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Conversation 698-007

TapeTape 698StartThursday, March 30, 1972 at 5:07 PMEndThursday, March 30, 1972 at 5:11 PMTape start time01:58:05Tape end time02:01:37ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss diplomatic leverage regarding the Soviet Union, specifically weighing how ongoing conflicts in Vietnam and economic incentives influence Soviet cooperation. Kissinger reported progress in Middle East negotiations, noting a rare departure from the Soviets' previous blanket support for Egypt, while Nixon emphasized the need for a cautious and controlled approach to these engagements. The President also confirmed his strategic decision to signal disengagement to the Israelis to maintain his negotiating position and gain greater clarity on current developments.

Soviet UnionVietnamMiddle EastDiplomatic NegotiationsEgyptIsrael
AudioNARA Description

On March 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:07 pm to 5:11 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 698-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 698-7

Date: March 30, 1972
Time: 5:07 pm - 5:11 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Middle East

     Soviet Union
          -Kissinger's meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
          -Vietnam
               -The People's Republic of China [PRC]
               -Most Favored Nation [MFN] status
               -Negotiations
          -Middle East
               -Soviet interests
               -Egypt
               -Israel
                     -Negotiations
                           -Yitzhak Rabin

     Schedule
          -Weather

The President and Kissinger left at 5:11 pm.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I was thinking more about your conversation with Mr. B.
Trying to look at it pragmatically, Henry, what in the hell is in it for them to pull an insult to a computer now?
Well, I'm not sure they're going to do it.
That's what I mean.
That's why we don't know whether it's worth exploring.
But what's in it for them is, as long as Vietnam goes on, we have an additional incentive to fly with the Chinese.
Secondly, we are setting up a lot of things now in the economic field.
We're really moving massively with them.
And I have every intention of letting, well, at any rate, it's so set up that we can control the delivery.
And I don't think we should deliver unless they do something.
Then they're really panting after the Middle East now.
I haven't bothered you with all the details, but I've made some propositions to them of the Middle East, which they won't accept.
But they have promised me a reaction, which is the first time that they have moved off the position of just blanket endorsement of the Egyptian position in turn.
What I have to do with the Israelis, it's got to be very tricky.
I told them there were such shovel crosses that I was disengaging from the negotiation.
That's better.
I did.
I told Robbie.
And I told the Israelis this only in order to be able to stay in the negotiations, because if they think we're talking, we've got to be a little, I want to be a little bit more of what's going on.
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