On February 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:02 pm to 12:15 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 865-024 of the White House Tapes.
Transcript (AI-Generated)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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Uh-huh.
That's what Rod, as he talked this morning with Trent, and what he got isn't a hell of a lot, but we can make it into something.
What he got was, in a private meeting, what he's willing to say, between Secretary of State Rod and Foreign Minister Trent, the Foreign Minister said that he intended to fully carry out the provisions of Paris Agreement dealing with POWs.
In this connection, he gave the assurance of his government that all POWs held by his government would be released within the 60-day period set forth in the agreement.
That's nothing.
We've already said that publicly.
With regard to the next phase of release of the POWs, Foreign Minister Trinh said that the matter would be discussed at once in the Joint Military Commission.
And what I think we should say is...
with regard to the next phase of release of the POWs, which under Article 4 of the protocol is due, was due on February 28th.
Foreign Minister Tripp gave the assurance and then said in order to work out the detailed arrangement, but that ties into the 28th.
Well, the 28th.
Well, but we'll just do it.
Let them deny it.
Right.
Yes.
Well, I think Roger should have beaten him silly.
There's no dispute about the 60 days.
The dispute is about the 15 days.
No, but if we put this out, we'll get more.
And then he wants us to say, in the light of this, the President has asked Rogers to proceed with the other business of the Congress.
But my feeling is, Mr. President, if we would be...
What we should say is, well, we can't, if we put in the 15 days and say, no, as soon as this is worked out, the person who's directed the deed, then we proceed with the other items to the conference.
We have to put it down.
As soon as the agency has made these arrangements, the person who's directed the project, we would say, proceed with the other items on the agenda for the conference.
All right.
And I think with regard to the next phase of the release, it will be the which under Article 4 of the Protocol.
In my fear, through these passes, Mr. President, we just make them turn down.
Well, what I think is happening here is that Mr. Grant would not have sent that unless he had already heard.
I mean, now, what do you think he would have?
Would he have told Rogers this?
No, no, no, they haven't.
But just because they're caving, we ought to pay attention to them.
My point is that they're caving because there's something wrong that he's not aware of.
Exactly.
Do you agree?
Totally.
And he can be made aware of later.
Well, no, I've told him these stuffed pistols and mining.
Have you informed him?
No, that I didn't tell him.
That's the point.
See, informing them is important.
Well...
Yes, but this is why we just should affirm and let them then publicly say, in order to work out the...
This is true.
Let's do this way.
It started before state of the protocol.
Soon as these arrangements are agreed to, which is tonight here.
No, the conference doesn't meet again, sir.
Then let's skip it.
I think, Mr. President...
Absolutely.
Roberts is not going to go back there, though.
Wait a minute.
Does he want to go right back now?
Because of this, he doesn't consider this.
That's why I asked you the rhetorical question.
Why do you consider this?
The answer is not enough.
What Roberts wants to do...
They'll complete them by then.
If that's what I would ask, the list of ships that go out on Tennessee does it in Paris, and they can break it into James Sea?
They can break it into James Sea within 10 hours.
It's midnight there now.
And if you put this out now, that will hit Hanoi.
This was a proposed Roger statement, and I'm trying to break it, so I don't know.
His statement is too soft.
And it doesn't say anything about this way.
Well, his statement is basically indicating to me that everything is just hunky-dory.
There's nothing to worry about.
Oh, shit.
They are screwing around on that.
And we're just going to say it.
That's right.
Now, you agree, huh?
Completely.
All right.
What it says now... Let Ron see if he understands.
Okay.
Read it.
In a private meeting between Secretary of State Rogers and Foreign Minister Trent, the Foreign Minister stated he intended to fully carry out the provisions of the Paris Agreement dealing with POWs.
In this connection, he gave the assurance that this government, that his government, that all POWs held by his government would be released within the 60-day period set forth in the agreement.
With regard to the next phase of release of the POWs, what is your word here?
Which under protocol?
The protocol is due this week.
Foreign Minister Trent said that the matter would be discussed at once during the military commission in order to work out the detailed arrangements.
The President has directed Secretary Rogers to proceed with the other business of the conference as scheduled as soon as these arrangements are completed.
Thank you.
As soon as the arrangements for the release of the... As soon as the arrangements for the... Next.
For the next... That's right.
Rather than these arrangements, you see, as soon as the arrangements... For the next phase of the prison release... For the next phase is... Is what?
Uncompleted.
The conference business will continue as soon as the list is handed over.
Yes, sir.
Is that clear?
The business will proceed as soon as you have a date for the next meeting.
Now, this will be reported as a problem, basically solved.
If I go to the state and then it's recorded as being solved, then they start snowboarding again.
That's right.
Okay.