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Conversation 906-006

TapeTape 906StartFriday, April 27, 1973 at 8:36 AMEndFriday, April 27, 1973 at 8:45 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to review a wide range of foreign policy initiatives and administrative personnel matters. Key topics included the status of upcoming diplomatic efforts with North Vietnam, preparations for Kissinger’s trip to Moscow, and the scheduling of the US-USSR summit. They also discussed logistical arrangements for John Connally’s world tour, concerns regarding federal bureaucracy following H.R. Haldeman’s departure, and the cancellation of Emperor Hirohito’s visit to the United States.

Foreign PolicyVietnam WarUS-USSR RelationsDiplomatic ProtocolFederal BureaucracyJohn B. Connally
AudioNARA Description

On April 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:36 am to 8:45 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 906-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 906-6

Date: April 27, 1973
Time: 8:36 am - 8:45 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     President’s trip to Mississippi

     Vietnam
          -Henry A. Kissinger’s meeting with Le Duc Tho
               -William H. Sullivan’s trip
               -Timing of announcement
                     -Leak
                     -North Vietnam’s denial

     John B. Connally’s forthcoming world trip
                                         -8-

             NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                (rev. October-2012)

                                                         Conversation No. 906-6 (cont’d)

     -Request for introductions to heads of state
          -US Embassies
          -Clearances, protocol
                -Treasury Secretary
          -Report to President upon return
                -Extension of courtesy
                -Possible business
                       -Kissinger’s concern
                             -Press
          -VIP treatment
          -Invocation of President

Ambassadorships
    -Appointments of William R. Kitner and Henry A. Byroade
         -William P. Rogers’s refusal
         -President’s memorandum [memo]

Kissinger’s visit to Moscow
      -Announcement
      -State Departmen
      -US - Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
            -Leaks
                   -Rogers

Georges J. R. Pompidou
     -Announcement
           -Meeting with President in Iceland

Byroade appointment

Federal bureaucracy
     -Need for control
           -Defense Department
     -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman replacement

President’s memo concerning Byroade
                                        -9-

               NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                (rev. October-2012)

                                                      Conversation No. 906-6 (cont’d)

US-Japan relations
     -Hirohito [Emperor of Japan] visit to US
     -Masayoshi Ohira
     -Kakuei Tanaka’s visit
           -Announcement
     -Hirohito’s visit to US
           -Reasons for cancellation
                 -Domestic political opposition

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
      -Kissinger’s position
      -Treaty on the Prevention of Nuclear War

US-USSR summit
    -Announcement

Ohira
        -Visit with President

Nicolae Ceausescu’s message to president
     -Special emissary
           -Kissinger’s intercession
                 -Value
     -Spain

President’s Atlantic speech
      -France’s reaction

Byroade appointment
     -Rogers
     -Theodore Lyman Elliot, Jr.

William J. Casey

[David] Kenneth Rush
     -Trip
                                               -10-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. October-2012)

                                                            Conversation No. 906-6 (cont’d)

      President’s meeting with John C. Stennis [?]

      Watergate
           -Kissinger’s meeting with Stennis

      Time

Kissinger left at 8:45 am.
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.

Well, we made the mistake on that meeting I had with Lee.
I told David, didn't agree to an announcement, so we leaked it out.
I mean, we said Sullivan is going, and now they are denying it.
We have their messages, agreeing to it.
We can put out their messages if things get too bad.
You mean, you don't think they want a meeting?
Oh, they want a meeting, but they wanted to leak it, to put it out later.
Will there be a meeting?
Oh, yeah.
In the middle of May.
But don't worry about the denial and so forth.
I mean, we have their messages.
The facts catch up with the facts.
Oh, the facts.
We can always put out the...
I have one thing.
Connolly is taking a world trip, and he's asking our embassies to introduce him to heads of government everywhere.
And I've got a cable here for clearance.
I mean, he hasn't quite asked it yet.
And I wonder whether you want that at this time.
Heads of government.
And as I can say, where the former, I put it that way, the former Secretary of the Treasury, the previous Secretary of the Treasury, and everything, you know, including Claire, and me, in other words, Claire, Claire Redding, the founder of the United States, the President of the United States, the President of the United States, the President of the United States,
I think I should have a phrase in there, normal shortages, just in case people can run... All of our policies are going to be that, but what you say is that the President did that.
It's very common to report to him on his return on his trip.
This is not official, but he will report to the President on his return on his trip.
Therefore, any policies including
I thought we should keep your name out of business, because I'm just worried if he does any business on the trip.
I'll put anything in if you want, that we might get some lousy stories.
I don't know what he's doing, but we can certainly get him VIP treatment.
All right.
Well, we'll appreciate it.
As a former secretary of the trade union, we really thank you for your speech and the range of minutes you've had.
And where appropriate.
Where appropriate?
We can say anything you say as long as I think your name is in it.
All right.
Now, Robert is refusing to put through the entire report.
I don't think you...
we are announcing on Monday my visit to Moscow and I'll be leaving Thursday night we haven't told the state yet so I guess we'll tell them tomorrow that it's
to be done in preparation of the summit.
You tell them.
I just wanted you to know in case you get any.
You can't say in preparation of the summit are illegal.
Well, I can tell Ron if he doesn't believe me.
Tell Ron if he says it.
But the point is, tell him, however, they're very sensitive about having the announcement as to the summit.
It's not in the announcement.
Yeah.
I see what I'm getting at.
Just say that you're going over there to have just to have some discussions on some major issues.
We've got the Pompidou visit now set for May 31st.
We're aiming for next Thursday.
We've got to go to the Icelanders.
I just don't like it.
But, of course, we will, I mean, this is not the time.
We have to get that bureaucracy under control after this is over, because...
I understand that.
It's the same with defense.
They all think now with Bob out of action that they can...
They were preoccupied.
Well, I'm going to replace Bob as the chief of staff, so they're going to go out there and they'll find out.
And...
I wrote that memorandum personally.
Yeah, you wrote it by hand.
They don't like Bayreuth, and they say they don't want hearings, but the basic point is he has a signed memo by you over there.
But the Japanese have canceled the visit of the emperor here for this fall.
Why, thank God.
And I think we should treat them cruelly now for a bit.
Oh, here I wanted to come over to explain it to you, and I don't think we should let him come.
Yeah.
But they wanted to announce the Tanaka visit this week, and we told them, no, we'll wait at that.
We'll announce it.
I mean, they shouldn't think they can kick us in the teeth, because the failure of the emperor to come also means you can't show that.
Mostly for domestic reasons.
Their left wing attacked Tanaka for using the Emperor's visit.
Well, the hell with it.
It's got nothing to do with it.
I'd love to have an Emperor not come here.
God damn it.
Do you remember how double that was up there at the last time?
Unbelievable.
So let's just forget it.
But on Tanaka, I would just wait a couple weeks.
That's what I think.
Now, on Saul's justice report, Mr. President, I'm not bothering you with... No, listen, Henry, you know how to do Saul.
All right.
I'm working...
an attainable position, I think, through the bureaucracy now.
And just in case anyone comes to you, the chief will be a little uneasy, but everyone has to agree.
I know why I asked you to come to the summit.
Because the nuclear treaty in pretty good shape.
I know why I asked you to come here.
The thing to do is to get that Russian summit arranged.
Yes, that will be done next week.
And when I come back, it can be announced within a day or two afterwards.
We should, for two weeks from Monday, we'll be able to announce the summary.
So, you agree that we not let O'Hara come over here to see you?
Oh, I will see him.
Now, Kotescu has sent a special emissary here with a message for you.
No, I don't take any more of those.
I'm through with that.
I've seen him for you.
I don't take any more of that procedure anymore.
Well, that's his line.
It's the people who bring things in.
Well, I've seen the message.
It's not worth your time.
Well, the point is that I just want that procedure stopped anyway.
You know, that Spanish guy came in.
I got a message, you know, with the help of that.
I do not take special messages anymore.
You know what I mean?
It's just a way to get around.
They want to have a message.
You know what I mean?
The French made a very warm statement about the speech, the Atlantic speech, but saying it was your proposal.
I mean, they put it in terms of the President's proposal for it.
Actually, that was a good flyer, wasn't it?
And, well, it doesn't sound much.
Well, I didn't want to take on Rogers directly at this time, but it went to Ted Elliott, who is his staff secretary.
Elliott has nothing to do with it.
How's Casey?
How's Rebecca?
Russia's on the trip right now.
Russia's okay.
Casey, I have no clear judgment of yet.
Well, I thought the other day, he's very supportive.
He said a few things about what we were doing.
Very quickly.
Rather than talking to you, I have ten to nine.
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