Habib
-Xuan Thuy
-David K.E. Bruce
-Channels
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
Pakistan
-Frank F. Church statement
-Massacre
-Public opinion
Vietnam negotiations
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Possible release
-Timing
-Relationship to possible settlement
US-People's Republic of China [PRC] relations
-Unknown person
-Totalitarianism
-Adolf Hitler
-Benito Mussolini
-Communists
-Pragmatism
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 556-1 (cont.)
-Francisco Franco
-Greece
-Philosophical opposition compared to diplomatic relations
-PRC
-Barry M. Goldwater
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Summit
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Letter
-Possible publication
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Channel
-Aleksei N. Kosygin
PRC
-Tricia Nixon Cox and Edward R.F. Cox
-Possible trip to Peking
-Possible commerce with US
-Boeing Corporation
USSR
-Kissinger's call to Gerard C. Smith
-[Kama River truck plant contract with Mack Trucks, Inc]
-Summit
[Pause]
Busing
-President's position
-Liberal’s
-Mood of country
-Increasing conservatism
President's popularity
-Visit to New York
-Reception
-Forthcoming presidential election
-Nelson A. Rockefeller's assessment
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 556-1 (cont.)
US foreign relations
-Kissinger’s forthcoming briefing
-Five power concept
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Asia
-Reassessment of policy
-Combat [French journal]
-Foreign commentary
-US-Soviet relations
-Peking
National defense
-Budget
-Anti-ballistic Missile [ABM] limitations
-Smith's proposal
-USSR reaction
-Domestic political reaction
-Conservatives
-Possible impact on Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT]
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 59s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
**********************************************************************
The President talked with an unknown person [H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman?] at an unknown time
between 9:42 am and 10:00 am.
[Conversation No. 556-1A]
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 556-1 (cont.)
President's schedule
-Girls Nation meeting
-Press coverage
-News focus
-New Hampshire
[End of telephone conversation]
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 28s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
**********************************************************************
[Pause]
Vietnam negotiations
-Habib
-Leaks
-Bureaucracy
-William P. Rogers
-Habib
-Possible publicity
-Compared to PRC trip announcement
-Effect on PRC
President's schedule
-Trip to Maine
Kissinger left at 10:00 am.
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)