Conversation: 788-015
Prev: 788-014 Next: 788-016Start Date: 29-Sep-1972 4:04 PM
End Date: 29-Sep-1972 5:15 PM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Douglas-Home, Alexander F. (Sir); Kissinger, Henry A.; Bull, Stephen B.; Sanchez, Manolo;Recording Device: Oval Office
NARA Description:
On September 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:04 pm to 5:15 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 788-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 788-15
31
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
Date: September 29, 1972
Time: 4:04 pm - 5:15 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home and Henry A. Kissinger; members of
the press and the White House photographer were present at the beginning of the meeting.
Greetings
Kissinger’s meeting with Home
-The People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Home’s forthcoming trip to Asia
Photographs
Nature of conversation
The President’s forthcoming dinner for Home
-Schedule
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:04 pm.
Bull left at an unknown time before 4:08 pm.
The President’s residences
-California
-Florida
Kissinger left at 4:08 pm.
1972 Presidential election
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 4:08 pm.
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 5:15 pm.
Foreign affairs
-US initiatives
-PRC
-Soviet Union
32
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Atlantic Alliance
-Lines of communication
-The President’s view
-PRC
-Soviet Union
-The President’s view
-US and Alliance policies
-Cooperation
-European Security Conference
-Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions [MBFR]
-Soviet Union’s policies
-Effect on Europe
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Home’s view
-Propaganda
-European Security Conference
-Soviet satellite countries
-Romania
-Poland
-Czechoslovakia
-Post-election policy of the US
-The President’s view
-Exchange of views
-Timing
-The President’s second term
-Appointments
-Budget
-Foreign affairs
-Edward R.G. Heath
-NATO alliance
-French participation
-Charles A.J.M. de Gaulle
-Forthcoming French elections
-Michel Debre
-Georges J.R. Pompidou
-Maurice Schumann
-French Parliament
-Political parties
-Pompidou
-The President’s view
-Nuclear weapons
-The President’s view
33
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Military
-Congress
-Secrecy
-Industrial nations
-Tactical nuclear weapons
-The President’s view
-Europe
-Defense cuts
-The President’s view
-Possible response
-The President’s view
-Nuclear weapons
-Armed Forces
-Air Force
-Navy
-Army
-Manpower
-Weaponry
-Nuclear deterrent
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 28s ]
-FOREIGN POLICY
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
-NATO military capability
-Public support
-Effect of arms control
-Soviet conventional arms
-Developments
-Need for US and NATO response
-PRC
34
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Soviet Union
-Soviet Union
-US and United Kingdom response
-Conventional Forces
-US Navy
-Aircraft carriers
-Jordan crisis in 1970
-Naval presence
-Importance
-Syria
-Soviet Union
-Conventional Forces
-Importance
-Indian Ocean
-Soviet naval presence
-US naval strength
PRC
-Interests
-US disarmament
-Japan
-The President’s conversation with Chou En-Lai
-US military
-Soviet presence
-Japanese military
Foreign policy issues in 1972 election
-House and Senate support
-Defense issue
-George S. McGovern
-Defense cuts
-European withdrawal
-Mandate for the President’s policy
US military presence in Europe
-Force reductions
-Netherlands
-Belgium
-Denmark
-Consultation with NATO
-Soviet Union
-Netherlands
35
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Belgium
-Denmark
-Position of Germany
-The President’s view
-Willy Brandt
-Olympic Games
-East German victories
-Reaction of West Germans
-Signs of unity
-Nuclear parity
-Soviet moves
-Conventional weapons
-European responsibility
-US and Soviet aims
-The President’s view
-Differences between US and Soviet Union
-European Security Conference
-PRC-Soviet Union conflict
-The President’s view
-Soviet union
-PRC
-Population
-Soviet references to the PRC
-PRC
-The President’s view
-US negotiations
-US communications with PRC
-Indian Ocean situation
-Soviet relations
-India
-Britain’s relations with India as colony
-PRC attitudes
-Chou En-Lai
-View
-Effect
-US-PRC initiative
-Soviet Union border buildup
-India
-The President’s view
-Soviet arms to India
-Missiles
-Pakistan
36
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-India
-India-Soviet Union relations
-The President’s view
-Japan
-PRC view
-Intentions
-Chou En-Lai’s view
-US role in Asia
-The President’s view
-NATO strength
-MBFR
-Western Europe
-US
-Japan
-Soviet Union
-The President’s view
-Relations
-Effect of PRC-Soviet Union relations
-Public opinion
-US grain deal
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] talks
-The President’s view
-Interests
-Negotiations
-The President’s view
-Implications of SALT II
-Western Europe
-Compared with SALT I
-Negotiations
-Need for consultations
-The President’s view
-US view
-Negotiations
-Soviet Union view
-1972 election
-Mandate
-B-1 bomber
-Weapons research
-Senate vote
-Anti-Ballistic Missile [ABM] Treaty
-Agreement
-Offensive weapons
37
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Submarines
-Missiles
-Balance
European defense
-Triangular force
-Home’s view
-Independent nuclear forces
-French force
-The President’s view
-De Gaulle’s view
-Size of forces
Dialogue with the Soviets
-Posture of the Allies
-The President’s view
-NATO
-Defense
-PRC –Soviet Union relations
-Public opinion
-Role
-Effect of negotiations
Middle East
-Israel
-Present government
-The President’s view
-Attitude of Golda Meir
-Need for peace
-The President’s view
-Middle East population
-Israel
-Arabs
-Israeli interests
-Attitudes
-Need for negotiations
-The President’s view
-Middle East
-Oil
-Attitudes
-Soviet approach
-The President’s view
38
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-United Arab Republic [UAR]
-The President’s view
-Soviet Union involvement
-US involvement
-Israel
-Territorial defense
-Effect on Peru negotiation
-US support
-Phantoms
-Skyhawks
-Public support
-1972 Presidential election issue
-The President’s view
-Bargaining position
-Problems
-Borders
-Jerusalem
-Home’s previous meeting with Meir
-Peace negotiations
-Arabs
-Egypt
-Israel withdrawal from territories
-Great Britain’s relationship with Egypt
-Soviet Union
-Sales of weapons
-Defensive weapons
-Offensive weapons
-Great Britain and US policy
-Effect of Israeli situation
-Egypt
-Syria
-Egypt
-Israel
-Timing for negotiation
-The President’s view
-Terrorism
-Attack on Israeli Olympic team in Munich
-Israeli response
-The President’s view
-Future problems
-Need for settlement
-Effect on Middle East
39
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-US policy
-The President’s view
-Great Britain role
-US domestic situation
-Effect
-Great Britain work with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi [Shah of Iran]
-Sheik of Abu Dhabi
-Islands in Persian Gulf
-Iran
British government
-Home’s previous meeting with Finance Ministries
-Anthony P.L. Barber
-Pierre-Paul Schweitzer
-George P. Shultz
-Schedule
-John B. Connally
-Treasury matters
-Present Administration
-The President’s view
-Cooperation of with US
-Heath’s poll standing
-The President’s view
-[James] Harold Wilson example
-Present situation in Great Britain
-Political climate
-Home’s view
-Inflation
-Trade unions
-Wages
-Inflation
-Need for compromise
-Confederation of British Industry [CBI]
-Election
-Comparison of US and Great Britain labor forces
-The President’s view
-Support in Presidential election
-McGovern
-National defense issues
-George Meany
-Social issues
-Support fort he President
40
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-1932 Presidential election
-Labor union and Labor Party
-Relationship
-Union leaders
-Political philosophy
-Shop stewards
-Communists
-Power struggle
-Leadership
-Level of wages
-Effects of increases
-CBI
-Price increases
-Anthony Benn
-Position on European Economic Community
-Wilson
-US labor movement
-Meany
-Building trades
-Leonard Woodcock
-Automobile unions
-Meany
-Political philosophy
-Support for President
-Economic danger to country
-The president’s view
-Price increases
-Wage increases
-Inflation
-Education
-Problems
-Media example
-Intellectuals
-The president’s view
-Meany
1972 Presidential election
-McGovern
-Support from youth
-Educated
-Uneducated
-Vietnam war issue
41
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Current situation
-Effect
Bull entered at an unknown time after 4:08 pm.
The President’s schedule
Bull left at an unknown time before 5:15 pm.
1972 Presidential election
-Youth
-Vietnam War issue
-Draft
-Casualties
-Troop withdrawals
-Bombing
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-McGovern supporters
-Vietnam War stance
-The President’s supporters
-Reaction to radicalism
-The President’s view
-Drug culture and violence
-Nostalgia
-Romanticism
-Patriotism
-Youth
-The President’s view
-Establishment problem
-The President’s view
-Media
-Television
-Newspapers
-New York Times
-Washington Post
-News magazines
-College professors
-Church
-Catholics
-Northern protestants
-Supporters of the President’s policies
-Traditional enemies
42
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Organized labor
-Defense and Vietnam issue
-Agriculture
-Education
-The President’s view
-Eastern schools
-University of California
-Left-leaning tendencies
-Professors
-Reaction by students
-Vietnam issue
Home’s schedule
The President and Home left at 5:15 pm.