President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate foreign policy strategy, specifically addressing the management of congressional visits to the People’s Republic of China to ensure the administration retains control over these diplomatic channels. They also evaluated military risks in Southeast Asia, discussing the timing of potential bombing campaigns against North Vietnamese infiltration along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the status of cease-fire violations in Cambodia and Laos. Ultimately, the discussion centered on utilizing the President's reputation for unpredictability to pressure North Vietnam while securing the return of American prisoners of war.
On March 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:01 pm to 3:12 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 878-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 878-15
Date: March 13, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:01 pm and 3:12 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
Kissinger's meeting
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 878-15 (cont’d)
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Charles H. Percy's trip
-Children
-State Department
-Note to Chou En-lai
-Affront to President
-Trip
-Percy's presence
-Effect
-Senators and Congressmen
-State Department channels
-Invitations by PRC
-Compared to nomination by Administration
-Percy
-Arrangements
-Percy’s wife
-Harvard Club of Chicago
-Music
-Discussions with Kissinger
-Chou
-Invitations
-Involvement of State Department
-William P. Rogers
-Administration’s selection of Senate invitees
-Senators and Congressmen
-Percy
-Administration supporters
Prisoners of War [POWs]
-President's talk with Col. Robinson Risner and Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr.
-Reactions to bombing
-North Vietnam
-Kissinger’s visit to Vietnam
-US aid
Aid to North Vietnam
-Public reaction
-Poll
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 878-15 (cont’d)
-Vietnam settlement
-Violations
Cambodia
-US bombing
-Emory C. Swank
-Dismissal
***************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National security]
[Duration: 2s]
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
***************************************************************************
-Richard M. Helms
-Dr. James R. Schlesinger
Vietnam
-Ho Chi Minh Trail
-Bombing
-Infiltration
-Kissinger's paper
-Withdrawal of troops
-Options
-Risk management
-President’s unpredictability
-North Vietnam’s reactions
-Cambodia
-Cease-fire
-Troop withdrawal
-North Vietnam
-Confusion
-Khmer Rouge
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 878-15 (cont’d)
-Control
-Laos
-North Vietnam withdrawal
-Deadline
-Political conditions
-New government
-Aid to North Vietnam
-Presence in Laos
-Infiltration
-North Vietnam
-Troops in Cambodia
-South Vietnam
-Number
-Infiltration
-POWs
-Bombing
-1974
-Buildup
Kissinger left at 3:12 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.