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Conversation: 709-013

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Start Date: 17-Apr-1972 10:51 AM

End Date: 17-Apr-1972 11:03 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.Ziegler, Ronald L.

Recording Device: Oval Office

Full Tape Conversation Start Time: 02:13:39

Full Tape Conversation End Time: 02:30:27

709a.mp3

709b.mp3

NARA Description:

On April 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:51 am to 11:03 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 709-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 709-13

Date: April 17, 1972
Time: 10:51 am - 11:03 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Vietnam
          -Daniel Z. Henkin's speech
          -Democrats' criticism
               -White House response
                     -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Ronald L. Ziegler
                     -Defense of the President
                     -Attacks on Democrats
                           -Escalation in rhetoric
                                -[Forename unknown] Coleman [?]
                                       -Previous conversation with the President
               -Resolutions in Senate
                     -Curtailment
                     -Hanoi's response
                     -Charge of defeatism
                     -Administration's attacks
               -Press coverage
               -Edmund S. Muskie
               -Hugh Scott and Michael J. Mansfield
                     -Trip to People's Republic of China [PRC]
                           -PRC statement
                           -Mansfield statement
          -The President's Soviet trip
               -Kissinger's conversation with PRC Ambassador
          -Mansfield
               -Administration attacks
          -Soviets
               -Kissinger offer
                                     27

                NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                            Tape Subject Log
                              (rev. 10/06)
                                                           Conv. No. 709-13 (cont.)


            -Interim solution
                  -Le Duc Tho
                        -Paris Peace Talks
-North Vietnamese invasion
      -Defeats
            -Attitude after bombing
      -US conditions for negotiations
            -North Vietnamese refusal
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
      -Exchange
            -Sick and wounded
-Democrats
      -Criticism
      -US policies
            -Possible hardline
            -Blockade
            -End of war
            -Involvement of Soviets
-Negotiations
      -May announcement
            -Timing
                  -Kissinger’s view
                  -Upcoming press conference
            -Troop reductions
                  -Show of confidence
                        -Paris Peace talks
                  -Public impact
                        -Upcoming press conference
                  -Number
      -Soviets
            -Kissinger's trip
            -Conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                  -Message for the President
                  -Reason for the talks
                        -Reply
                              -Administration’s position
                              -Soviet summit
-Blockade
      -Joseph C. Kraft
      -Soviet response
      -Option
                                              28

                              NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                       Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 10/06)
                                                                      Conv. No. 709-13 (cont.)



Ziegler entered at 11:01 am.

     Soviet summit
          -United Press International [UPI] story
               -The President's itinerary
                     -Locations
                     -Ziegler
               -Source from the Kremlin

Kissinger left at 11:02 am.

     Vietnam
          -North Vietnamese invasion
               -William P. Rogers's televised statement before Senate Foreign Relations
                     Committee
                     -Number of North Vietnamese tanks with equipment
                     -Frank F. Church
                     -Criticism of Congress
                     -Length

     Thelma C. (“Pat” ) Nixon
          -Schedule
               -Visit to National Zoo
                     -S. Dillon Ripley III
               -Table tennis game
               -Planning

     PRC
           -Table tennis game
                -The President's schedule
                -Thelma C. (“Pat” ) Nixon
                -Changes in schedule

Ziegler left at 11:03 am.