845–6

Conversation No. 845-6

Date: January 31, 1973
Time: 3:10 pm and 4:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Eisaku Sato, Nobuhiko Ushiba, Gen. Brent Scrowcroft, Tatsuo Arima,
and James J. Wickel

Introductions
-Seating arrangements
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)

Conversation No. 845-6 (cont’d)

Okinawa
-Reversion to Japan

Spiro T. Agnew's visit
-Ceremony
-[Emperor of Japan] Hirohito
-Sentiment in Japan
-Matthew C. Perry
-US-Great Britain competition
-“Opening of Japan”
-US relations with Japan
-Watershed
-Perry

Sato's visit to New York
-Columbia University
-Japan - America society
-Japan House
-Japan Chamber of Commerce
-Japan House
-Construction
-Rockefeller family

Vietnam settlement
-The President’s accomplishments
-Lyndon B. Johnson

Kissinger entered at 3:18 pm.

Okinawa reversion

Vietnam settlement
-Johnson
-The President's conversation
-Harry S. Truman's funeral
-Kissinger's conversation

Johnson
-Health
-Claudia A. (“Lady Bird”) Johnson
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)

Conversation No. 845-6 (cont’d)

-Press release

Vietnam settlement
-Negotiations
-Japan
-North Vietnam
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Requirements
-Honorable peace
-Domestic considerations
-Johnson, John F. Kennedy
-Japan, France, Australia
-Peace movements
-US commitments
-South Vietnam
-Japan
-France
-Declaration of war
-Peace activists
-Difficulties
-Significance for US allies
-US commitments
-Great power relations
-Unity against aggression
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Soviet Union [USSR], People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Relations with US
Kakuei Tanaka
-Visit to PRC
-US relations with Japan
-Security treaty
-Okinawa
-Defense plan

Sato’s relationship with the President
-Johnson’s death
-1973 inauguration
-The President’s public comments
-US relations with Japan
-New approach
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)

Conversation No. 845-6 (cont’d)


US relationship with Japan
-Sato’s role
-Domestic considerations
-Political left
-Western Europe, Australia
-US alliances
-Opposition
-Great Britain
-Japan
-Communists, Socialists
-Disarmament

Importance of strength
-Opposition to aggression
-Japan, US, Great Britain, Europe
-Alliances
-“Peace at any price”
-Danger

US relationship with Japan
-The President's relationship with Sato and Kishi
-The President’s visits to Japan
-Personal friendship
-Okinawa
-Former Japanese Prime Ministers
-Health
-Kishi
-Tanaka
-The President's birthday
-Japanese zodiac

White House dinner
-Participants
-Former Japanese ministers
-Okinawa

Toshio Kimura, Sadanori Yamanaka, Minoru Kusuda and Ryohei Murato entered at 4:03 pm; the
White House photographer was also present.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Mar.-09)

Conversation No. 845-6 (cont’d)

Photography session
-Interpreters
Tape recorder
-Recording demonstration

Sato, et al. left at 4:05 pm.