411-009c

Conversation No. 411-9

Date: February 20, 1973
Time: 4:15 pm - 6:10 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger; the White House photographer was present at the
beginning of the meeting.

President's malfunctioning equipment

Kissinger’s trip

President's schedule
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Breakfast
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-William P. Rogers

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time after 4:15 pm.

[Conversation No. 411-9A]

[See Conversation No. 43-121]

[End of telephone conversation]

President's schedule
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Press release

The President talked with William E. Timmons between 4:17 pm and 4:18 pm.

[Conversation No. 411-9B]

[See Conversation No. 43-122]

[End of telephone conversation]

President’s schedule
-William E. Timmons

Kissinger talked with an unknown person at an unknown time before 6:10 pm.

[Conversation No. 411-9E]

President’s schedule
-Timmons
-William P. Rogers

[End of telephone conversation]

Kissinger’s telephone call to Rogers
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)



US-PRC relations
-Message
-Kissinger’s message to Mao Tse-Tung
-Chou En-Lai [?]
-Mao
-Conversation with Kissinger
-Differing interests
-Cooperation
-Necessity
-Communist threat

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 4:18 pm.

Equipment removal

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 4:51 pm.

US-PRC relations
-Mao
-Conversation with Kissinger
-Soviet Union
-Military build-up
-Soviet Union
-Europe, Asia
-Strategic forces
-SS-11s
-Tests
-Europe
-Foreign ministers
-Elections

US-France relations
-Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Press relations
-Europe
-Francois M. Mitterrand
-Cable
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Assistance with Vietnam settlement
-State visit to France [?]
-Election

US-PRC relations
-Mao [?]
-Compliment to President
-Diplomatic relations
-Germany
-Western Europe
-Sweden
-Alaf Palme [?]
-Left wing arguments
-Foreign minister
-Norway
-Mutual and balanced force reduction [MBFR]
-Barry M. Goldwater
-Japan
-1950s
-Nationalism
-Presence of US forces
-Mao
-President’s leadership regarding PRC
-Compared to other world leaders
-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto [?]
-Personal message to President
-Press coverage
-Japan
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Conversation with Kissinger
-Japan-Soviet Union relations
-Thailand
-Middle East
-Arabs
-Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Persian Gulf
-Military aid [?]
-Iraq, Syria
-Soviet Union’s influence
 -8-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Israel
-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
-Nusrat Ispatiari Bhutto
-Beauty
-India
-Soviet Union
-Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan


Vietnam settlement
-Mao
-Laos
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnam
-Provisions
-Press coverage
-President’s inquiries to Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Vientiane, Hanoi
-Troop withdrawal
-B-52s
-President’s conversation with Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Bombing
-Laos
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnam
-Bombing
-Role of PRC
-Pathet Lao
-Troop withdrawal
-Bombing halt
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
-William F. Buckley
-Goldwater
-Aid for Vietnam
-George S. McGovern, Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Press coverage
 -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Congress
-President’s leadership
-Laos cease-fire
-Political settlement
-Pathet Lao

US-PRC relations
-Kissinger’s meeting with Mao
-Oil
-Iran
-Soviet Union
-Iraq, Libya
-President’s second term
-Richard M. Helms
-Iran
-Persian Gulf
-Responsibilities
-Chou
-December 1972 bombing
-Respect
-President’s visit to South Carolina legislature
-Chou
-John T. Downey’s release
-POWs [?]
-Congressional leaders
-Invitation to Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
-Eugene Ormandy

The President talked to the White House operator at an unknown time after 4:18 pm.

[Conversation No. 411-9C]

[See Conversation No. 43-123]

[End of telephone conversation]

Press relations
-Timing of announcements
 -10-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)



US-PRC relations
-Mao
-Soviet Union
-Military actions
-Manchuria

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 4:18 pm.

Refreshment

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 4:46 pm.

PRC-Soviet Union relations
-Kissinger’s conversation with Mao
-Attack by Soviet Union
-Nuclear treaty
-Chou

The President talked with Ormandy between 4:46 pm and an unknown time before 4:51 pm.
Kissinger talked with Ormandy at an unknown time between 4:46 pm and 4:51 pm.

[Conversation No. 411-9D]

[See Conversation No. 43-124]

[End telephone conversation]

Ormandy and Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra’s trip to PRC
-Excitement
-Announcements
-Support for President
-Soviet Union

Kissinger’s visit to PRC
-Musical entertainment
-Opera
-Western symphony
 -11-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Ludwig Van Beethoven’s 6th symphony
-Chinese songs
-Piano concherto
-Pianist
-“Home on the Range”
-Meeting with Chou
-Details
-Health
-Communiqué
-Details for press
-Thailand
-Arrangements for liaison offices
-Appointments
-State Department
-John L. Jenkins, John H. Holdridge
-Status of office
-Compared to Great Britain
-Norodom Sihanouk
-Cambodia
-Neutrality
-Soviet Union’s role
-India’s role
-North Vietnam’s role
-Mansfield
-Mansfield’s trip
-Aid to Vietnam
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Cambodia
-Form of government
-North Vietnam
-Soviet Union
-Bombing

Kissinger’s visit to Hanoi
-Effects of bombing
-Accuracy
-B-52s
-Respect
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Souvanna Phouma
-Cambodia
-Compared to Laos
-PRC
-US-North Vietnam relations
-Economic aid
-Le Duc Tho [?]
-Soviet Union compared to US
-Congressional appropriation
-Reparations
-Cambodia, Laos
-Effect on cease-fire
-North Vietnam’s leaders
-PRC’s leaders
-Paranoia
-Hanoi
-Atmosphere
-Compared to Moscow
-Physical appearance
-Saigon
-Economic aid
-Editorials
-Marshall Plan
-Cease-fire
-Duration
-Presumption of war
-US choice
-Violations

Vietnam settlement
-POWs’ return
-Public opinion
-POWs’ statements
-Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr.
-Letters to President from POWs
-President’s election
-McGovern
-Pride
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-POWs
-Effects of December 1972 bombing
-POW families
-Col. Robinson Risner
-Capt. James A. Mulligan, Jr.’s wife
-President’s policy in Vietnam
-Appreciation
-POWs

Public relations
-Downey’s release
-President’s telephone call
-William Downey
-Mother
-POW wives
-Mulligan’s wife
-Preparation for Kissinger’s public statements
-PRC
-Vietnam

Vietnam settlement
-Aid for North Vietnam
-Congressional reaction
-Republicans
-Soviet Union and PRC’s contribution
-State Department
-World Bank
-Multilateral aid
-Press relations
-Preparation for public statements
-Press conference
-Time
-Praise
-Credit for servicemen
-Budget
-Domestic programs
-National security
 -14-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Emphasis on aid
-Normalization of relations
-Reparations
-Compared to post-World War I and World War II
-Aid for North Vietnam
-Investment
-Critics
-Compared to amnesty
-Abraham Lincoln, US Civil War analogy
_Source of funding
-Soviet Union

Kissinger’s trip to PRC
-Mao

Foreign relations
-France
-Pompidou
-Message
-Forthcoming election
-Assembly
-Socialists, communists, Gaullists
-Prime Minister, President
-Francois Mitterrand
-Runoffs
-Party allignees
-Election analysis
-Kissinger’s conversation with ambassador
-South Vietnam
-Nguyen Van Thieu’s visit to US
-President’s schedule
-Congress
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s trip
-San Clemente compared to Washington, DC
-Security arrangements
-National Press Club
-Thieu’s abilities
-Handling of cease-fire
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Pham Van Dong
-Potential visit
-POWs
-Laos, Cambodia
-POWs
-Cease-fire
-Guerilla Camps
-Brutality of Vietnamese as a people
-Compared to Laotians
-Souvanna

Vietnam settlement
-North Vietnam
-Kissinger’s visit [?]
-Soviet Union, PRC
-Editorial
-Aid
-POWs
-Cease-fire
-Negotiations on South Vietnam
-President’s policy
-Opponents
-Thieu, Coalition government in South Vietnam
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Congress members
-US war dead
-Honor
-Troop withdrawal
-Cambodia
-Washington Post
-US bombing during World War II
-Germany
-Japan
-Civilian deaths

Opposition to Vietnam War
-Washington Post, Chester R. Huntley, David Brinkley, Sevareid
-World War II stance against Germany
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-Compared to support for North Vietnam
-Failure of settlement
-POWs
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 4:15 pm.

Malfunctioning Dictaphone machine
-Electric current

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 6:10 pm.

Foreign relations
-Negotiations with PRC
-Korea
-United Nations [UN]
-Commission on Unification
-Australia
-Australia
-Poll
-Softness
-Allies
-France, Great Britain
-William P. Rogers
-Briefing
-PRC
-Vietnam

Hubert H. Humphrey
-McGovern
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Thomas E. Dewey
-Election loss
-Statesman
-Herbert C. Hoover
-Humanitarian
-Harry S. Truman
-Lyndon B. Johnson
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)



Congressional relations
-Vietnam settlement
-Negotiations
-President’s meeting with bipartisan Congressional leaders
-National reconciliation
-Amnesty
-POWs
-Public attitudes
-Opponents to President’s Vietnam policies
-John F. Kennedy’s policies
-Troop withdrawals
-Republicans

US-Soviet Union relations
-Briefing for President
-Soviet strategic program

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[National security]
[Duration: 12 s]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6

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-Rogers
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin

US-PRC relations
-Chou’s statement
-Toast
-PRC’s attitude toward President’s leadership
-Translations
-Film of visit by PRC’s ping pong team
-Portrayal of US
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)


-President’s meeting with team members
-Taiwan
-Transport troops
-Vietnam
-Liaison office [?]
-Trade, cultural exchange
-South Vietnam
-Federation
-Chiang Kai-Shek
-Possible visit by President and family
-Soviet Union

US-Japan relations
-Kissinger’s meetings with Japanese
-Kakuei Tanaka, Masayoshi Ohira
-Tanaka’s political future
-North Vietnam
-Laos
-Diplomatic recognition

US-Europe relations
-Howard K. Smith
-Soviet Union, PRC
-News summary
-Focus to Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy
-Japan
-PRC
-Charter
-National Security Council [NSC]
-European leaders’ skill
-Chou
-Radicalism
-World leaders

US-Japan relations
-Nationalism
-PRC
-US ambassador
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sep.-2010)
Conversation No. 411-9 (cont’d)



Personnel
-Moorer
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-Division Commander
-Gen. William C. Westmoreland
-Haig
-Army Chief of Staff
-Moorer

Instructions for Kissinger to call Rogers
-Testimony
-Lunch
-State Department

Kissinger left at 6:10 pm.