President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and H.R. Haldeman to coordinate high-level foreign policy initiatives, specifically focusing on the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, potential US-China relations, and ongoing diplomatic channels with the Soviet Union. The discussion addressed the political implications of Vietnam POW releases, the management of sensitive communications through unofficial channels, and strategic defense budgetary concerns regarding anti-ballistic missile limitations. Additionally, the participants touched upon Nixon's domestic popularity and the perceived conservative shift in the national mood, which they viewed as favorable for the President's upcoming political prospects.
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 AidConversation 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
-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
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]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 59s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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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]
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.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.