488–15

Conversation No. 488-15
Conv. No. 488-12 (cont.)
Date: April 27, 1971
Time: 10:19 am - 11:43 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

Weather

Vietnam
-North Vietnamese military activities
-Attacks on US bases
-US casualties
-Figures
-US casualties
-Projections
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Drop

President's People's Republic of China [PRC] initiative
-General Vernon A. Walters
-Jean Sainteny
-Edgar P. Snow’s reports
-Mao Tse-tung
-President's possible visit
-Press report
-H.R. Haldeman's reaction
-Support for President
-Stories
-Hugh S. Sidey
-John F. Osborne
-John (unintelligible surname)
-Snow’s report
-Snow's activities and reports
-US messages
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-US proposals
-Press reports
-Possible US response
-Press conference

Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-US stance
-Networks
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Coverage
-Administration's position

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:19 am.

Refreshment

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 10:50 am.

Vietnam
-Press
-1970 campaign
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Stewart J.O. Alsop's forthcoming article
-Democrats
-1972 elections
-Policy towards Vietnam
-Kissinger's activities
-Woodstock
-Europeans
-Americans
-Donald W. Riegle, Jr.
-Support for the President
-David Rockefeller
-Arthur H. Dean
-Robert B. Anderson
-Public relations
-Possible administration counterattacks
-Administration opponents
-US bombing targets
-Laos
 15

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Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Opponents
-Alsop's view
-Democrats position
-Effect on US foreign policy

[Transcript #1: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives andConv.
Records
No. 488-15 (cont.)
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

Public relations efforts
-Cabinet
-John B. Connally
-Agnew

Agnew
-Activities
-Remarks regarding PRC
-Schedule
-Jamaica
-Timing

[Transcript #2: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

President's schedule
-Previous meeting with Melvin R. Laird
-Laird's health
-David Packard
-Family
-Vietnam
-Lucile Packard
-Stanford University
-Friends
-Establishment
-Government
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Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-President’s view of Packard’s service

Government service
-Difficulty
-Friends

***********************************************************************
Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Privacy]
[Duration: 20s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

**********************************************************************


-Previous Cabinet meeting
-Elliot L. Richardson
-White House youth conference
-Stephen Hess

Youth
-Richardson's views
-Need for communication
-President’s position
-Activists
-Kissinger's schedule
-Meetings with student groups
-Emotions
-Romanticism
-Previous generation
-Joseph P. Kennedy
-Kissinger’s view
-Eighteen-year-olds
-Twenty-one-year-olds
-US government
-Founding fathers
-Constitution
-Age requirement
-President
 17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Senators
-Congressmen
-Age of majority
-Robert H. Finch
-William G. Milliken
-Proposal
-Eighteen-year-olds
-Vote Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Liquor
-Marijuana
-Congress
-President's youth
-President's schedule
-Previous Cabinet meeting
-Leadership

Youth conference
-Richardson's report
-Adults
-Teachers, professors

Youth
-Colleges
-High schools
-Colleges
-Faculty
-Kissinger's youth

[Transcript #3: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

Youth
-President's schedule
-Previous Cabinet meeting
-Meeting with Texas A&M choir
-Previous meeting with Ohio State group
-Polls
-Opposition to administration
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Teachers
-Vote
-Universities
-Views regarding administration
-Non-college educated
-Figures
-Alienation
-Adolescence Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Sense of identity
-Alienation

[Transcript #4: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

Vietnam
-President's press conferences
-Possible questions
-Bombing
-US proposal
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnamese Army
-Laos, Cambodia, and South Vietnam
-Troop numbers
-Civilian dead
-Figures
-North Vietnamese Army
-Refugees
-Laos
-Partition
-North Vietnamese refugees
-Figures
-North Vietnamese dead
-Figures

Personnel officers
-Companies
-Veterans
-Views of veterans
 19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-My Lai
-President’s view
-Businessmen
-Sons
-Draft

Draft
-Avoidance Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Ministers
-Teachers
-Coast Guard

Personnel officers
-Views of veterans
-My Lai
-Vietnam
Vietnam
-The Establishment
-Administration position
-Opposition
-Hawks
-Support for President
-Jingoism

Establishment
-Views regarding PRC and Taiwan
-Taiwan
-Expulsion from United Nations [UN]
-PRC
-Recognition
-Taiwan
-Incorporation into PRC

PRC
-President's initiatives
-Soviet Union

US and Soviet Union relations
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Summit meeting
-PRC
-John F. Kennedy
 20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Press
-George Washington

Vietnam
-Peace negotiations
-North Vietnamese strategy
-US strategy
-President’s view Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Residual force
-POWs
-Residual force
-POWs
-Vietnamization policy
-North Vietnamese position
-US withdrawal
-US military capabilities
-Air Force
-Negotiations
-Paris
-Possible North Vietnamese military operations
-US military options
-US casualties
-US withdrawal
-US military options

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:19 am.

President's schedule
-Meeting with Henry Ford II
-John D. Ehrlichman and Ronald L. Ziegler
-Timing

Bull left at an unknown time before 10:50 am.

Vietnam
-Peace negotiations
-Possible US proposal
-Possible US military operations
-Bombing
-Possible North Vietnamese military operations
-Possible US military operations
-Effect on US public
 21

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Media
-Press and television
-Television
-Coverage of administration spokesmen
-William H. Sullivan

Germany
-World War I Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)

-Comparison to Vietnam War
-1918 Revolution
-Sentiment in 1921
-Revolution
-Results

Vietnam
-Senators

Press
-Coverage of administration activities
-Haldeman's reaction
-Rightists
-Press conferences
-President's use of
-Frequency

[Transcript #5: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

Press coverage
-Effect
-Pride
-Self-confidence
-Vietnam
-Lieutenant William L. Calley, Jr. case

Vietnam
-Public reaction
 22

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Casualties
-US national goal
-Cabinet views
-Connally and Agnew
-John N. Mitchell
-Outlook

National Outlook Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-1976 and 1980
-Public reaction
-Kissinger's possible candidacy
-President's standing
-Effect in 1972
-President's opponents

Vietnam
-Polls
-Approval and disapproval rate
-Administration initiatives
-Troop withdrawals
-Casualties
-Administration's position
-Press
-Magazines
-Laos and Cambodia
-Administration’s response
-North Vietnamese presence
-Reports on administration
-US military activities
-Laos
-Need for public relation efforts

Kissinger's schedule
-Trip

Press

Haldeman entered at 10:50 am.

Administration policies
-Vietnam
-Press
 23

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Economy
-Support for the President
-Confidence

Packard
-Kissinger’s conversation with Packard
-The President’s view
-Role Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Lucile Packard
-Stanford
-Possible Defense Department reorganization
-Panama
-Southern Command
-Packard, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer and Kissinger
-Views
-President's schedule
-Possible meeting, May 3, 1971
-Timing
-Meeting, May 4, 1971
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Southern Command
-Packard’s view

Southern Command
-Packard's views
-President's position
-Importance
-Military views
-US Ambassadors
-Latin America
-Joint Chiefs of Staff
-Packard
-President's schedule, May 4, 1971
-Meeting with Packard
-Kissinger's possible conversation with Packard
-Panama Canal
-Negotiations

Kissinger's schedule
-Trip to California
-Timing
 24

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



Vietnam
-President's policies
-Establishment
-Republic of South Vietnam
-Support for US
-Military
-Para-military
-Government Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Officials
-Communist takeover

Ziegler entered at 10:53 am and Kissinger left.

Ziegler's upcoming press conference
-Scheduling
-President's schedule
-Trip to California
-Return date
-First Marine Division
-Ceremonies
-Return date
-Length of stay
-Return date
-Timing
-Wording of statement
-Return date
-Schedule, May 4, 1971
-Republican leadership meeting

Ehrlichman entered at 10:55 am and Ziegler left.

Air bags
-President’s position
-President's upcoming meeting with Ford and Lide A. Iacocca
-John A. Volpe's activities
-Department of Transportation regulations
-Federal Register
-Administration's position
-The President’s upcoming meeting with Ford and Iacocca
-The President’s comments
-Consumerism
-Ford
 25

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)




Economy
-Manchester Guardian article
-George P. Shultz and Connally
-Arthur F. Burns
-Interest rates
-President’s comments to Burns
-Connally’s role Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Shultz
-Administration's position
-Possible White House statement
-Burns' statement
-Interest rates
-Chase Manhattan Bank
-Connally’s view
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
-Unknown man's statement
-Connally’s jurisdiction
-Paul W. McCracken
-Herbert Stein
-Hendrik S. Houthakker
-Connally’s statement
-Chase Manhattan Bank
-Unknown CEA official comments
-Effect on Connally
-President’s view
-Burns
-CEA
-Connally's role
-Chase National Bank
-President’s previous meeting with Burns
-Discussion topics
-Ehrlichman’s recollection
-Burns
-Ehrlichman's possible conversation with Connally
-Unknown CEA official
-Ziegler's press statement
-Briefing comments
-Connally’s role
-Federal Reserve Board
-CEA
-Shultz
 26

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Connally’s role
-CEA
-Need for coordination
-McCracken
-Connally

President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with Ford and Iacocca Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
-Airbags
-The President’s view
-Bumpers
-The President’s comments

Volpe
-Tenure
-Haldeman's conversation with Mitchell
-Role
-Italians
-Department of Transportation

Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:55 am.

President's schedule
-Meeting with Ford and Iacocca

Bull left at an unknown time before 11:08 am.

Cabinet
-Volpe
-Role
-Public relations
-Meeting with the President
-George W. Romney
-Speech
-Revenue sharing
-Labor
-Support for the President
-Volpe
-Role
-Ehrlichman’s view

President's schedule
 27

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-Visit to California
-Legislative meeting, May 4, 1971
-Event at shipyard

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12
[Personal Returnable] Conv. No. 488-15 (cont.)
[Duration: 20s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 12

**********************************************************************


[Transcript #6: A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under
court order from December 1978 through March 1979 for Special Access 8, Ronald V. Dellums,
et al. v. James M. Powell, et al., No. 71-2271. The National Archives and Records
Administration produced this transcript. The National Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]

Ford, Iacocca and an unknown man [Ziegler] entered at 11:08 am. Haldeman left.

Greetings

The unknown man left at 11:08 am.

[General conversation]
-Golf
-Europe
-Unknown man's trip
-President's schedule

[A transcript of the following portion of this conversation was prepared under court order from
April 1983 for Special Access 65, Whitmore v. General Motors Corporation, No. C82-500 A.
The National Archives and Records Administration produced this transcript. The National
Archives does not guarantee its accuracy.]

[End of transcript]
 28

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time during the transcribed portion.

Ford, Iacocca and Ehrlichman left at 11:43 am.