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Conversation: 881-002

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Start Date: 16-Mar-1973 10:18 AM

End Date: 16-Mar-1973 10:33 AM

Participants:

Nixon, Richard M. (President)Kissinger, Henry A.

Recording Device: Oval Office

881-002.mp3

NARA Description:

On March 16, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:18 am to 10:33 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 881-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid:

Conversation No. 881-2

Date: March 16, 1973
Time: 10:18 am -10:33 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

       US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] relations
           -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
           -Leonid I. Brezhnev's message to President
           -Human Rights Commission
                 -Resolution
                 -Geneva
                 -Free emigration
                 -Kissinger's call to [David] Kenneth Rush
                       -Andrei A. Gromyko
                       -Dobrynin
                 -Rush's call to Kissinger
                       -US resolution
                              -Handling
                                    -Jewish protests
           -US representative to Human Rights Commission
                 -Ties to Jewish organizations
                                      -2-

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                              Tape Subject Log
                               (rev. July-2010)
                                                       Conversation No. 881-2 (cont’d)


          -Explanation of actions
     -US resolution on free emigration
          -William P. Rogers
          -Recall of US representative
          -State Department’s role
                 -Rogers, Rush
          -Dobrynin's reaction
          -Brezhnev
          -Rush
          -Jewish emigration
                 -President's message to Congress
                       -Impact
                              -Support for President
          -Written report
                 -Rush
                 -Dobrynin
          -Senate Democratic Caucus
                 -Overseas troops
                 -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
          -Jewish protests
                 -President's sympathies
          -Congressional action
                 -President's opposition
          -Max Fisher
          -Statistics of Soviet Jewish emigrants
                 -Publicity
          -Message for Dobrynin
                 -Recall of US representative
                 -President's meeting with Jewish leaders
          -Brezhnev
                 -President’s note
          -Rush
                 -Telephone call
                       -Apology

Overseas troops
     -Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction [MBFR]
            -European concerns

Vietnam
                                          -3-

            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                Tape Subject Log
                                 (rev. July-2010)
                                                         Conversation No. 881-2 (cont’d)


      -US military action
           -Timing
           -President's message to North Vietnam
                  -Timing
                  -President's press conference
                  -Effectiveness
           -Options
                  -Troop withdrawals
                        -Appearance of weakness
                  -Prisoners of War [POWs] release
                        North Vietnam’s action
                  -Bombing
                  -Economic commission [?]
                        -Mining
                  -Safest course
                        -POW release
                        -President’s statement on television [TV]
                        -Nguyen Van Thieu’s visit
           -Peace settlement
                  -Enforcement
                        -Public reaction
                               -Respect for President
                        -Violations
                  -1969 chances for peace
           -Thieu
                  -South Vietnam
           -President’s message to North Vietnam
                  -North Vietnam’s response

President's press conference
      -New York Times
      -TV
      -Dr. David K. E. Bruce
             -Vietnam
      -Questions
      -Watergate
             -John N. Mitchell
             -Reasons for break-in
             -Public reaction
             -Disclosure of information
                                              -4-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                       (rev. July-2010)
                                                              Conversation No. 881-2 (cont’d)


                   -White House staff testimony
                         -Position
                   -Kissinger's talk with Joseph A. Califano, Jr.
                         -Clark M. Clifford
                         -Califano's reaction to Watergate trial
                               -Court system
                               -Senate hearings
                   -Controversy
                         -Comparison with India-Pakistan War
                         -International Telephone and Telegraph [ITT]

       Brezhnev’s visit to US
            -Public interest
                  -“Big plays”

       Vietnam
            -Possible defeat
                  -Bombing
                  -1974 election
                        -Impact
                  -1975, 1976 predictions
                        -Prospects
                              -Peace settlement
                              -US handling of North Vietnam

       Cambodia
           -Bombing
                -B-52s
                -Intelligence reports
                -Targets
                -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer

       President's meetings with John W. Dean, III

       Human Rights Commission resolution
           -Kissinger's message to Dobrynin
                 -Rush
                       -Personal apology

Kissinger left at 10:33 am.
                                             -5-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     Tape Subject Log
                                      (rev. July-2010)