386–4

Conversation No. 386-4

Date: December 5, 1972
Time: Unknown between 6:30 pm and 7:35 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

Vietnam negotiations
-Haldeman’s message to Henry A. Kissinger
-Breakdown in talks
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-Compared to impasse
-Consultations
-Recess
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Tone
-US military action
-Duration
-Settlement agreement
-Resumption of talks
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Breakdown in talks
-North Vietnamese intransigence
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 386-4 (cont’d)

-Doves
-Haldeman’s conversations with “hard liners”
-John B. Connally
-Possible effect on Kissinger
-Breakdown in talks
-Initiative
-North Vietnam

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 6:30 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Telephone call from Tricia Nixon Cox
-Manolo Sanchez

Message to Kissinger

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 6:43 pm.

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:30 pm and
6:43 pm.

[See Conversation No. 34-148]

[Conversation No. 386-4B]

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with Tricia Nixon Cox between 6:43 pm and 6:44 pm.

[See Conversation No. 34-26]

[Conversation No. 386-4A]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Connally’s view
 -33-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 386-4 (cont’d)

-Public relations [PR]
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Pace
-PR
-Charles W. Colson’s view
-Boston
-Harvard University
-Princeton University
-Announcement
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Timing
-Kissinger’s return to Washington, DC

The President’s schedule
-Reception for California administration officials
-Haldeman’s schedule
-Home
-Robert J. Dole
-Robert H. Finch’s recommendation
-California Republicans
-Possible meeting in San Clemente
-George H. W. Bush
-Oval Office
-Telephone calls
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Herbert G. Klein
-Strom Thurmond’s birthday
-Harry S. Dent
-Private line
-Compared to wire
-Timing
-Apollo XVII astronauts
-Launch
-Timing
-Camp David
-Harry S. Truman
-Health
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Telephone call
-Death
 -34-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)

Conversation No. 386-4 (cont’d)


Second term reorganization
-John A. Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Announcement
-Timing
-John D. Ehrlichman

Connally
-Presidency
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew

Vietnam negotiations
-Haldeman’s message to Kissinger
-Breakdown in talks
-Option
-Congressional relations
-Funds
-The President’s view
-Breakdown in talks
-Kissinger’s return
-California
-Press relations
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Necessity
-Ehrlichman’s and Colson’s views

The President’s schedule
-Reception for California administration officials

Zosimo T. Monson entered and Haldeman left at an unknown time before 7:35 pm.

The President’s schedule
-Reception for California administration officials

Monson left at an unknown time before 7:35 pm.
 -35-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)