About this recording
385–27
- Alexander M. Haig
- UNKNOWN
December 13, 1972
Conversation No. 385-27
Date: December 13, 1972
Time: 10:03 am - 10:50 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Timing
-Meeting
-Duration
-Meetings
-40-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Detail
-Protocol
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s mood
-Settlement agreement
-South Vietnam’s acceptance
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-US withdrawal
-Political contests
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Conversation with John F. Osborne
-Judgment
-Osborne
-New Republic
-Haig’s conversations with Kissinger
-Telephone calls
-Haig’s handling
-The President’s press relations
-Recent past
-Kissinger’s emotions
-Tactics
-Kissinger
-Procedures
-Review
-Record
-Speeches
-Record
-Limited number of points
-Briefings
-Congressional relations
-US bombing south of 20 (18 and 19th) Parallel
th th
-B-52s
-Effect
-Kissinger’s view
-Compared to Robert S. McNamara’s, Lyndon B.
Johnson’s views
-Reseeding of mines
-Reconnaissance
-Effect
-US bombing south of 20th Parallel
-41-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Reaction
-Compared to US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Hanoi
-Military plans
-Leak
-Three day airstrike
-Bombing targets
-Power plants
-Contingency plans
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-North Vietnam’s position
-Cut off of aid to South Vietnam
-Withdrawal of civilians
-Politics
-Thieu
-Madame Nguyen Thi Binh
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-South Vietnam
-Meeting in Paris
-Kissinger
-Thieu
-William J. Porter
-South Vietnamese cable to Thieu
-US position
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Haig’s view
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Thieu
-Timing
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Meeting with the President
-Time
-Status
-Settlement agreement
-Antaoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Notes
-US position
-42-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Conversation with Haig
-Talking points
-Letter
-Backgrounder
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Tone
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Timing
-Thieu
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:03 am.
Delivery of a package
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:50 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Alternative
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Kissinger
-Thieu
-Congressional relations
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Photograph in newspaper
-Smiling
-Effect
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Public appearances
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Osborne
-Paris
-Thieu
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Settlement agreement
-Signing
-Thieu
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-Reports
-43-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Communists
-Statements
-Tone
-Leaks
-US position
-Peace terms
-Thieu
-Congressional relations
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Settlement agreement
-Wording
-“Sovereignty,” “administrative,” “structure”
-Principle
-South Vietnam sovereignty
-North Vietnam
-Unilateral statement
-Congressional relations
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Wording of agreement
-Settlement agreement
-Enforcement
-US military options
-North Vietnamese provocation
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Smiling photographs
-Leaks
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-New York Times article
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Thieu
-“Hawks
-Congressional relations
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Positions
-Issues
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Breakdown
-Kissinger
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Credibility
-44-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-North Vietnam’s delays
-Status
-Kissinger’s view
-Settlement agreement
-Haig’s view
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Advantage
-Right wing
-Thieu
-Paris
-Leaks to North Vietnamese
-Embassy buggings
-Thieu’s office
-Kissinger
-Infiltration
-The President’s meeting with Nguyen Phu Duc
-North Vietnam’s delays
-The President’s message to Kissinger
-North Vietnam’s intransigence
-Congressional relations
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Military plan
-The President’s view
-Reseeding of mines
-Timing
-Kissinger
-Reconnaissance
-20th Parallel
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Scale
-Reseeding of mines
-Press relations
-20th Parallel
-Three day strike
-Kissinger
-Reseeding of mines
-Reconnaissance
-South of 20th Parallel
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Leaks to North Vietnamese
-45-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Bunker’s view
-William P. Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird
-Haig’s conversations with Rogers
-Haig’s conversation with Laird
-Settlement agreement
-Bunker’s view
-Rogers
-Timing
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Thieu
-US leverage with North Vietnam
-Thieu
-Prestige
-Emotions
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Meeting with the President
-Options
-Thieu
-US-South Vietnamese relations
-North Vietnam’s view
-Relations with Kissinger
-Tone of meetings
-Backup US positions
-Settlement agreement
-Signing
-Settlement agreement
-Kissinger’s plan
-US signing
-Announcement
-South Vietnam’s signing
-South Vietnam’s signing
-Pressure of Thieu
-Options
-Rejection
-Acceptance
-Abidance
-Rejection by Thieu
-Effect
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Overthrow of Thieu
-Caretaker
-Ngo Dinh Diem
-South Vietnam’s public opinion
-Bui Diem’s view
-Cease-fire
-Thieu’s speech at National Assembly
-Reaction
-Analysis
-Tone
-State Department
-Language intention
-Reseeding of mines
-Reconnaissance
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Settlement agreement
-US bombing south of 20th Parallel
-Effect
-Vinh, North Vietnam
-Laos
-Air Force
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-The President’s, Kissinger’s and Haig’s possible conversation with
Agnew
-Talking points
-Options
-Contingency plans
-Speeches
-Thieu’s press relations
-Agnew
-Meeting
-North Vietnamese
-Delays
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Haig’s conversation with Kissinger
-State Department
-White House
-Effect
-47-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Public perceptions
-Oriana Fallaci interviews
Haig left at 10:50 am.
Date: December 13, 1972
Time: 10:03 am - 10:50 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Timing
-Meeting
-Duration
-Meetings
-40-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Detail
-Protocol
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s mood
-Settlement agreement
-South Vietnam’s acceptance
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-US withdrawal
-Political contests
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Conversation with John F. Osborne
-Judgment
-Osborne
-New Republic
-Haig’s conversations with Kissinger
-Telephone calls
-Haig’s handling
-The President’s press relations
-Recent past
-Kissinger’s emotions
-Tactics
-Kissinger
-Procedures
-Review
-Record
-Speeches
-Record
-Limited number of points
-Briefings
-Congressional relations
-US bombing south of 20 (18 and 19th) Parallel
th th
-B-52s
-Effect
-Kissinger’s view
-Compared to Robert S. McNamara’s, Lyndon B.
Johnson’s views
-Reseeding of mines
-Reconnaissance
-Effect
-US bombing south of 20th Parallel
-41-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Reaction
-Compared to US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Hanoi
-Military plans
-Leak
-Three day airstrike
-Bombing targets
-Power plants
-Contingency plans
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-North Vietnam’s position
-Cut off of aid to South Vietnam
-Withdrawal of civilians
-Politics
-Thieu
-Madame Nguyen Thi Binh
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-South Vietnam
-Meeting in Paris
-Kissinger
-Thieu
-William J. Porter
-South Vietnamese cable to Thieu
-US position
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Haig’s view
-Ellsworth F. Bunker
-Thieu
-Timing
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Meeting with the President
-Time
-Status
-Settlement agreement
-Antaoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Notes
-US position
-42-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Conversation with Haig
-Talking points
-Letter
-Backgrounder
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Tone
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Timing
-Thieu
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:03 am.
Delivery of a package
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:50 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Alternative
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Kissinger
-Thieu
-Congressional relations
-Cut off of US aid to South Vietnam
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Photograph in newspaper
-Smiling
-Effect
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Public appearances
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Osborne
-Paris
-Thieu
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Settlement agreement
-Signing
-Thieu
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-Reports
-43-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Communists
-Statements
-Tone
-Leaks
-US position
-Peace terms
-Thieu
-Congressional relations
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Settlement agreement
-Wording
-“Sovereignty,” “administrative,” “structure”
-Principle
-South Vietnam sovereignty
-North Vietnam
-Unilateral statement
-Congressional relations
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Wording of agreement
-Settlement agreement
-Enforcement
-US military options
-North Vietnamese provocation
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Smiling photographs
-Leaks
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-New York Times article
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Thieu
-“Hawks
-Congressional relations
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Positions
-Issues
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-Breakdown
-Kissinger
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Credibility
-44-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-North Vietnam’s delays
-Status
-Kissinger’s view
-Settlement agreement
-Haig’s view
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Advantage
-Right wing
-Thieu
-Paris
-Leaks to North Vietnamese
-Embassy buggings
-Thieu’s office
-Kissinger
-Infiltration
-The President’s meeting with Nguyen Phu Duc
-North Vietnam’s delays
-The President’s message to Kissinger
-North Vietnam’s intransigence
-Congressional relations
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Military plan
-The President’s view
-Reseeding of mines
-Timing
-Kissinger
-Reconnaissance
-20th Parallel
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Scale
-Reseeding of mines
-Press relations
-20th Parallel
-Three day strike
-Kissinger
-Reseeding of mines
-Reconnaissance
-South of 20th Parallel
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-Leaks to North Vietnamese
-45-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Bunker’s view
-William P. Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird
-Haig’s conversations with Rogers
-Haig’s conversation with Laird
-Settlement agreement
-Bunker’s view
-Rogers
-Timing
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Thieu
-US leverage with North Vietnam
-Thieu
-Prestige
-Emotions
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Meeting with the President
-Options
-Thieu
-US-South Vietnamese relations
-North Vietnam’s view
-Relations with Kissinger
-Tone of meetings
-Backup US positions
-Settlement agreement
-Signing
-Settlement agreement
-Kissinger’s plan
-US signing
-Announcement
-South Vietnam’s signing
-South Vietnam’s signing
-Pressure of Thieu
-Options
-Rejection
-Acceptance
-Abidance
-Rejection by Thieu
-Effect
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Overthrow of Thieu
-Caretaker
-Ngo Dinh Diem
-South Vietnam’s public opinion
-Bui Diem’s view
-Cease-fire
-Thieu’s speech at National Assembly
-Reaction
-Analysis
-Tone
-State Department
-Language intention
-Reseeding of mines
-Reconnaissance
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Settlement agreement
-US bombing south of 20th Parallel
-Effect
-Vinh, North Vietnam
-Laos
-Air Force
-Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-The President’s, Kissinger’s and Haig’s possible conversation with
Agnew
-Talking points
-Options
-Contingency plans
-Speeches
-Thieu’s press relations
-Agnew
-Meeting
-North Vietnamese
-Delays
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Arrival
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Haig’s conversation with Kissinger
-State Department
-White House
-Effect
-47-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 385-27 (cont’d)
-Public perceptions
-Oriana Fallaci interviews
Haig left at 10:50 am.