320–28

Conversation No. 320-28

Date: February 8, 1972
Time: 3:15 pm - 5:06 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with John B. Connally, Robert S. McNamara, and Henry A. Kissinger; the
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.

Seating

Cartoons
-Russell B. Long
-The President’s visit to the Harry S. Truman Library in 1969
-Lyndon B. Johnson Library
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)




Asian subcontinent
-Political problems
-Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ceylon, Bangladesh
-Ceylon
-Sirmavo Bandaranaike
-International Monetary Fund [IMF] and World Bank
-Insurgency
-Relationship with World Bank
-Performance


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[Duration: 27s ]


CEYLON


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-Cabinet
-Communists
-Military operations
-Detention camps
-Numbers
-Military operations
-Instability
-Nepal
-Stability
-Dependence on India
-PRC
-Advantages to geographic location
-Economy
-US aid
 14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-Bi-lateral
-Rupee situation
-McNamara’s talk with [Kirti Nedhi Bista]
-Chou En-lai
-India
-Aid
-Pakistan
-Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
-Intelligence
-University of California, Berkeley
-Compared to unknown person
-Ambition
-Interests
-US
-Unrest
-Student
-Frontier problems
-Northwest
-Territory seized in war with India
-Repatriation of prisoners
-Performance in India-Pakistan War
-Pakistani army
-1965 war
-USSR
-Amount of aid to India
-US support
-Amount for India
-McNamara’s previous conversation with Bhutto
-Bhutto
-Political prospects
-Pakistani army
-Mujibar Rahman
-Karachi
-Recognition of Bangladesh
-Bulgaria
-Australia
-New Zealand
-Great Britain
-Political prospects
-Bangladesh
-Destruction caused by India-Pakistan War
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-McNamara’s talk with Mujibar Rahman
-Deaths


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[National Security]
[Duration: 1m 30s ]


SOUTH ASIA


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-Emotional content of war
-Rahman
-Tone of meeting with McNamara
-Arms shipments to Pakistan
-Attitude toward US
-Aid programs
-India
-McNamara’s talk with Indira Gandhi
-The President’s forthcoming trip to the PRC
-Importance
-US aid to Pakistan
-Military
-Airplanes
-PRC aid to Pakistan
-Soviet aid
-US interests
-Number of USSR arms
-State of the population
-Standard of living
-Bangladesh
-United Nations [UN] involvement
-Aid
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-Sources
-Belgium, Britain
-Quantity
-From US
-Funds
-Amounts
-Kissinger’s call to unknown person
-Unknown ambassador
-Pakistan
-Rescheduling debt
-McNamara’s talk with Bhutto
-Allocation of resources
-US steps
-Humanitarian aid
-Military-political aid
-Benefits
-Raising revenues [?]
-Economic aid
-Benefits
-Probable results
-Diplomacy
-Benefits
-Special contact
-Emissary
-Quiet contact
-Accomplishments of aid
-India
-Accomplishments of quiet contacts
-McNamara’s advice to Gandhi
-The President’s contacts with Gandhi
-Congressional problems
-Presidential power
-Sub-continent potential
-Aid program
-Possible results
-President’s support
-Political support
-Diplomacy in India
-UN
-Humanitarian aid
-Refugees
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-Return to Bangladesh
-Problems
-Gandhi
-Lakshmi Kant Jha
-Kenneth B. Keating
-Triloki Nath Kaul’s relationship with USSR
-Kissinger’s previous and future conversations with Jha [?]
-Forthcoming world report
-McNamara contacts
-Need for quiet diplomacy
-Bilateral us aid bill
-Reinstatement
-British
-Japanese
-Quiet aid
-Consortium for aid
-US participation
-Timing
-Amount of money involved
-Humanitarian aspect
-Recommendation of McNamara
-PRC
-Attitudes towards Bangladesh
-Gandhi
-US participation
-British
-Announcement
-PRC
-USSR
-Bangladesh
-Pragmatism
-Bangladesh
-Emissary
-PRC trip
-Counsel
-UN
-Benefits
-Identity
-Qualifications
India
-Aid programs
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-The President’s possible involvement
-Reactions
-Bangladesh
-Press conference question
-Emissary
-Identity
-Unknown person
-Familiarity with area
-PRC
-Possible attitude
-US, India, USSR
-Possible confrontation between Chou En-lai and Bhutto
-India
-Jha
-Kaul
-Compared to Egon Bahr
-Previous US aid
-Magnitude
-History of US aid
-Results
-US commitment
-British aid
-Japanese aid
-Nature of aid agreement
-Normalization of relations
-Role of aid in halting USSR expansion
-Iran
-Pakistan, India, Ceylon, Nepal
-Concerns
-Nepal
-Chou En-lai
-Need for a relationship with India
-PRC reaction
-Relationship with India and the USSR
-Effect on US-PRC relations
-Geopolitics
-PRC position
-Attitudes
-USSR position
-Attitudes
-Chinese qualities
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-Indian position
-Goals
-Bangladesh
-Context of larger picture
-Possible scenarios
-Humanitarianism
-British
-Need for discussion
-Later discussion

McNamara and Kissinger left at 4:20 pm.

Qualifications of McNamara

McNamara evaluation
-Objectivity
-John Petty
-Paul A. Volcker
-Humanitarian angle
-Trade
-Aid
-Expenditure of resources
-Amount
-President’s upcoming trip to PRC
-Possible meeting with Antonio Ortiz Mena
-President’s instructions
-Connally’s role
-Connally’s upcoming conversation with Ortiz Mena
-Latin America

Chile situation
-Pressure
-Arguments
-Foreign minister
-Economy
-Expropriations
-US aid
-Effect
-Subsidizing communization of Chile
-USSR aid
-USSR economy
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-USSR requests for credits from US
-Developing resources
-Amount
-Extent of Chile’s needs
-Desire for support
-Chilean elections
-Salvador Allende Gossens
-Effect of US aid
-Potential problems
-Paris
-Argentina
-Gen. Juan Domingo Péron
-The President’s talk with Lt. Gen. Alejandro A. Lanusse, February 7, 1972
-Connally’s schedule
-Upcoming meeting with Finance Minister
-Alternatives to aid
-World Bank
-International Monetary Fund [IMF]
-American business in Argentina
-Unknown US company
-Benefits to Argentina
-Pérons
-Qualifications
-European influence
-Economy
-Compared to Italy before World War II
-Uruguay
-Meat imports
-Latin American capability
-Effect of subsidization

Congressional strategy
-Trade bill
-Timing
-Japan and European community
-Status
-Communiqué from Kissinger
-Georges J.R. Pompidou
-Trade negotiations
-France
-Potential problems
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-European community
-PRC
-Canada
-US position
-End of negotiations
-Canadian elections
-Timing
-Offers
-Canadian initiatives
-Discussions with State Department, Kissinger, Peter M. Flanigan,
Department of Commerce
-Maurice H. Stans’s opinion
-Previous conversation with Connally
-Canadian strategy
-Bill presentation
-Status of negotiations
-Connally view
-William P. Rogers
-Committee-Administration relations
-Canada talks
-Melvin R. Laird
-Connally’s upcoming conversation with Laird
-Timing
-Defense agreements with Canada
-Status
-McNamara
-Canadian surplus
-Laird
-Canadian desires
-Connally comparisons
-Connally’s opinion
-Future of US power
-Military compared to economic power
-Particular time in US history
-Economy
-Basis for future decisions
-France
-Arthur F. Burns
-Dollar drop
-Convertibility of the dollar
-Wage and price controls
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-US economic strength
-Defense of the dollar
-Possible effectiveness
-French desires
-Gen. Charles A.J.M. de Gaulle
-Feelings toward currency policy
-Bill presentation
-Explanation of problems
-The President’s credibility
-Quality of package
-Canada
-Congressional opinions
-Japan
-Administration strategy
-Canada
-Europe
-Slight setbacks for the Administration
-Prospects of success in talks
-Administration goals
-Seeking progress
-State department opinion
-Diplomacy
-Continuation of fair treatment
-Progress
-Canada
-Rogers’s opinion
-Connally’s opinion

Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 4:40 pm.

President’s schedule
-Announcements
-Foreign policy report
-Timing
-Upcoming briefing
-Gerald L. Warren

Ziegler left at 4:42 pm.

Connally’s schedule
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


Rogers’s schedule

President’s schedule
-Volunteers dinner
-Timing


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Connally’s schedule
-George Washington’s birthday celebration in Laredo
-Proximity to Mexico
-Golf
-Acapulco
-Houston
-Connally’s upcoming speeches to mortgage bankers’ convention and the Santa
Gertrudis Association
-Stock show
-Attendance

The President’s schedule
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


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[Duration: 38s ]


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The President’s schedule
-Length of stay
-Connally’s schedule
-Abilene Christian University
-Past visit
-Crowds


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[Duration: 29s ]


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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 8
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[Duration: 1m 15s ]


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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[Duration: 57s ]


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The President’s schedule
-Abilene
-Location
-Religious community
-Benefits
-California

Connally’s schedule
-Press event
-John W. Chancellor
-Headliners
-Eva Gabor
-Miss World
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


-Houston
-Colorado
-Boston
-Crowd reception

The President’s schedule
-California
-Need to maintain contacts
-Difficulties

Connally’s schedule
-Reception in Fort Worth, Texas
-Chief Justice of Texas Supreme Court
-Connally’s upcoming speech to the Santa Gertrudis Association
-Houston


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 57s ]


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 44s ]


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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 320-28 (cont.)


Santa Gertrudis cattle
-Origin of name
-Creek
-King Ranch
-Mexican tradition

Value added tax [VAT] memorandum
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Receipt by President
-Property tax
-Benefits
-Tax strategy
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Tone of memorandum
-Ehrlichman
-New York Times
-Ways and Means Committee
-George P. Shultz
-Loopholes
-Administration strategy
-Tax bill
-Connally’s talk with the President at San Clemente


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 20s ]


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The President and Connally left at 5:06 pm.