President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed foreign policy priorities and scheduling, specifically focusing on handling potential meetings with Italian leadership, the geopolitical implications of the India-Pakistan conflict, and managing diplomatic leaks. They agreed to defer any official visit from Italian officials until after their domestic elections to avoid political complications. Regarding the India-Pakistan situation, Kissinger advocated for a tougher stance against India, including cutting off military aid to gain leverage and discourage Indian reliance on the Soviet Union. The pair also addressed the fallout from a news leak attributed to Arthur Burns involving John Connally, reaffirming their support for Connally's role in the administration.
On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Clark MacGregor, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:45 am to 11:02 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 625-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 625-14
Date: November 29, 1971
Time: 10:45 am - 11:02 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
John B. Connally
-Call to Kissinger
-The President's schedule
-Foreign visits and visitors
-Group of Ten meeting
-1972 election
The President talked with Clark MacGregor at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:58
am.
[Conversation No. 625-14A]
[See Conversation No. 15-141]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President's schedule
-Foreign visits and visitors
-1972 election
-Peru
-Mexico
-Italy
-Aldo Moro
-Connally's call to Kissinger
-Previous United Nations [UN] vote on Taiwan
-Pierre E. Trudeau
-Timing
-Arrangements
-Japan
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Soviet Union
-Italy
-Canada
-Italy
-Timing
-White House stag dinner
India-Pakistan
-Indira Gandhi's conversation with Kenneth B. Keating
-Indian policy
-US policy
-Economic aid
-Washington Special Action Group [WSAG]
-Kissinger’s background briefing
-US aid
-Indian policy
-Soviet Union
-PRC
-US aid
-State Department
Prime Minister Wasfi Tell of Jordan
-Assassination
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number LPRN-T-MDR-
2014-032. Segment exempt per Executive Order 13526, 3.3(b)(1)(6) on 05/22/2019. Archivist:
MM]
[National Security]
[625-014-w002]
[Duration: 1m 10s]
EGYPT
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**************************************************************************
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 10:58 am.
Ziegler's conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
Ziegler's briefing
-Timing
-The President's schedule
Ziegler left at 10:59 am.
Kissinger's forthcoming call to Connally
The President's schedule
-Previous meeting with Connally, Arthur F. Burns and Kissinger
-News story
-Connally's conversation with Kissinger
-Burns
-Leak
-Forthcoming call from Kissinger
-The President's schedule
-State Department
Kissinger left at 11:02 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.