Nixon White House Tapes › Topic
Nixon Tapes on Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)
23 conversations · frequently with Nixon, Kissinger, Bull, Haig
President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers met to discuss delicate foreign policy issues, including the situation in Laos involving UN Secretary-General U Thant and broader strategic considerations regarding China and the Soviet Union. The two also discussed the administration's public relations strategy, with Nixon emphasizing the need to control the release of information to the press to avoid appearing reactive. Additionally, the President expressed strong opposition to placing public housing projects in suburban neighborhoods, framing the issue as an economic concern rather than a racial one.
President Nixon met with George Shultz and Alexander Haig to discuss the administration's economic and defense strategies. Nixon expressed strong support for retaining Paul McCracken as a steady hand on the economy, despite internal rumors of his potential departure. The President also outlined a highly confidential, multi-pronged approach to international relations, emphasizing the need for absolute secrecy regarding potential ABM agreements with the Soviet Union and the use of hard-line tactics to pressure North Vietnam into negotiations before the upcoming political window closed.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss legislative strategy regarding the Mansfield resolution on U.S. troops in Europe and the upcoming announcement of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). Kissinger updated the President on sensitive negotiations with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin and emphasized the political value of Nixon leading the 'establishment' on foreign policy to neutralize congressional opposition. The conversation underscored the President's goal of securing a bipartisan consensus to bolster his foreign policy agenda ahead of the upcoming congressional recess.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met with Senator Edward Brooke to discuss the administration's strategic foreign policy, specifically focusing on the delicate negotiations regarding the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, and arms control. The President emphasized the need for discretion regarding ongoing initiatives to avoid undermining diplomatic efforts or domestic support, while urging Brooke to maintain a unified front against congressional efforts to impose troop withdrawal deadlines. The conversation served to align their messaging and ensure that legislative pressure, such as the Mansfield Amendment, would not jeopardize the administration's broader geopolitical objectives.
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Charles Colson met to discuss political strategy for the 1972 election, focusing on how to undermine potential Democratic rivals like Edward Kennedy and Edmund Muskie. They also assessed the legislative status of the Supersonic Transport (SST) and expressed frustration regarding the current leadership in the U.S. Senate. Henry Kissinger joined the latter portion of the meeting to finalize the timing and announcement strategy for the upcoming Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) negotiations with the USSR.
In this Oval Office meeting, President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and other key staff to coordinate the rollout of a major breakthrough in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) with the Soviet Union. The President emphasized the need to maintain secrecy regarding the specific channels used to achieve this diplomatic progress while ensuring that the public message highlighted his personal initiative and the transition to simultaneous negotiations on offensive and defensive weapons. Additionally, Donald Rumsfeld and Robert Finch reported on their recent foreign tour, discussing European perceptions of U.S. foreign policy, the status of U.S. ambassadors, and the challenge of managing drug usage among military personnel abroad.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the media's coverage of the ongoing Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), specifically focusing on how major outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post were portraying the negotiations. Nixon expressed frustration with the press's characterization of the potential agreement, viewing their critical stance as an attempt to protect their past editorial positions. Ultimately, they agreed that Kissinger should maintain a positive, firm narrative during upcoming press briefings, emphasizing the importance of a simultaneous approach to both offensive and defensive weapons.
President Nixon and Charles Colson met to discuss the administration's political strategy regarding the recent killing of police officers, with Nixon expressing frustration over the Justice Department's failure to take aggressive legal action or project a sufficiently firm image. The two strategized on how to exploit the issue to court public support and push for new federal legislation against police killings, while also reviewing current polling data and congressional maneuvering on the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Antiballistic Missile (ABM) program. Nixon emphasized his desire for a hard-line, proactive stance to contrast with Democratic candidates, ultimately tasking Colson with finding ways to leverage these issues for electoral advantage.
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and others to discuss administrative matters, including the President's recent Southern trip, press strategy, and upcoming state visits. The group reviewed the success of the President's recent tour, debated the merits of using certificates of appreciation to bolster local support, and strategized on how to better leverage public relations for administration priorities like the drug crisis. Furthermore, the President and Kissinger discussed the ongoing Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), with Nixon emphasizing the need to adopt a hardline stance toward the Soviet Union to ensure progress before any potential summit.
President Nixon met with Danish representative Torben Ronne and Henry Kissinger to discuss international security, specifically regarding the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union, and ongoing Vietnam War tensions. The discussion emphasized the need for a coordinated alliance position on arms control and regional stability, while Ronne expressed concerns regarding potential unilateral diplomatic recognition of Hanoi by other Scandinavian countries. Nixon reaffirmed the administration's commitment to consulting with Denmark on sensitive regional matters and acknowledged the Danish government's support regarding troop levels and foreign policy alignment.
President Nixon met with staff and diplomats in two distinct sessions to coordinate logistics for Tricia Nixon’s upcoming wedding and to discuss foreign policy strategy regarding the Soviet Union and China. During the first segment, Nixon and his aides finalized guest lists, entertainment plans, and security arrangements for wedding-related social events, specifically managing the inclusion of personal friends and family members. In the second portion, the President pivoted to a strategic review of trade and foreign policy with Jacob Beam and Helmut Sonnenfeldt, focusing on the potential for utilizing trade incentives, such as grain deals and commercial credits, to improve U.S. relations with Communist powers and expand American diplomatic leverage. Nixon emphasized a desire for a more assertive, hard-line administrative image while exploring the practical utility of trade restrictions as a tool for Cold War maneuvering.
President Nixon met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Vice President Agnew, and key defense officials to review the military’s fiscal year 1973 budget and strategic posture. The Joint Chiefs presented briefings on the shifting global military balance, particularly the expansion of Soviet strategic and conventional forces, and argued that current fiscal constraints threatened the effectiveness of the Nixon Doctrine. The President emphasized the need to build a compelling public and congressional case for defense requirements to counter an anti-military climate, while acknowledging the severe domestic fiscal pressures he faced.
President Nixon and his senior advisors, including H. R. Haldeman, Henry Kissinger, and John Connally, met to discuss defense budget strategies, the political fallout from Taiwan's expulsion from the United Nations, and preparations for upcoming foreign diplomacy. Nixon emphasized the need for a leaner, more effective military posture that focuses on strategic procurement rather than broad manpower, while also debating the risks of domestic political opposition and the impact of the defense budget on the economy. The group analyzed the necessity of maintaining a strong defense to bolster negotiating positions with the Soviet Union and China, while also coordinating the administration’s measured public response to the UN vote.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met with photographer Ollie Atkins to pose for promotional images before transitioning to a strategic review of foreign policy and public relations. Kissinger updated the President on recent discussions with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin regarding the upcoming Moscow summit, arms control, and potential Vietnam peace proposals. The pair also analyzed the domestic political response to Nixon's recent peace plan, expressing frustration with press criticism while noting broad public support despite media preoccupation with Kissinger's role as a secret emissary.
President Nixon and members of the National Security Council met to evaluate strategic options for the ongoing Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), focusing on ABM site deployments and the potential inclusion of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). Nixon emphasized the political necessity of securing an agreement that prevents Soviet strategic superiority, while participants debated the relative merits of "hard-site" defense versus current safeguard proposals and the impact of these negotiations on Congressional support. The discussion underscored a shared concern regarding the erosion of U.S. bargaining leverage and established a firm directive to pursue an agreement based on the principle of strategic equivalency.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed sensitive foreign policy and electoral strategy ahead of the upcoming Soviet summit. They deliberated on the complex technical aspects of the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT), particularly regarding radar and missile site configurations, while seeking to prevent the bureaucracy and negotiator Gerard C. Smith from securing unfavorable terms. The pair also coordinated plans to have Secretary of State William P. Rogers conduct European diplomatic outreach to bolster the administration's position, while simultaneously managing the political risks associated with potential agreements in the Middle East and Vietnam during an election year.
President Nixon met with Gerard Smith and Alexander Haig to discuss the strategic approach and political risks regarding the upcoming Soviet summit and potential arms control agreements. The President emphasized that while an agreement is desirable, it must be robust enough to withstand political attacks from the right wing, which he viewed as a greater threat than critics on the left. The participants assessed the implications of including submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in the deal and discussed tactics for managing congressional reactions and maintaining bargaining power ahead of the Moscow summit.
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger, Melvin Laird, and John Chafee to discuss the worsening North Vietnamese offensive and the military response required to protect South Vietnamese positions. Nixon emphasized the necessity of using intensified air and naval power to grind down invading forces, comparing the tactical retreat to historical battles like Ypres and Verdun to underscore his strategy of consolidation and counter-offensive. The President also discussed upcoming U.S.-Soviet relations and political messaging for his administration, while offering personal counsel to Chafee regarding his campaign for the U.S. Senate.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the deteriorating situation in Vietnam due to the North Vietnamese offensive and the potential for a U.S. response, including increased bombing or the cancellation of the upcoming Soviet summit. They analyzed the political risks of the summit, particularly regarding how appearing to accommodate the Soviet Union while Soviet-supplied weaponry was being used against U.S. forces would impact presidential credibility and domestic support. Nixon instructed Kissinger to prepare a draft speech that would allow for flexibility in the U.S. response, opting to delay final decisions on the summit and military actions until early the following week.
President Nixon met with various national veteran organization leaders to solicit support for his administration's national defense and foreign policies, specifically regarding the ongoing Vietnam War and recent diplomatic overtures to Beijing and Moscow. Nixon emphasized the necessity of maintaining military strength and a robust nuclear deterrent to remain a credible negotiator during future arms control talks and to uphold international commitments. He defended his decision to mine Haiphong harbor as a crucial strategic move to ensure a favorable conclusion to the war and urged the attendees to support a policy that avoids complacency in the face of communist expansion.
President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and Henry Kissinger to coordinate the administration's public messaging regarding ongoing Middle East negotiations and the President's recent meetings with foreign leaders. They discussed managing expectations to avoid premature hopes for peace while maintaining a firm diplomatic stance that emphasizes eventual direct talks between the involved parties. Additionally, Nixon and Kissinger reviewed Soviet relations, the strategic arms balance, and their shared concern that domestic political pressure regarding the emigration of Soviet Jews could undermine U.S. foreign policy objectives.
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed adjustments to the President's upcoming schedule, specifically coordinating meetings with Jewish leaders and congressional representatives around Passover constraints. They also addressed the importance of maintaining an active role in National Security Council briefings and noted progress regarding Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). Kissinger emphasized that these strategic engagements were intended to stabilize foreign policy optics amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.
In this meeting, President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Secretary of State William Rogers discussed the administration's foreign policy strategy amidst the growing pressure of the Watergate scandal. The participants focused on preparing for an upcoming Soviet summit, managing ongoing negotiations regarding the Paris Peace talks and Cambodia, and evaluating personnel changes within the State Department. Despite concerns about domestic distractions and Congressional opposition, they emphasized the necessity of maintaining a firm stance in international negotiations, particularly regarding nuclear arms control and Southeast Asian stability.