President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers met to coordinate their strategy ahead of the President's upcoming summit with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Rogers briefed the President on his prior discussions with Gandhi regarding rising tensions between India and Pakistan, specifically focusing on the necessity of a political solution, the reduction of arms shipments, and the potential for mutual troop withdrawals. The two agreed on the importance of maintaining a firm but cordial stance to discourage military escalation while ensuring the administration’s efforts to mediate the conflict were clearly understood.
On November 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 11:13 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 615-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 615-017
Date: November 5, 1971
Time: Unknown after 11:09 am until 11:13 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with William P. Rogers.
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[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-017-w001]
[Duration: 3m 38s]
The President's forthcoming meeting with Indira Gandhi
-India–Pakistan relations
-Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan
-Mujibur Rahman
-William P. Rogers's conversation with Indira Gandhi
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:09 am.
The President’s schedule
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 11:13 am.
William P. Rogers’s conversation with Indira Gandhi
-India–Pakistan relations
-Administration’s desire to understand issues
-Arms issues
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 11:09 am.
The President’s schedule
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 11:13 am.
William P. Rogers's conversation with Indira Gandhi
-India–Pakistan relations
-US military aid to Pakistan
-Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan's agreements
-Possible war
-Possible mutual withdrawal of forces
-Indian reciprocation
-Triloki Nath Kaul's views
-Need for political solution
-Possible topics for the President to discuss
-Possible war
-US aid
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The President's forthcoming conversation with Gandhi
Ronald L. Ziegler and Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:09 am.
Gandhi's forthcoming meeting with Cabinet
-Reception for Gandhi
The President, Rogers, et al., left at 11:13 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.