380–1

Conversation No. 380-1

Date: December 28, 1972
Time: 9:35 am - 10:23 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Stephen B. Bull.

The President’s schedule
-Col. Richard T. Kennedy

Kennedy entered at 9:35 am.

The President's schedule

Nicaragua earthquake relief
-The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Duration
-Travel arrangements
-Airplane with nurses, doctors
-Press
-Symbolism
-Flight
-Duration
-Compared to trip to San Clemente
-Timing
-Anastasio Somoza Debayle
-Arrival sites
-Helicopters
-Helicopters
-Number
-Secret Service
-[Managua]
-Refugee center
-Military hospital
-Ambassador's residence
-US embassy
-Destruction
 -2-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-Press pool
-Press relations
-Food aid
-Symbolism
-Milk, beef
-Aid requirements
-Medical aid
-Food
-Symbolism
-Diversion of ships
-Wheat, flour
-Guatemala
-Field hospital
-Tents
-Tools
-Symbolism
-Return to White House or Key Biscayne
-Timing
-Turner B. Shelton’s recommendation
-Symbolism
-Good neighbor
-Negative Aspects
-The President’s trip to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, June 24, 1972 and
Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon’s trip to Peru
-Mrs. Nixon’s trip to Peru
-Further tremors
-Managua
-Refugees
-Casualties
-Somoza’s announcement
-Looting
-Division of city
-Managua
-Refugee center
-Press relations
-Humanitarianism
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Richard A. Moore
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Schedule
 -3-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-Moore’s view
-Managua
-Possible trip by Presidential representative
-Charles A. Meyer
-Possible Oval Office meeting
-John A. Hannah
-John A. Scali
-Ambassadorship to United Nations [UN]
-Role
-Hannah
-Scali’s role
-Press relations
-Advantages
-Scali’s schedule
-The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Symbolism
-Latin America
-Press relations
-Vietnam War
-Inner critics
-The President’s first trip to Latin America
-Latin American governments
-Somoza
-Scali’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Shelton
-The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Press relations
-Travel arrangements
-Helicopters
-Managua
-Destruction
-Trucks
-Refugee center
-Truck companies
-Helicopters
-Latin American government’s aid
-Surplus
-War
-Relief efforts by US citizens and government
-Coordination
 -4-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-State Department Task Force
-Recent newspaper article
-Volunteer agencies
-Bangladesh
-Task Force
-David Lazar
-Maurice J. Williams
-Bangladesh
-Agency for International Development [AID]
-State Department
-Hannah
-State Department
-Concern by Administration
-Capabilities
-Red Cross
-Camp Fire girls
-Business sector
-Military
-Press relations
-Gerald L. Warren
-The President’s meetings
-Shelton
-Williams
-Possible trip to Nicaragua
-Responsibility
-Possible meeting with the President
-Telephone call
-Hannah
-Responsibility
-Task Force
-State Department
-AID
-Defense Department
-Previous work
-Reports to the President
-The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Helicopter
-Timing
-Bull’s forthcoming call to Shelton
-Recommendation
 -5-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-Duration
-Williams’ possible trip to Nicaragua

The President’s schedule

Nicaragua earthquake relief
-Bull’s forthcoming call to Shelton
-The President’s appreciation for Shelton’s work
-The President’s interest
-Coordination
-The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Timing

Bull left at 10:23 am.

-The President’s possible trip to Nicaragua
-Appeal
-Christmas season
-Humanitarianism
-Latin America
-Limitations to US action
-Incompetence
-Corruption
-Symbolism
-Africa
-Press relations
-Vietnam War

Vietnam War
-Forthcoming messages from North Vietnam
-Response to US message of December 27, 1972
-The President’s recent conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
-Kennedy’s recent conversation with an unknown person
-Resumption of negotiations
-Conditions
-Technical talks
“Serious” tone
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meetings with Le Duc Tho, January 8,
1973
-October 1972 understandings
 -6-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-November and December 1972 modifications
-Protocols
-Forthcoming press statement by North Vietnam
-Timing
-Cessation of US bombing North of the 20th Parallel
-December 18, 1972
-US bombing South of the 20th Parallel
-Kissinger’s press conference, December 16,
1972
-Impasse
-US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Public relations [PR]
-US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-US-Sweden relations
-US-Australia relations
-[Seaman’s Union of Australia]
-Boycott of US ships
-Size
-The President
-Radicalism
-Harry Bridges
-US-Sweden relations
-Forthcoming message from North Vietnam
-Breakdown in negotiations
-US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Cessation
-Continuation of [May 8, 1972] policy
-Press relations
-Briefing
-Post December 18, 1972
-Motivation
-Pressure
-Press and media relations
-Number of US air attacks
-Post-December 18, 1972
-Message for Kissinger
-The President’s plan for unified command for Southeast Asia
-Timing
-Location
 -7-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

Black September
-Seizure of Israeli embassy in Bangkok
-Hostages
-Possible US statement
-Munich Olympics massacre
-Possible Israeli response
-Demand
-Release of prisoners
-Hostages
-Possible Thailand government response
-US contingency plans

Lester B. Pearson
-Death
-Relationship with the President
-Duration
-Service to [Canada]
-Significance
-Post-World War II

Vietnam War
-B-52s
-Losses
-Landing in North Vietnam
-Radio contact with pilot, crew
-Search and rescue operation
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Hanoi area
-Surface-to-air missile [SAMs] sites
-Weather
-Tactical air [TACAIR] sites
-Losses
-Speed, maneuverability
-SAM II
-Soviet Union
-B-52s
-Sorties
-Destruction of RADCOM station in Hanoi, December 27,
1972
-Effect
 -8-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-SAMS
-Number fired
-Number available
-September 1972
-Railroad cars
-Number fired
-Recent number compared to May 1972
-B-52s
-Effect
-Forthcoming message from North Vietnam
-Kissinger
-Possible message
-Resumption of negotiations
-Conditions
-Pre-December 18, 1972 bombing status
-Resumption of negotiations
-North Vietnam
-Interest in settlement agreement
-US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Effect
-Evaluation of Hanoi
-Cadres in South Vietnam
-Cease-fire
-Morale
-December 18-28, 1972
-Cessation
-Pressure
-Resumption
-Pressure
-The President’s May 8, 1972 and December 18,
1972 decisions
-The President’s will
-Delay
-Pressure on US
-International, Congressional
-Joan Baez and Gen. Telford Taylor’s trip to Hanoi
-Arrival
-December 17, 1972
-Departure
-Difficulty
 -9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-Meeting, January 2, 1973
-Congress

Nicaragua earthquake relief
-State Department
-Task Force
-PR
-Scali
-Defense Department
-Press relations
-Williams’ forthcoming trip to Nicaragua
-Scali
-PR
-State Department, Defense Department, Aid

Vietnam War
-Forthcoming message from North Vietnam
-Timing
-Paris
-Response
-Timing
-Negotiations
-Kissinger
-Resumption of negotiations
-Conditions
-US message to North Vietnam, December 27, 1972
-Settlement agreement
-Delay
-US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Cessation
-Resumption
-Pressure on US
-International, Congressional
-1972 election
-Effect
-Congressional relations
-Timing
-Settlement agreement
-Terms
-US-South Vietnam relations
 -10-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-January 10, 1973
-Cosmetics
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-Flexibility
-Intelligence
-Le Duc Tho’s comments
-Thieu’s position
-Political base
-1971 election
-Lack of opposition
-Cease-fire
-Government of South Vietnam [GVN], bureaucracy
-Restructuring
-Vis-à-vis US
-Public statement
-Separate deal
-Vietnamization
-US back-up position
-Kissinger
-US withdrawal
-Cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-Quality
-US bombing of North of 20th Parallel
-Resumption [?]
-Separate deal
-Possible rejection by North Vietnam
-US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Justification
-North Vietnam’s possible acceptance
-Thieu’s possible rejection
-Thieu’s possible acceptance
-Thieu’s position
-Veto
-Long-term US interest
-Veto
-Vietnamization
-Cessation of US bombing
-North Vietnam’s position
-Thieus’s position
 -11-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-The President’s December 18, 1972 decision
-US South Vietnam relations
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-1972 election
-The President’s December 18, 1972 decision
-Effect on South Vietnam
-US international relations
-The President’s December 18, 1972 decision
-Importance
-US commitments
-Cease-fire
-Lost time
-Congress
-1973 inauguration
-1972 election
-South Vietnam’s army
-South Vietnam’s survival
-Continuation of war
-US guarantee
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Separate deal
-US withdrawal
-Cessation of US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-Effect on South Vietnam
-Lack of cease-fire
-Lack of US intervention or threat of retaliation against
North Vietnam
-Separate deal
-Viability
-Cessation of active hostilities
-Violations
-Significance
-US military response
-US public opinion
-US public opinion
-Lyndon B. Johnson


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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
 -12-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

[National Security]
[Duration: 15s]
[Subject: Korea]

END OF WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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-Effect on US international relations
-US public opinion
-Korean War
-Casualties
-Communism
-South Vietnam
-Population
-Communism
-War as mistake
-Settlement agreement
-Violations
-US military response
-Compared to Israel’s military responses
-Clarity
-North Vietnam
-Soviet Union
-Effect on US will
-Press relations
-Camp David
-US public opinion
-Thieu, South Vietnam
-South Vietnam’s possible collapse
-Timing
-US effort
-Duration
-Casualties
-Forthcoming message from North Vietnam
-Cessation of US bombing of North Vietnam
-Private statement
-Xuan Thuy’s recent statement
-Negotiations
-Technical talks
 -13-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Dec.-07)

Conversation No. 380-1 (cont’d)

-Delay
-[December 23, 1972] statement
-Resumption
-Cessation of US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Pressure on US
-Conditions
-Pressure on North Vietnam
-Forthcoming message from North Vietnam
-Instruction for Kennedy
-Kissinger

Nicaragua earthquake relief
-Scali
-PR
-Williams’ forthcoming trip to Nicaragua
-The President’s schedule
-Possible meeting with Williams

Kennedy left at an unknown time before 11:08 am.