President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate the logistics and public announcement timing for the President’s upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, involving key foreign leaders and domestic advisors. The discussion also addressed the status of the Vietnam War, focusing on military operations in Cambodia, casualty reporting, and the administration's political strategy regarding withdrawal and ongoing peace negotiations. The participants further deliberated on managing public perception and responding to press coverage from outlets like the New York Times concerning these foreign policy and military initiatives.
On November 22, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:30 am to 8:50 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 621-038 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 621-38
Date: November 22, 1971
Time: 8:30 am - 8:50 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
The President's schedule
-Foreign visits and visitors
-Timing of announcements
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3s ]:
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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-Georges J.R. Pompidou and Willy Brandt
-Edward R.G. Heath
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Privacy]
[Duration: 3s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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-The President’s trip to the People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Announcement
-Ronald L. Ziegler
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 8:30 am.
-Unknown woman
-The President's date book
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 8:50 am.
An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 8:30 am.
-Foreign visits and visitors
-Announcements
-Timing
-Dates
-Locations
-Azores
-Bermuda
-Key Biscayne
-Logistics
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
The unknown woman left at an unknown time before 8:50 am.
Vietnam
-Casualties
-Cambodia
-Military dispositions
-North Vietnam
-South Vietnam
-Press reporting
-Washington Post
-New York Times previous editorial
-The President's policy
-Withdrawal date
-Conversation with Michael J. Mansfield
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Withdrawal date
-Military aid
-POW wives
-POWs
-New York Times
-Cambodia
-Press reports
-Military dispositions
-Bombing
-Press reporting
-Kissinger's speech to Air Force wives
-Cincinnati
-Withdrawal date
-Negotiations
-The President's opponents
-Kissinger’s view
-White House response
-The President
-Cabinet
-Congress
-Goals
-Peace negotiations
-Le Duc Tho
-Cambodia
-PRC announcement
-Military dispositions
-Bombing
-Kissinger's conversation with Thomas Karamessines
-The President's conversation with Richard M. Helms
-Forthcoming conversation between Helms and Kissinger
-Briefings
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Military operations
The President's schedule
-Previous speech to American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
Organizations [AFL-CIO] convention
-Kissinger's conversations
-Kissinger's parents
-Frank J. Lausche's call to the President
-George Meany
Barry M. Goldwater
-Forthcoming conversation with Kissinger
-Forthcoming meeting with the President
-Kissinger's schedule
Kissinger left at 8:50 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.