President Nixon met with South Korean officials Kim Yong-sik and Dong Jo Kim, along with Alexander Haig, to reaffirm U.S. security commitments to the Republic of Korea (ROK) amidst the ongoing North Vietnamese invasion. The discussion centered on maintaining a strong defense posture, the modernization of ROK forces, and coordinating strategy ahead of Nixon's upcoming summit in Moscow. Nixon assured the delegation of continued U.S. support despite domestic congressional opposition and emphasized the strategic importance of resisting communist aggression in both Vietnam and Korea.
On April 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Kim Yong-sik, Dong Jo Kim, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House photographer, unknown person(s), and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:41 am to 12:01 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 715-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 715-1
Date: April 26, 1972
Time: 11:41 am - 12:01 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield, Kim Yong-sik, Dong Jo Kim and Alexander
M. Haig, Jr.; the White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Greetings and introductions
Seating
Butterfield left at 11:42 am.
US-Republic of Korea [ROK] relations
-ROK concerns
-Park Chung Hee
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Communique
-Private talks
-Park Chung Hee
-The President's Moscow trip
-Subjects of discussion
-ROK
-US commitments
-Democratic People's Republic of Korea [North Korea]
-Current attitudes
-US support for Park
-Soviet support
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
Conv. No. 715-1 (cont.)
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 24s ]
KOREA
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**************************************************************************
-Soviet Union
-Modernization of ROK forces
-US commitments
-Congress
-Supporters of ROK
-Opposition to US support for ROK
-William P. Rogers's conversation with Kim
Vietnam
-ROK troops
-Number
-Areas of concern
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Duration
-ROK forces
-US air strikes
-Paris peace talks
-Ground action
-Allied actions
-ROK actions
-Defeat of North Vietnam
-Impact on ROK
-Soviet support
-North Vietnam
-Stakes in war
-ROK forces
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
Conv. No. 715-1 (cont.)
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 11:42 am.
Refreshments
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 12:01 pm.
-Withdrawal of troops
-Timing
-The President’s trip to the Soviet Union
-US support
-Withdrawal of troops
-US consultations with ROK
-Troop withdrawal
-US retaliation
-Effectiveness
-B-52s
-US air support
-Helicopters
-US policy
-Kim's conversation with Rogers
United Nations [UN]
-George H. W. Bush
-Abilities
-Voting
-US position
-PRC, Soviet Union
-Biases
-Humanitarian problems
-Talks with North Korea
-Red Cross
-Berlin talks
-Status
Korea
-Modernization of ROK forces
-Standard of living
-US policies
-Support in Congress
-North Vietnamese invasion
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
Conv. No. 715-1 (cont.)
-Impact on US attitudes
-Parallels with Korea
-The President’s message for Park
-The President's Soviet trip
-Consultations
-Compared with PRC trip
-Park’s wishes
-Koreans in US
Reception for Kim and Dong
-Unknown people
Golf game
-Burning Tree Country Club
-Park
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:42 am.
Presidential gifts
-Golf balls
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:01 pm.
Golf game
Presidential gifts
-Golf balls
-Presentation
-Park
The President's schedule
-Foreign travel
-US election
-Trip to ROK
-1953
-View of ROK
Photographs
-Copies
President and Mrs. Park
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 7/07)
Conv. No. 715-1 (cont.)
-President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
US election
Car
Kim et al., left at 12:01 pm.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.