671–1

Conversation No. 670-23/671-1

Date: February 14, 1972
Time: 4:09 pm - 6:19 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Andre Malraux, Sophia K. Porson and Henry A. Kissinger.
[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 670-23; an unknown portion of this meeting was not
recorded while the tape was being changed.]

Vietnam
-Withdrawal
-Relevance
-Chinese power
-October Revolution

People’s Republic of China [PRC] and Japan
-Foreign policy
-Importance
-Germany
-US policy towards PRC
-Time limit
-Vietnam
-PRC activity

Foreign policy
-Japan
-Chinese
-Soviets
-US withdrawal
-Pacific
-Japan
-Economic
-Potential status
-History
-Sense of destiny
-Psyche
-Nuclear commitment
-West Germany
-Defense
-Nuclear commitment by US
-Terms of peace
 2

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-PRC
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Japanese concern
-Withdrawal
-Pacific
-US
-Bases
-Japan
-USSR
-Possible threat
-World peace
-European alliance
-Withdrawal of forces
-Germans
-USSR
-Influence with East Germany
-Options
-“Balance of Power”
-Future
-Strength
-Europe
-Market
-US
-Japan
-US nuclear defense
-PRC
-Potential for safer world
-US
-Critics
-Domestic and abroad
-World role
-President’s view
-PRC
-Chou En-lai
-Mao Tse-tung
-Non-expansionist power
-World role
-US
-Malraux
-Anti-Memoirs
-World power
 3

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-War
-Peace
-US
-Responsibility
-Withdrawal
-Japan
-Germany
-Assistance and possible guarantees
-Stable world
-Withdrawal
-Pacific
-President’s view
-Critics
-Abroad
-Isolationist theorists in the US
-Advice
-Europe
-PRC
-Policy comparison
-US role
-Circumstances
-Pacific
-Japan
-Europe
-North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Possible consequences
-Malraux
-US
-Withdrawal
-World’s people
-Opinion
-Skepticism
-Pacific
-Europe
-Malraux’s view
-US
-Withdrawal
-NATO
-Bilateral Agreement
-Isolationists
-Gaullism
 4

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-United Europe
-Great Britain
-Similarity to the Balkans
-Possible difficulties for US
-Economics
-Politics
-Defense
-Gen. Charles A.J.M de Gaulle
-Britain
-Japan
-Lack of atomic capabilities
-West Germany
-West Germany
-World War II
-Japan
-West Germany and Japan
-Self-defense
-Nuclear
-Sense of destiny
-Protection by another power
-World peace
-Asia
-US withdrawal
-Prospects
-Press
-Mao Tse-tung
-US world policy
-John Foster Dulles
-Japan
-Withdrawal
-Hesitation
-Asia
-US
-World responsibility
-Importance to USSR
 5

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


The President’s schedule
-Malraux
-Dinner
-Location
-William P. Rogers
-Kissinger
-PRC leaders
-Appreciation for meeting
-Dinner
-Past meetings
-1969
-PRC

Foreign policy
-De Gaulle
-The President’s meeting in 1963
-Prescience
-US
-Policy at that time
-USSR
-PRC
-Relations with USSR and PRC
-Importance
-De Gaulle’s perspective
-Kissinger’s meeting in 1959

Malraux and Porson left at 5:28 pm.

The President’s forthcoming trip to the PRC
-PRC leaders’ expectations
-The President
-View of history
-Malraux
-Health
-Forthcoming dinner
-Mao Tse-tung
-The President’s age
-World leadership
-Age
-John F. Kennedy
-Mao Tse-tung’s possible opinion
 6

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-De Gaulle
-Historical figures
-Bluntness

Foreign policy
-Chinese
-US understanding
-International situation
-Unimportantance of tactical details
-Chou En-lai
-Mao Tse-tung
-General discussion
-Vietnam
-Malraux’s views
-US
-Withdrawal
-Japan
-Europe
-US world role
-Domestic critics
-Lack of understanding
-PRC
-Withdrawal


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 53s ]


PRC


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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


-Malraux
 7

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Kissinger
-Agreement
-Chinese
-Compared to Soviets
-History
-Confucius
-Philosophy
-Differences
-Principles
-World domination
-Malraux
-Soviets
-Future Presidents
-USSR compared to PRC
-Relations with US
-Balance of power
-USSR
-PRC
-Vietnam
-Conduct of war
-Consequences
-Choices
-Malraux
-De Gaulle
-Meeting with the President
-Statement
-PRC
-PRC
-Ambivalence toward US
-India-Pakistan War
-US stance
-Asia
-US relevance
-Vietnam
-Kissinger’s view
-Withdrawal
-History
-De Gaulle
-Algeria
-North Vietnamese
-Meetings with Kissinger
 8

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Impact on domestic opponents
-Sense of urgency
-Importance
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Secret meetings
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Public opinion
-Points in agreement
-South Vietnamese
-Structure
-Non-Communist
-PRC
-Malraux’s view
-Southeast Asia
-Domination
-Numbers
-Means
-Subversion culture
-Communism
-Japan
-Standard of living
-Communism
-PRC
-Competition
-Vietnam
-Withdrawal
-PRC
-Southeast Asia
-PRC
-Malraux’s statement about foreign policy
-Posture
-Reception for President of Somalia
-Kissinger’s concern
-Counterweight to USSR
-Subcontinent
-Global policy
-Domination
-USSR and PRC
-Japan
 9

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-US relations
-Importance of maintaining alliance
-Malraux
-Experience and age
-Cambodia
-Prison
-US invitation
-President’s questions to Malraux
-Chou En-lai
-The President’s forthcoming questions
-Tone
-US
-World role
-Withdrawal
-Formosa [Taiwan, Republic of China]
-PRC
-Communiqué
-PRS
-John B. Connally and Rogers
-Lack of experience with leaders
-Connally
-Talk with Kissinger

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 5:28 pm.

Location of a briefing book

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 6:00 pm.
 10

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 44s ]


PRC


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

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


-Communiqué
-Language
-Agreement
-Formosa
-Possible criticisms
-James L. Buckley
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
-South Korea and Japan
-Treaty commitments
-Formosa
-Separate section
-Formosa
-Treaty
-Rogers
-Connally
-Involvement
-Rogers
-Connally
-Europeans
-Chinese
-Kissinger’s view
-Foreign relations
-Desire to maintain a peaceful settlement
-Language
-Rogers
-Kissinger
 11

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Formosa
-Re-write
-Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-First draft
-PRC commitment
-Force in lieu of a settlement
-Formosa
-Treaty
-US Commitment
-Difficulties
-Mao Tse-tung
-Talk with Kissinger
-State Department
-Language
-South Korea
-State Department
-The President’s meetings
-Construction of communiqué
-Difficulties
-Chou En-lai
-Mao Tse-tung
-Chou En-lai
-Message from Kissinger
-Meeting
-Plenary session
-Workout strategy
-Chou En-lai
-Chou En-lai
-President’s upcoming meeting
-Mao Tse-tung
-Rogers
-Kissinger’s possible explanation
-Bermuda
-Sir Burke Trend
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-France
-Germans
-Established practices
-Trip
-Need for success
 12

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Communiqué
-News magazines
-Foreign policy
-Renunciation of forces
-Establishment of common principles
-Conduct
-Opposition to hegemony in Pacific
-Possible interpretation
-Danger
-Sino-US alliance
-USSR
-Japan
-Rogers
-Kissinger’s view

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 5:28 pm.

Refreshments

The President left at an unknown time before 6:00 pm.

Sanchez
-The President
-PRC trip
-Attendance
-Schedule
-Key Biscayne


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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Privacy]
[Duration: 26s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

**************************************************************************
 13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


The President entered at an unknown time before 6:00 pm.

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 6:00 pm.

PRC
-Communiqué
-Changes
-Indian section
-Language
-Use of “revolution”
-Taiwan
-Possible acceptance
-Kissinger
-Talk with Chou En-lai
-Mao Tse-tung
-Talk with the President
-US domestic debate
-Bureaucracy
-Rogers
-Chou En-lai
-Promises by Kissinger
-Suggested response
-Language
-Trade

Malraux
-Stature in France
-Gaullism
-Europe
-Balkanization
-Neutral
-Finland

PRC
-Plenary session
-Kissinger
-Draft
-Opening statement

John N. Mitchell
-Resignation
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Timing
-Involvement

Connally
-Praise from Kissinger

Rose Mary Woods entered at 6:00 pm.

Letter
-Mitchell
-The President’s reply
-Copy
-Delivery
Timing

Woods left at 6:01 pm.

Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 6:01 pm.

Porson
-Translation skills
-Malraux dinner
-Possible invitation
-Unknown male translator
-Porson compared to Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
-Understanding
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-The President’s preference for male translators
-Walters
-The President’s appreciation for efforts
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 6:19 pm.

PRC
-Trip
-Importance
-Need to avoid irritations to the President
-Rigors of agenda
-Chinese
-Qualities
 15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Soviets
-Comparisons
-Possible posture by the President

Vietnamese negotiations
-Paris trip by Kissinger
-Knowledge
-Haldeman
-Haig
-State Department
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Le Duc Tho
-Press
-Departure
-Andrews Air Force Base
-The President
-Florida
-Walker’s Key
-Strategy
-Helicopter flight from Key Biscayne
-Strategy
-Return flight to Andrews AFB
-Camp David
-Helicopter to base
-Departure with the President
-Timing
-Peace proposal
-Reaction by Edmund S. Muskie
-Reaction by North Vietnam
-Le Duc Tho
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Lunch
-Answer to invitation
-Timing
-Text
-Walters
-Lunch
-Date
-Walters
-North Vietnamese
-Meal
 16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Significance
-Communists
-Negotiations
-Korean War
-The President’s actions
-Vietnam as national issue
-Troop withdrawals
-North Vietnamese
-Offensive
-PRC trip
-Effect
-Public opinion
-Tet
-1968
-Differences
-PRC trip
-Publicity
-Moscow trip
-North Vietnamese
-Pressure on the President
-Possible offensive
-Timing
-Moscow
-US position
-Force
-Pacific Ocean
-India-Pakistan War
-Carriers
-Bay of Bengal
-USSR
-PRC
-East Pakistan
-West Pakistan
-PRC policy
-Soviets
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-The President’s letter
-Chou En-lai
-The President’s letter
-Bombing
-Movement of forces
 17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


-Policy
-North Vietnamese
-Offers
-US options
-Communists
-Maoists
-Peace conference
-Versailles
-Chinese
-Encouragement prior to trip
-Peking
-Chinese
-Paris trip by Kissinger
-Chou En-lai
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s forthcoming talk
-Moscow
-Peking
-War
-North Vietnamese casualties
-Italian journalists
-Number
-Compared to US population
-North Vietnamese
-Cambodia
-Laos
-Number of forces
-US withdrawal
-Possible date
-Possible North Vietnamese offensive
-October 1972
-US public reaction
-Withdrawal of troops
-Weather
-South Vietnamese
-Strength

Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 6:01 pm.

Delivery of briefing book
 18

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 670-23/671-1 (cont.)


Butterfield left at an unknown time before 6:19 pm.

Vietnam
-US plans

Malraux
-Dinner
-Talking
-Guest list
-Toast
-Kissinger
-The President
-Speech
-Length

Kissinger left at 6:19 pm.