Conversation: 763-012
Prev: 763-011 Next: 763-013Start Date: 7-Aug-1972 10:18 AM
End Date: 7-Aug-1972 10:49 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Goodpaster, Andrew J. (Gen.); Kissinger, Henry A.; Sanchez, Manolo; Bull, Stephen B.;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On August 7, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster, Henry A. Kissinger, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:18 am to 10:49 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 763-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 763-12
Date: August 7, 1972
Time: 10:18 am – 10:49 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster and Henry A. Kissinger.
Greetings
14
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
Kissinger's schedule
-Trips to Paris
-Le Duc Tho
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:18 am.
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 10:49 am.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] and Europe
-Goodpaster’s conversation with Kissinger
-Goodpaster’s interaction with Europeans
-Goodpaster’s influence
-Elections
-West Germany
-France
-Britain
-Forthcoming European Economic Community [EEC] membership
-EEC
-Economic relationship with the US
-Goodpaster’s possible role as advisor
-European confidence in the US
-Goodpaster’s possible role
-Major issues
-Force strengths
-US
-Formula of comparable effort
-European force strengths
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
-European Security Conference
-US relations with France
-Contingency planning
-French forces in West Germany
-Common exercises
15
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Exchanges of information
-Air defense
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:18 am.
-Goodpaster’s meeting with Michel Debre
-Goodpaster’s previous meeting with Francois Maurin
-Tone of relations
-Goodpaster’s view
-Gen. Charles A.J.M. DeGaulle’s decision [French withdrawal from
NATO]
-Debre
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 10:49 am.
-Tactical nuclear policy
-US policy debates
-Goodpaster’s policy
-Maintenance and development of capabilities
-Visibility of capabilities to the Soviet Union
-Risk of escalation
-Deterrence
-US policy
-John H. (“Jack”) Morse
-Naval career
-Atomic Energy Commission [AEC]
-Office of the Secretary of Defense, International Security
Affairs [OSD-ISA]
-Study
-Forthcoming briefing for Kissinger
-Options
-Burden of uncertainty
-Soviet Union
-Deterrence
-Goodpaster’s view
16
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Option approach
-Capabilities
-Flexibility
-Modernization of stockpile
-Soviet weapons systems
-Tactical missile launches
-SCUD missiles
-FROG missiles
-Deployment with forward units
-Lack of artillery
-Tactical aircraft
-Launch systems
-Storage sites
-Satellite countries
-Material Production
-European Security
-Winston S. Churchill quotation from Fulton, Missouri
speech
-Joint tactical nuclear capability
-Fear of escalation
-Strength in Europe
-US
-MBFR
-Possible reduction in the numbers of Soviet Union and US tanks
-Effect on Soviet offensive capability
-West Germany
-Ronald W. Reagan’s view
-Reagan’s previous conversation with Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home
-Possible German concern
-Lack of cooperation by the US on nuclear matters
-Consultation with the US on use of weapons
-MBFR
-Letter from Willy Brandt to the President
-Brandt’s meeting with Georges J.R. Pompidou
-Newsweek article
17
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-NATO concerns
-Soviet Union
-European Security Conference
-Italy
-[James] Harold Wilson
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with Goodpaster
-Flora Lewis article
-European concerns
-Goodpaster’s view
-The President’s view
-“Senate doves”
-George S. McGovern
-NATO
-Lewis
-Senate
-The President’s previous meeting with Russell B. Long
-Elaine (Schwartzenburg) Edwards]
-Support for the President’s foreign policy
-Kissinger’s efforts with “Senate doves”
-European Security Conference
-Possible result of the President’s electoral defeat
-Goodpaster’s previous meeting with the German Minister of Defense
[Georg Leber]
-Former head of trade union
-Goodpaster’s view
-Compared to Helmut H.W. Schmidt
-US political situation
-Leber’s previous conversation with George Meany
-Importance of NATO
-Need for balance by Meany
-US Senate proposals
-Belgium
-Reagan’s previous conversation with Belgian Foreign Minister, Pierre
C.J.M. Harmel
-Need for more German participation in Europe
18
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Goodpaster’s view
-Balance between France and West Germany
-Belgian desire to preserve NATO
-West Germany
-Kissinger’s view
-European concerns
-US-Soviet Union relations
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-European leader’ view of the President
-Lewis
-European youth
-Compared to US youth
-European leaders
-Private comments compared to public comments
-Brandt’s letter to the President
-European political parties
-Coalitions
-Appeal to youth
-MBFR
-European Security Conference
-Private desire for good relations with the US
-Taiwan, Republic of China vote in United Nations [UN]
-Assessments by European ambassadors
-Importance to NATO
-Goodpaster’s view
-US and European relations
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Goodpaster's approach
-Force strengths
-Military budgets
-Denmark
-European contributions to NATO
-Formula of comparable effect
-Continued US force presence
-McGovern
19
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Position on aid to Greece
-Denmark
-Norway
-Great Britain
-Effect on NATO
-Turkey
-Continued developments in US-Soviet Union relations
-US consultations with European nations
-NATO
-Need for European support of the President
-European press
-Compared to US press
-The Administration’s policy
-Future of NATO
-McGovern
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Improved US relations with the People’s Republic of China[PRC]and the
Soviet Union
-Need for strong Atlantic community
-Objectives of the Soviet Union
-South Asia
-Middle East
-PRC
-Europe
-Finlandization
-Example of Czechoslovakia
-The President's instruction to Goodpaster
-US support for Europe
-Need for European support of the President
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:18 am.
The President’s schedule
-Forthcoming meeting with the Council on Environmental Quality [CEQ]
-Forthcoming meeting with Gerald L. Warren
20
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
Bull left an unknown time before 10:49 am.
-Soviet Union
-Opposition to bloc-to-bloc negotiations
-NATO
-France
-MBFR
Kissinger
-Foreign Policy Views
NATO
-Possible Visit By President
Gift presentation
-Cuff links
The President’s schedule
-Possible trip to NATO
-Great Britain
-1972 election
Kissinger’s trip to NATO
US-Soviet Union relations
US-Soviet relations
-Goodpaster’s view
Kissinger and Goodpaster left at 10:49 am.