Conversation: 558-010
Prev: 558-009 Next: 558-011Start Date: Monday, August 9, 1971 9:44 PM
End Date: Monday, August 9, 1971 10:18 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Bunker, Ellsworth F.; Kissinger, Henry A.; White House photographer; Bull, Stephen B.; [Unknown person(s)]; Shultz, George P.Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:46:01
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 03:19:55
NARA Description:
On August 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ellsworth F. Bunker, Henry A. Kissinger, White House photographer, Stephen B. Bull, unknown person(s), and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:44 pm to 6:18 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 558-010 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 558-10
Date: August 9, 1971
Time: 5:44 pm - 6:18 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Ellsworth F. Bunker and Henry A. Kissinger; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.
25
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 558-9 (cont.)
John D. Ehrlichman
Stephen B. Bull [?] entered at an unknown time after 5:44 pm.
Request for a call from George P. Shultz
Bull [?] left at an unknown time before 5:47 pm.
Vietnam
-US
-Kissinger
-Negotiations
-Bunker
-Nguyen Van Thieu
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 5:44 pm.
Refreshments
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 5:47 pm.
Vietnam
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Telephone call to Bunker
-People's Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Possible impact
-Peace
-Telephone call to Kissinger
-PRC
-North Vietnam
The President talked with Shultz between 5:47 pm and 5:48 pm.
[Conversation No. 558-10A]
[See Conversation No. 7-79]
[End of telephone conversation]
Foreign policy
26
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 558-10 (cont.)
-Vietnam
-Bunker’s conversation with Thieu
-US and PRC
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-USSR
-India
-Kissinger
-Meeting with Indian Ambassador
-Possible military action
-Indira Gandhi
-Invitation from the President
An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time after 5:48 pm.
-India-Pakistan relations
-Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan
-Sheik Mujibur Rahman
-Indian Ambassador
-Pakistan announcement
-Trial
-Awami League
-East Bengal
-Awami League
-East Pakistan
-News service
-Expulsion
-Vietnam
-Elections
-Thieu
-Nguyen Cao Ky
-Mutual disdain
-Previous election results
-Communists
-Poll
-Lt. Gen. Duong Van Minh
-Ky
-Thieu
-Bunker’s conversation with Thieu
-South Vietnam government
-Minh
-US Congress
27
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 558-10 (cont.)
-Analogy to Greece
-Minh
-Lower house elections
-Timing
-Thieu’s position
-Minh
-Observers
-Congress
-Committee for Peace and Freedom
-Richard M. Scammon
-Military situation
-Level of activity
-Casualties
-US
-Weekly numbers
-Type of fighting
-Defensive compared to offensive
-South Vietnamese
-South Vietnamese
-North Vietnamese
-North Vietnam
-Possible offensive
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
-Possible political action
-US action
-Cambodia
-Laos
-North Vietnamese infiltration of supplies
-[Ho Chi Minh Trail]
-1970 compared to 1971
-Cambodia
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-US aid
-Thieu
-I, II Corps
-Reorganization
-Tank battalion
-Reserves
-II Corps
-Troop ceiling
-Thieu
28
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 558-10 (cont.)
-Forthcoming election
-Prospects for political survival
-1972
-Cambodia
-Thieu
-Possible military action
-Timing
-Forces
-Size
-Divisions
-Prospects for 1972
-US withdrawal
-Possible impact on South Vietnam
-Bunker’s conversation with Thieu
-I Corps
-South Korea forces
-Withdrawal
-Impact on southern provinces
-I Corps
-Unknown person
-Delta
-Quang Nam
-Quang Hi [?]
-Negotiations
-Kissinger
-David K.E. Bruce
-William P. Rogers
-Bunker's Assessment
-North Vietnam
-PRC
-Election
-Casualties
-Economy
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Thieu
-Le Duc Tho
-Possible arrival in Paris
-Timing
-Meaning
-President’s instructions to Kissinger
29
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 558-10 (cont.)
-Publication of record
-Xuan Thuy
-Le Duc Tho
-PRC
-Statement
-Thieu
-US withdrawal
-US military assistance
-US Congress
-Stockpile
-Military services
-Congress
-Helicopters
-Tanks
-M-48's
-USSR
-North Vietnam
-Laos
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-World War II comparison
-Germany
-M-48's
-Negotiations
-Seven points
-Possible settlement
-Publication of record
-Nine points
-PRC
-Forthcoming trip
-Vietnam
-Kissinger
-Friends
-New York
-Invitations
-Lectures
-Vietnam
-Bunker
-Graduating class of 1916
-Support
-Kingman Brewster, Jr.
-Kissinger
30
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 558-10 (cont.)
-Trip to Peking
-Clark M. Clifford
-Article
-PRC trip
-Seven points
-Negotiations
Publication of record
Bunker’s wife [Carol C. (“Laise”) Bunker]
-Health
-Lunch
-Bunker
President's appreciation for Bunker's and Bruce's work
-Kissinger
-Memoirs
Bunker and Kissinger left at 6:18 pm.