338–1

Conversation No. 338-1

Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown after 5:25-5:55 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, John B. Connally, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and
Adm. Thomas H. Moorer. The recording began at an unknown time while the meeting was in
progress.

Vietnam
-A rehearsal
-Possible South Vietnam offensive
-North Vietnamese artillery
-Concentration
-Ground forces
-South Vietnam positions
-Artillery
-Availability
-Reasons
-US blockade
-Effectiveness
-Mining
-Ships
-Time
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Confidentiality
-Blockade
-Ports
-Speed
-Timing
-Ships
-Positioning
-Air strikes
-Possible delays
-Intensity
-Supply convoys
-Artillery
-Reports
-Highway One
-Gen. John W. Vogt
-Highway 137
 2

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 338-1 (cont.)
-Vankari Pass
-Highway 1052
-Dimilitarized zone [DMZ]
-North Vietnam losses
-South Vietnam counteraction
-North Vietnam losses
-Haig mission to South Vietnam
-Air strikes
-Dikes
-Prestige of the US military
-The President’s view
-US plans
-Officers
-Amphibious landing
-Bombing
-Weather
-Hanoi and Haiphong bombing
-The President’s view
-Duration
-Intensity
-Civilian casualties
-The President’s instructions
-Duration
-Intensity

Moorer and Haig left at 5:35 pm.

Vietnam
-Stakes of US
-The President’s view
-Power
-Connally’s view
-Bombing
-Communist takeover
-Cambodia
-Laos
-President's goals
-Attacks on North Vietnam
-Extent
-Air strikes
-Duration
-Intensity
 3

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 338-1 (cont.)
-Anticipated criticism
-President's response
-Public support
-Public stance
-Communist sanctuaries
-North Vietnam
-Laos
-Cambodia
-President's offers
-Peace offers
-Ceasefire
-Concessions
-President's actions
-Consequences for North Vietnamese offensive
-Support
-Lyndon B. Johnson's policies
-Deficiencies
-North Vietnam offensive
-President's response
-Criticism
-Senate
-Publicity
-South Vietnam civilian casualties
-Media coverage
-Responsibility

Connally left at 5:40 pm.

Speechwriters
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-Speech announcing blockade
-Compared with the President's previous speech on Vietnam
-William L. Safire
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Writing ability
-Safire
-Compared with Andrews

Vietnam
-President's speech announcing blockade
-Wording
-Organization
 4

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec-01)
Conv. No. 338-1 (cont.)
-Contents
-Blockade compared bombing
-Advantages
-Public opinion
-Psychological impact
-Purposes
-North Vietnam
-The President’s view
-Blockade
-Announcement
-Air strikes
-Announcement
-Melvin R. Laird
-Blockade
-Preparation
-Number of ships involved
-Laird
-Soviet Summit
-Cancellation
-Consequences
-Advantages
-Pacifist option

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods at an unknown time between 5:40 and 5:55 pm.

[Conversation No. 338-1A]

Woods's schedule
-Dinner with the President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

[End of telephone conversation]

-Camp David
-Time

Haldeman left at 5:55 pm.