37–201

Conversation No. 37-201

Date: March 21, 1973
Time: 7:35 pm-7:44 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

Haig’s location
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Georgetown tennis tournament

North Vietnamese cease-fire violations
-Message from Henry A. Kissinger
-Rationale for US military action
-Effect on North Vietnamese thinking
-Prisoners of War [POW] release
-North Vietnamese offensive
-Laos settlement
-POW release
-Military effects

-North Vietnamese intentions
-US troop withdrawal
-Economic aid
-Pentagon’s role
 - 148 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept-09)
Conversation No. 37-201 (cont’d)




-North Vietnamese infiltration
-Kissinger’s recommendations
-President’s evaluation
-POW release
-Military effects
-Past military responses
-Military effects
-\"Menu\" bombing
-May 8, 1972 decision
-December 1972 bombing
-Symbolic strikes
-US military action
-Delay
-North Vietnamese infiltration
-Bombing
-President’s decision
-Fate of peace treaty
-Signal to the North Vietnamese
-December 1972 bombing
-Pentagon's view
-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Domestic reaction
-POW issue
-New York Times
-North Vietnamese intentions
-Propaganda
-Kissinger’s analysis
-US military action
-Cambodia

-May 8, 1972 decision
-December 1972 bombing
-Bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trial
-Effects
-South Vietnamese
 - 149 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Sept-09)
Conversation No. 37-201 (cont’d)




-Military burden
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-US withdrawal
-Bombing
-US support
-Ho Chi Minh Trail
-President’s decision