President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed complex diplomatic strategies regarding the Middle East, focusing on the implications of recent negotiations with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir and the necessity of managing US-USSR-PRC relations. They strategized on how to stall formal settlement processes until at least 1973 to avoid political fallout and potential conflicts while maintaining the balance of power. Additionally, the conversation touched upon personnel matters, including the potential appointment of David M. Kennedy and the handling of the ongoing India-Pakistan crisis.
On December 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Rose Mary Woods, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:55 pm to 5:15 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 628-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 628-18
Date: December 2, 1971
Time: 4:55 pm - 5:15 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Meeting with Golda Meir
-Presidential authority
-Election
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Israelis
-Negotiation tactics
-William P. Rogers
-History of negotiations with Israel
-Politics
Rose Mary Woods entered at 4:57 pm.
The President buzzed Woods
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 21s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**********************************************************************
43
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 628-18 (cont.)
Woods left at 5:00 pm.
Meeting with Meir
-Middle East negotiations
Woods entered at an unknown time after 5:00 pm.
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 34s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
**********************************************************************
Woods left at an unknown time before 5:15 pm.
Middle East negotiations
-Possible scenario
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Rogers
-The President’s proposed talk with Rogers
-Egyptians
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Proposed conversation with Kissinger
-Meeting with Meir
-President’s style
-Politics
-Give and take
-USSR
-1973
-Rogers's proposal
-Israelis
-Meir
-Proposed toughness
44
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 628-18 (cont.)
-American political situation
-Security
-USSR
-Balance of power in the Middle East
-Democrats
-Kissinger's meeting with Dobrynin
-Rogers
-Dobrynin
-USSR summit
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Trade in the Middle East
-Proposed Middle East settlement
-Egyptians
-Trade
-PRC
-Feeling towards a deal in the Middle East
-USSR-PRC relations
-Marshall Green
-USSR-US relations
-Proposed deal in the Middle East
-Status of negotiations
-War
-Timing
-1973
India-Pakistan situation
-Rogers
-Talk with Kissinger
David M. Kennedy appointment
-State Department
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-The President's call to Rogers
-Timing
-India-Pakistan situation
-Kissinger's call to Rogers
-Timing
-President’s inability to meet with Rogers
-President’s health
-Indira Gandhi
45
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 628-18 (cont.)
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 5:00 pm.
The President's schedule
-Barber
-Timing
Kissinger and Bull left at 5:15 pm.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.