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Conversation 674-011

TapeTape 674StartThursday, February 17, 1972 at 9:11 AMEndThursday, February 17, 1972 at 9:16 AMTape start time00:58:21Tape end time01:03:58ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed communication strategies and talking points for the President’s upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on the tone for addressing Zhou En-lai and handling press inquiries during a planned stop in Hawaii. The pair also coordinated logistical and thematic plans for an upcoming meeting with Congressional leadership, including the potential role of Secretary of State William P. Rogers. Additionally, they reviewed strategies for managing the PRC's complex concerns regarding the Soviet Union and the Vietnam conflict.

People's Republic of ChinaHenry KissingerZhou En-laiVietnam WarSoviet UnionPublic RelationsCongressional Leadership
AudioNARA Description

On February 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:11 am to 9:16 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 674-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 674-11

Date: February 17, 1972
Time: 9:11 am - 9:16 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Greetings

     Kissinger’s well-being

Nelson Rockefeller
     -President’s return call

Alice Roosevelt Longworth
     -Call

Washington Post
    -Joint resolution
    -George H. Gallup poll

People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
     -Tricia Nixon Cox
           -Network specials
     -Networks
     -Hawaii
           -Press conference
                -President’s statement
                      -Technical remarks
     -Chou En-lai’s remarks in toast
           -Welcome of Kissinger to Peking, October 1971
                -Publicity
                -President’s possible statements
                      -Chou En-lai
                      -Desired tone
     -Vietnam
           -Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu
           -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
                -PRC’s concern
           -Communications
                -Ambiguity
                -USSR
                      -Aid
                           -Percentage

******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 21s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

******************************************************************************

     Congressional leadership meeting
         -Planning
               -President’s filibuster
                     -Questions
                     -The President’s comments
                     -William P. Rogers
                     -Kissinger
                           -Philosophical comments
                           -Message for Rogers
               -Seating arrangements

Kissinger left at 9:16 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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.

And I would pick up my telephone without going to come back.
No, Mrs. Longer is pretty tough to obey, but she knows us.
It's unbelievable.
And I even noticed the post this morning said, why are we doing this?
That's the joint resolution.
And the post was very loose.
And then you have all the random things.
I've just seen it, yeah.
It's better on the post.
But it's...
Here's the last sign it was looking for.
Oh, and I'm really wondering whether you should do a press conference in Hawaii.
I just don't see what you can explain.
I'm not going to ask.
I'm not going to say it entirely.
I'm just going to make a statement.
I don't want to.
I decided not to answer any questions.
I'm just making a statement with regard to technical matters.
I don't want to.
I was going to ask you, was Freeman close to you made public?
No.
I think you can get through to him.
Could I refer?
Well, the only part I want to refer to is I believe in amen.
Oh, no, Dad, I don't know.
All I was going to say is, Mr. Peter, Joe said welcome God because we will be king in heaven.
That's what I would say.
Then I'd say tell us about coming up to Kirsten Street at the weekend.
Yeah, that's what I meant.
Yeah, I think that's fine.
I think it would be a nice idea.
No, that is not, that is why I'm sitting in my direction.
If I recall the end of that, that would be a good idea.
That would be a good idea.
I should not have asked for finding common ground, but I'm so innocuous that I didn't understand.
That's quite a good one.
I don't need to like that.
In fact, that's it.
That's exactly what I'm telling you, sir.
I thought of it that time on the planet.
What you mentioned to me yesterday about the... how to handle Vietnam is right.
I wouldn't plead with them.
I would say we know you.
Well, I was doing very...
It's like, I noticed they are very, very shrewd, and when we expect them to remember the subject, go on and like it.
Like I had, for example, their subject's greatest concern is the Soviet Union.
Okay.
And the answer is that they don't care about it at all.
We'll do the same thing with the amount.
When you say, well, I'm sorry, we'll take care of that.
We're not worried about that.
Let's just...
I hope that across, not take me, understand me.
You don't want to be involved.
We hope that we understand this, Jeff.
That would be, I thought about it.
They have been so compulsive in their communications to us, which are very ambiguous because on the one hand they say they don't want to be involved, on the other they're not threatening us, which in effect says, get it off our plate.
They can't do much because 85% of the aid comes from the Soviet Union.
I thought this morning could be a nice touch.
I had to say, I'm trying to fill it up.
I don't want to have questions.
Wait a minute here.
I thought I had talked for a little while, and I had said, I think I'll let Bill Rogers say a word.
You think that would be a good idea?
What would you talk?
Can you say something you might say?
Well, you could take off something.
Something philosophical.
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