About this recording
459–2
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Alexander P. Butterfield
- H. R. Haldeman
- Henry A. Kissinger
- Stephen B. Bull
- Melvin R. Laird
- Alexander M. Haig
- Thomas H. Moorer
- Walter B. Ratliffe
February 27, 1971
Conversation No. 459-2
Date: February 27, 1971
Time: 9:35 am - 11:57 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
The President’s schedule
-Astronaut dinner
-Attendance
-Guest list
-Social Office
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s view
-President’s role
-Tricia Nixon
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-East Room
-Seating arrangements
-The President
-Astronauts
-The Vice President
-William P. Rogers
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-John B. Connally
-Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.
-David Packard
-William L. Safire
-Hole-in-One Club
-Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
-Awards
-President’s view
-The President’s remarks
-Citations
-William A. Anders
-The Vice President
-Children
-Camp Hoover
-Butterfield
-Peter M. Flanigan’s visit
-Robert H. Finch
-Condition of camp
-Furniture
-Possible visit by the President
-Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Possible visit by the President
-Difficulties
Butterfield left at an unknown time after 9:35 am
-Florida trip
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Camp David
-Upcoming schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Weather
Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 9:35 am
-Hughes’ report on Camp Hoover
-Recommendation
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:46 am
-Weekend activities
-Church
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Camp David
-Florida
-Forthcoming trip
-Camp David
-Presidential work schedule
-Forthcoming National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Victor Lasky
-Interview with the President Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Book
-Lasky’s research
-Proposed interview with the President
-Questions
-Fiftieth anniversary of Reader’s Digest
-Possible White House dinner
-DeWitt Wallace
-Announcement
-Lila (Acheson) Wallace
-Attitudes
-Arrangements
Butterfield entered at 9:46 am
Morning schedule
Henry A. Kissinger entered and Haldeman and Butterfield left at 9:47 am
Laos (Lam Son)
-Military situation
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-Briefing
-Attitudes of military
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-ARVN airborne forces
-Strategy
-ARVN military
-North Vietnamese forces
-Kissinger’s assessment
-News reports
-Kissinger’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Soviet position
-North Vietnam
-Soviet view of Cambodia and Laos operations
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cambodian operation
-Reports
-ARVN
-North Vietnamese casualties
An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 20s ]
MIDDLE EAST
The unknown woman left at an unknown time before 10:06 am
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
Laos (Lam Son)
-Marines
-Reinforcement
-Airborne forces
-Tactical movement
-Supply routes
-Military situation
-Strategy
-Supply routes
-Tchepone
-ARVN forces
-Timing
-President’s view
-North Vietnamese supply routes
-Rationale
-Casualties
-North Vietnamese
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-B-52 Strikes
-Tactical proposals
-Future prospects for success
-ARVN
-Media coverage
-October 7th speech
-John D. Ehrlichman
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Democratic briefings
-Kissinger’s forthcoming conversation with Reston
[The President talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 9:47 am and 10:06 am]
[Conversation No. 459-2A]
-Ehrlichman’s call to Reston
[End of telephone conversation]
-Reston’s reaction to Laos operation
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with Reston
-Cambodia
-The President’s policy
-Reaction of European press
-Henry Brandon
-Media coverage
-Kissinger’s view
Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
The President’s schedule
-John N. Mitchell
-Florida
-Des Moines
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Weather in Florida
-The President’s decision
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 10:06 am
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Schedule
-Forthcoming NSC meeting
-Melvin R. Laird
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Rogers
-Richard M. Helms
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:06 am
-Television
Laird, Helms, Sisco, Rogers, and Haig entered at 10:06 am
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 1h 14m 39s ]
MIDDLE EAST
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 11:21 am
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer and Lieutenant Colonel Walter B. Ratliffe entered and Sisco left at
11:21 am
Laos (Lam Son) operation
-Previous briefings
-Status
-Congress
-Rogers
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-The President’s forthcoming television appearance
-Rogers’ forthcoming press conference
-Strategy
-US policy
-Public relations
-Abrams
-Rogers
Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
Cambodia (Chub) operation
-Military situation
-Casualties
-Goals
-Death of General Do Cao Tri
-Effect on South Vietnamese forces
-Military operations
-General Thomas J. (“Stonewall”) Jackson
-Gettysburg
-Importance of leadership
Laos (Lam Son)
-Military situation
-Strategy
-Military operations
-Ground forces
-Bombing
-North Vietnamese forces
-Casualties
-Tank Fight
-South Vietnamese [ARVN] forces
-Military situation
-Casualties
-Military operations
-Abrams’ plan
-Airborne troops
-Marines
-ARVN reserves
-Laird’s view
-North Vietnamese strategy
-Troop movements
-Effect on US strategy
-General Vo Nguyen Giap
-US Air Force bombing
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-North Vietnam headquarters
-Command centers
-Problems
-Intelligence
-President’s view
-Helms’ response
-Press accounts
-Abrams Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Unknown ARVN general
-Ho Chi Minh Trail
-Decrease in North Vietnamese use
-Supplies
-Effect on Lam Son operation
-Routes
-Moorer’s assessment
-President’s view
-Need for public relations
-Intelligence
-Goals of Lam Son operation
-ARVN forces
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 5s ]
LAM SON
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
******************************************************************************
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
-US strategy
-North Vietnamese troop strength
-American troop strength
-Khe Sanh
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-US troop strength
-Estimates
-Roles
-US strategy
-Effect on North Vietnamese forces
-Marines
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Infantry role
-Press account
-Search and rescue missions
-Rogers
-John Sherman Cooper
-Search and rescue missions
-Son Tay mission
-Administration position
-Press accounts
-Department of Defense briefing
-Jerry W. Friedheim
-Press briefing
-Ziegler
-Questions and responses
-Administration position
-Vietnam policy
-President’s previous experiences
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Middle East
-Relations with press corps
-President’s position
-Ziegler’s role
-Answers to questions on Lam Son
-Goal of press corps
-President’s view
-Abrams
-Responses to questions
-Importance of public relations
-Theodore S. (“Ted”) Williams
-Relations with press
-Denny D. McLain
-Need for objective coverage
-President’s position
-Rogers’ view
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Laos
-Abrams
-ARVN
-Need for victory
-Terrain
-Prisoners
-Casualties
-South Vietnamese morale Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-North Vietnamese morale
-Laird’s trip
Press conferences
-Ziegler
-Methods of handling
-President’s position
-Responses to questions
Laos (Lam Son)
-Objectives
-Changes
-Tchepone
-Ho Chi Minh Trail
-North Vietnamese supplies
-Decrease
-Media coverage
-Laird/Kissinger Experience
Farewells
Instructions to Moorer
-Abrams
-Report
Kissinger, et al. left at 11:57 am
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Date: February 27, 1971
Time: 9:35 am - 11:57 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
The President’s schedule
-Astronaut dinner
-Attendance
-Guest list
-Social Office
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s view
-President’s role
-Tricia Nixon
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-East Room
-Seating arrangements
-The President
-Astronauts
-The Vice President
-William P. Rogers
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-John B. Connally
-Dr. Edward E. David, Jr.
-David Packard
-William L. Safire
-Hole-in-One Club
-Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
-Awards
-President’s view
-The President’s remarks
-Citations
-William A. Anders
-The Vice President
-Children
-Camp Hoover
-Butterfield
-Peter M. Flanigan’s visit
-Robert H. Finch
-Condition of camp
-Furniture
-Possible visit by the President
-Major General James D. (“Don”) Hughes
-Possible visit by the President
-Difficulties
Butterfield left at an unknown time after 9:35 am
-Florida trip
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Camp David
-Upcoming schedule
-Trip to Florida
-Weather
Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 9:35 am
-Hughes’ report on Camp Hoover
-Recommendation
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:46 am
-Weekend activities
-Church
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Camp David
-Florida
-Forthcoming trip
-Camp David
-Presidential work schedule
-Forthcoming National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Victor Lasky
-Interview with the President Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Book
-Lasky’s research
-Proposed interview with the President
-Questions
-Fiftieth anniversary of Reader’s Digest
-Possible White House dinner
-DeWitt Wallace
-Announcement
-Lila (Acheson) Wallace
-Attitudes
-Arrangements
Butterfield entered at 9:46 am
Morning schedule
Henry A. Kissinger entered and Haldeman and Butterfield left at 9:47 am
Laos (Lam Son)
-Military situation
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN]
-Briefing
-Attitudes of military
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
-ARVN airborne forces
-Strategy
-ARVN military
-North Vietnamese forces
-Kissinger’s assessment
-News reports
-Kissinger’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Soviet position
-North Vietnam
-Soviet view of Cambodia and Laos operations
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Cambodian operation
-Reports
-ARVN
-North Vietnamese casualties
An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security]
[Duration: 2m 20s ]
MIDDLE EAST
The unknown woman left at an unknown time before 10:06 am
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
Laos (Lam Son)
-Marines
-Reinforcement
-Airborne forces
-Tactical movement
-Supply routes
-Military situation
-Strategy
-Supply routes
-Tchepone
-ARVN forces
-Timing
-President’s view
-North Vietnamese supply routes
-Rationale
-Casualties
-North Vietnamese
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-B-52 Strikes
-Tactical proposals
-Future prospects for success
-ARVN
-Media coverage
-October 7th speech
-John D. Ehrlichman
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Democratic briefings
-Kissinger’s forthcoming conversation with Reston
[The President talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 9:47 am and 10:06 am]
[Conversation No. 459-2A]
-Ehrlichman’s call to Reston
[End of telephone conversation]
-Reston’s reaction to Laos operation
-Kissinger’s previous conversation with Reston
-Cambodia
-The President’s policy
-Reaction of European press
-Henry Brandon
-Media coverage
-Kissinger’s view
Haldeman entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
The President’s schedule
-John N. Mitchell
-Florida
-Des Moines
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Weather in Florida
-The President’s decision
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 10:06 am
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:47 am
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
Schedule
-Forthcoming NSC meeting
-Melvin R. Laird
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Rogers
-Richard M. Helms
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:06 am
-Television
Laird, Helms, Sisco, Rogers, and Haig entered at 10:06 am
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National Security]
[Duration: 1h 14m 39s ]
MIDDLE EAST
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 10:06 am
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 11:21 am
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer and Lieutenant Colonel Walter B. Ratliffe entered and Sisco left at
11:21 am
Laos (Lam Son) operation
-Previous briefings
-Status
-Congress
-Rogers
7
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-The President’s forthcoming television appearance
-Rogers’ forthcoming press conference
-Strategy
-US policy
-Public relations
-Abrams
-Rogers
Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
Cambodia (Chub) operation
-Military situation
-Casualties
-Goals
-Death of General Do Cao Tri
-Effect on South Vietnamese forces
-Military operations
-General Thomas J. (“Stonewall”) Jackson
-Gettysburg
-Importance of leadership
Laos (Lam Son)
-Military situation
-Strategy
-Military operations
-Ground forces
-Bombing
-North Vietnamese forces
-Casualties
-Tank Fight
-South Vietnamese [ARVN] forces
-Military situation
-Casualties
-Military operations
-Abrams’ plan
-Airborne troops
-Marines
-ARVN reserves
-Laird’s view
-North Vietnamese strategy
-Troop movements
-Effect on US strategy
-General Vo Nguyen Giap
-US Air Force bombing
8
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-North Vietnam headquarters
-Command centers
-Problems
-Intelligence
-President’s view
-Helms’ response
-Press accounts
-Abrams Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Unknown ARVN general
-Ho Chi Minh Trail
-Decrease in North Vietnamese use
-Supplies
-Effect on Lam Son operation
-Routes
-Moorer’s assessment
-President’s view
-Need for public relations
-Intelligence
-Goals of Lam Son operation
-ARVN forces
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 5s ]
LAM SON
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
******************************************************************************
-Demilitarized Zone [DMZ]
-US strategy
-North Vietnamese troop strength
-American troop strength
-Khe Sanh
9
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-US troop strength
-Estimates
-Roles
-US strategy
-Effect on North Vietnamese forces
-Marines
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-Infantry role
-Press account
-Search and rescue missions
-Rogers
-John Sherman Cooper
-Search and rescue missions
-Son Tay mission
-Administration position
-Press accounts
-Department of Defense briefing
-Jerry W. Friedheim
-Press briefing
-Ziegler
-Questions and responses
-Administration position
-Vietnam policy
-President’s previous experiences
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Middle East
-Relations with press corps
-President’s position
-Ziegler’s role
-Answers to questions on Lam Son
-Goal of press corps
-President’s view
-Abrams
-Responses to questions
-Importance of public relations
-Theodore S. (“Ted”) Williams
-Relations with press
-Denny D. McLain
-Need for objective coverage
-President’s position
-Rogers’ view
10
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)
-Laos
-Abrams
-ARVN
-Need for victory
-Terrain
-Prisoners
-Casualties
-South Vietnamese morale Conv. No. 459-2 (cont.)
-North Vietnamese morale
-Laird’s trip
Press conferences
-Ziegler
-Methods of handling
-President’s position
-Responses to questions
Laos (Lam Son)
-Objectives
-Changes
-Tchepone
-Ho Chi Minh Trail
-North Vietnamese supplies
-Decrease
-Media coverage
-Laird/Kissinger Experience
Farewells
Instructions to Moorer
-Abrams
-Report
Kissinger, et al. left at 11:57 am
11
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)