Conversation: 647-007
Prev:  647-006 Next: 647-008Start Date: 13-Jan-1972 10:35 AM
End Date: 13-Jan-1972 11:05 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Laird, Melvin R.; Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Ziegler, Ronald L.; Recording Device: Oval Office
Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:20:38
Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:50:51
NARA Description:
On January 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Melvin R. Laird, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:35 am to 11:05 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 647-007 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 647-7 Date: January 13, 1972 Time: 10:35 am - 11:05 am Location: Oval Office The President met with Melvin R. Laird and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. Greetings Vietnam announcement -Questions -News summary Vietnam -North Vietnamese attacks -Media coverage -Probability of success -South Vietnamese -Prospects -Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] -Morale -American Broadcasting Corporation [ABC] -Possible questions at forthcoming news briefing 5 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.) Possible questions at forthcoming news briefing -North and South Vietnamese capabilities -Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. -Reliance on South Vietnam for its security The President's statement of US troop withdrawals -Date of withdrawals -Possible follow-up questions -Handling -Noting circumstances -Prisoners of war [POWs] -Remaining US forces -Administration record Democratic candidates -Edmund S. Muskie, Hubert H. Humphrey -Previous positions on Vietnam -1968 campaign Vietnam -US troop withdrawals -Levels POWs -Deadline -North Vietnam’s response -Call for overthrow of South Vietnam government -Critics of the President's policy -Possible responses -Aid to North Vietnam -North Vietnam’s position -US withdrawal -Cessation of aid to South Vietnam -Overthrow of South Vietnam government -Humanitarian aspect -Nguyen Van Thieu Laird's possible responses -Projected enemy activity -Press coverage -Tone 6 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.) -Withdrawals -South Vietnamese defense capabilities -Chances of success -US combat role -North Vietnam Press stories -Energy activity -Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam -Timing -South Vietnamese defense performance -US confidence -Defeats and victories -Cambodia -Laos South Vietnamese -Military capabilities -Manpower, training, materiel, morale -Towns -Kontum -Laird’s possible answers -Phrasing -Composition -Central Highlands -Montagnards Troop withdrawal announcement -Format -Ceilings -Press interest -Future announcement -Timing -Laird's comments -Laird, Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS], Thieu Laird’s possible answers -South Vietnam defense capabilities -Nixon doctrine, Vietnamization, Cambodia -Press questions -Air and sea power 7 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.) -Possible future use -Conditions -1972 -Laos, Cambodia -US forces -POWs -1972 election -The President’s possible remarks The President’s possible remarks -US troops -Confidence in Vietnamization, South Vietnam defense capability Vietnam -Remaining US troops -Responsibilities Possible action by the North Vietnamese -Psychology of attack -Evidence US casualties in Vietnam -Helicopters -Press reports of increases -Compared to the Battle of the Somme, March 21 – April 6, 1918 -British casualties -Compared to Germans -Compared to New York City death statistics Troop withdrawal announcement -Vietnamization -Attacks by the North Vietnamese -Prediction -Timing -Publicity -Psychological effect -South Vietnamese defense capabilities -Possible failures -Terrain -II Corps -Air activity 8 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.) -Effectiveness -ABC reports Air strikes -Damage reports -B’52s -Four-day strike of December 1971 -Effectiveness -Effectiveness -Weather -Evidence -US responses to North Vietnamese attacks -Remaining US troops South Vietnam -Success -Economic progress -Inflation -Progress Rate of withdrawal -US goals in South Vietnam -POWs -Self-defense Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 11:00 am. Reporters at announcement release Questions for Laird -Duration Television cameras The White House Press Room Ziegler left at 11:01 am. The President's statement Laird's comments 9 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF Tape Subject Log (rev. 10/06) Conv. No. 647-7 (cont.) -Vietnamization -Confidence in South Vietnam Troop announcement -Troop ceiling -Future announcement -Coordination with South Vietnam, Laird, JCS -Laird -Questions -Confidence in South Vietnam -US ground combat role [David] Kenneth Rush -Meeting with Laird -Hugh Scott -Proposed meeting with John C. Stennis, Margaret Chase Smith -Possible appointment as Deputy Secretary, Secretary of Defense Ambassador William J. Porter The President, Laird and Haig left at 11:05 am.