Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 725-026
Date: Tuesday, May 16, 1972 at 10:55 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
Recording device: Oval Office
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/725-026

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[3:01:49] Well, they're bleeding all over the place.
[3:01:52] All they want to do is support you.
[3:01:54] I said, I understand.
[3:01:57] They want to vote for something.
[3:01:59] Yeah, I'll vote for a month before I go to Russia.
[3:02:03] I hope you made the point.
[3:02:05] I won't undercut this president before he goes to the most important negotiation in the post-war era.
[3:02:12] I certainly did not.
[3:02:15] They were just baffling about responsibility to the public and the contented people who have conquered.
[3:02:24] They finally said, anything, if you go to them and say, with anything at all, they'll vote for it, that indicates a joint partnership.
[3:02:34] They just don't...
[3:02:34] I mean, it's a joint partnership all the time.
[3:02:44] Right.
[3:02:45] You can figure out something on mine, but why don't they just have a resolution supporting what we've said?
[3:02:51] I told Dick this morning, Harry, and I think you should know this too, and I heard that he said, my God, it's something.
[3:03:00] Or if we have the needs of action for a climate recession, now I'm babbling around.
[3:03:06] The point is, your strategy is exactly right.
[3:03:08] But we have to realize
[3:03:14] We say we will go back to negotiations without a transition.
[3:03:17] We must never agree to that.
[3:03:19] Never agree to that for the reason that the offer that I have made is not an offer from which we can bargain now.
[3:03:27] It's rock bottom.
[3:03:28] That's right.
[3:03:29] We cannot go further.
[3:03:30] You see, that's the problem that we have.
[3:03:32] There is one, seven points from which they can bargain now, but we've got one where we can't.
[3:03:37] Well, I think we can say the phrase without the business in itself doesn't mean anything.
[3:03:43] which just means we have to be prepared to talk about their seven points and they have to be prepared to talk about ours.
[3:03:49] But I think we should say, on the other hand, let me be very clear, gentlemen, the President will insist, we have to insist on a return of our POWs in a ceasefire.
[3:04:03] I think it's a mistake to go back to the plenaries now without getting some assurances because when they break up again, then you get again a crisis atmosphere.
[3:04:13] I mean, I see nothing for us in going to plenary unless we know they're going to leave somewhere.
[3:04:15] Yeah.
[3:04:15] Let me ask you this with regard to Conway.
[3:04:16] It would be very useful from a political standpoint, and he would like recognition to it, if, like we returned from Russia, I had sent him to Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.
[3:04:26] Because our report on, you know, the disgusting presence of it.
[3:04:38] Is there any other country there that could be included?
[3:04:41] Should Peru be enough?
[3:04:42] Why not?
[3:04:43] Those are the three big ones.
[3:04:44] Brazil...
[3:04:45] I just took the... Huh?
[3:04:46] I just took...
[3:04:47] There's a group.
[3:04:47] There's a Brazil, Ireland, India, and Congo group.
[3:04:53] Those are the four big countries.
[3:04:56] I think it's a good idea.
[3:04:57] Yeah.
[3:04:57] Also, I want to put it back on VHOP.
[3:05:00] Well, you have never had a cabinet member...
[3:05:05] When he's out of there, he's leaving.
[3:05:07] Connolly's leaving?
[3:05:09] You've been building.
[3:05:09] No.
[3:05:09] That's what we're announcing today.
[3:05:10] Now, this was understood in January.
[3:05:12] We couldn't tell you, but Connolly only agreed to come in three years, and he's leaving.
[3:05:17] And we're announcing that he shall also take his place in Perry Street and White River.
[3:05:56] No, I had a hard time on January when his year was up.
[3:06:11] Yeah, it won't be anything like last time.
[3:06:35] Oh, yeah.
[3:06:36] I mean, Connolly, you know, with all your favorite agents, it was a pleasure to have a strong man.
[3:06:38] Well, it was a pleasure to have a guy that was a ballsy guy in a fight.
[3:06:41] Sorry, we had all that, but we just haven't got anybody else.
[3:06:43] Schultz has got to go now.
[3:06:46] Also, Schultz is easy.
[3:06:46] We don't have to break somebody yet.
[3:06:49] Oh, no, no, no, no.
[3:06:49] I think all the best.
[3:06:53] I mean, Schultz, if you're not going to have Connolly, Schultz is as good.
[3:07:01] In many ways, Schultz is more rigid than Connolly, but more...
[3:07:04] It can't be Richard at all to pet a guy on a nighttime date.
[3:07:06] I've thought about that.
[3:07:07] It's his wife.
[3:07:08] She hates the man, doesn't she?
[3:07:10] Yes.
[3:07:11] They love each other.
[3:07:13] They love each other.