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Conversation 945-004

TapeTape 945StartTuesday, June 19, 1973 at 11:02 AMEndTuesday, June 19, 1973 at 11:04 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Sanchez, Manolo;  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss logistics and planning for the upcoming visit of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, specifically focusing on the itinerary for Camp David and the presidential yacht, the Sequoia. Kissinger updates the President on the Soviet Union's attempt to offer a non-aggression treaty to China, noting that the Chinese rejected the overture due to their ongoing relationship with the United States. The participants resolve to maintain flexibility regarding the Brezhnev schedule while ensuring the Soviet leader's security concerns are addressed.

Leonid BrezhnevHenry KissingerUS-USSR relationsChina-USSR relationsCamp DavidSequoiaDiplomatic strategy
AudioNARA Description

On June 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:02 am to 11:04 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 945-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 945-4

Date: June 19, 1973
Time: 11:02 am - 11:04 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

      Delivery

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 11:02 am.

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 11:04 am.

      Leonid I. Brezhnev’s visit
           -Agenda
                  -Kissinger’s conversation with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                  -President’s speech [?]
                  -[Plenary session]
                  -Camp David, Sequoia

      Kissinger’s previous conversation with People’s Republic of China [PRC] ambassador
            -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]-PRC Non-aggression treaty
                  -US-USSR treaty
                        -Forewarning
                                           -20-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. July-2011)

                                                          Conversation No. 945-4 (cont’d)

                  -PRC reply
                       -Statement

      Brezhnev’s visit
           -Agenda
                 -Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                 -Camp David, Sequoia
                 -Sergei Antonov’s view
                       -Sequoia
                 -Camp David
                 -Economic meeting [plenary session]
                 -Sequoia, Camp David, economic meeting
                 -Dobrynin
                       -Sequoia, Camp David

Kissinger left at 11:04 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.

Hey, uh, sorry, my, my question is, the issue is, um, um, about changing the schedule of the program, I think, and I talked to Dave, you see, that you should, quote, be to the side, say the schedule is now, that it's tough to change it so many hours.
Experts coming to the field might need it.
I went to the foot of my feet.
Uh, and we don't want to have it up there and save it.
But I believe in my people.
We can talk after we can't save it after we take our boat, right?
Yeah, that you could do.
I also saw the Chinese, uh, just, uh, uh,
The Russians, just before they left, offered them a non-aggression treaty, saying they were going to make a treaty with us.
Offered them a non-aggression treaty to show us the sort of game the Russians are playing.
The Chinese, luckily, we had kept the Chinese well informed of what we were doing, so they didn't hear it from the Russians.
The Chinese served out the non-aggression treaty, saying, we are already allies, and it would derogate from the alliance.
They were despised.
But it shows that, you know, we want to get back to...
But don't, no, you don't have to do anything.
Unless...
Unless... We have from the Secret Service level...
General Artona, but they never wanted him to go on the boat to begin with.
Or should we stay on the boat?
I don't see the damn fuck going on that boat.
I just... let him take the initiative and let him be...
I'd certainly not go up to Kandahar to say, I don't know, you'll be out of action for 48 hours.
All right, all right, all right.
No, we have to take him out and beat him four o'clock.
That's it.
And I don't...
You can yield on the sequoia and it'll add a little color to it and it'll be whiter.
That can be.
Well, he...
Yeah, it's partly that he may be tired.
And it's also his secret service not wanting him in the Sequoia.
The main advantage of the Sequoia is it's a different kind of story.
And he'll be up there anyway for another day and a half.
And also it would avoid this idea that he's so totally selfish that he doesn't get anywhere.
Well, God, if you didn't work it out, you'd bring that back to me.
Thank you.
Thank you.
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