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Conversation: 659-002

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Start Date: 28-Jan-1972 11:17 AM

End Date: 28-Jan-1972 11:27 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 00:50:12

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 00:59:51

659a.mp3

659b.mp3

659c.mp3

NARA Description:

On January 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:17 am to 11:27 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 659-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 659-2

Date: January 28, 1972
Time: 11:17 am - 11:27 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Time magazine
          -Cover
               -Kissinger’s appearance
                                         11

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)



           -The President’s appearance
                -Kissinger’s call to Henry A. Grunwald and Hugh S. Sidey
                      -Kissinger’s view
                      -The President’s forthcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China
                      [PRC]

Vietnam negotiations
     -The President’s efforts
           -Kissinger’s talk with Sidey
                -Forthcoming story
     -North Vietnamese strategy
           -Meeting excerpt releases
                -Prisoners of War [POWs]
                -Response
                      -Selective excerpting of record
                -As issue
                      -Troop withdrawal
                            -POWs
                      -Record
     -Criticism
           -James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
                -Cease-fire
                      -Clark M. Clifford
           -Problem
                -Points made
                      -Compared to enemy’s points

Forthcoming meeting with Rainer Barzel
     -Opposition to treaty [West Germany’s non-aggression treaties with Poland and
          Soviet Union]
          -W[illiam] Averell Harriman’s view
               -Democrats’ support for Michael J. Mansfield Amendment
          -Kissinger’s view of strategy
               -US position
                      -[Christian Democrats]
                            -Relationship to the administration
                      -Lack of pressure
               -Pressure
                      -Deal with Soviet Union
                            -Willy Brandt
          -Backgrounder
                                         12

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                 Tape Subject Log
                                   (rev. 10/06)
                                                                    Conv. No. 659-2 (cont.)


     -Ambassador [Rolf Paul’s] reports
          -William P. Roger’s talks with Barzel, January 27, 1972
     -Neutrality
          -German domestic problem
          -Berlin
                 -Treaty
                      -Linkage
     -Brandt
     -US interests
          -Soviets
                 -Moderation of Barzel
                      -Timing

Criticism of cease-fire terms
      -Reston
      -Kissinger’s view
           -Leaders’ reaction
           -Kissinger phone call
                 -Discussion of cease-fire
                       -Surrender
                       -Reston
                             -Misunderstanding
                                  -North Vietnam’s position
      -Reston’s view
           -Vietnam as an issue
                 -Florida primary
      -Reston’s schedule
           -Florida
                 -Candidates
      -Los Angeles Times
      -Sidey’s view
      -Ronald L. Ziegler
           -Schedule
                 -Houston
           -Forthcoming briefing
                 -Barzel
                 -POWs
                 -Selective excerpting of record
                 -Proposals
                       -May 31, 1971, October 11, 1971
                       -North Vietnam
                                                13

                              NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                          (rev. 10/06)
                                                                         Conv. No. 659-2 (cont.)


                                   -Call for surrender, communist government in South Vietnam

Kissinger left at 11:27 am.