474–1

Conversation No. 474-1

Date: March 26, 1971
Time: 9:40 am - 9:55 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger
[Recording begins while the conversation is in progress]

Seating

Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] figures
-Kissinger
-Kissinger’s previous briefing
-Congressional leaders
-Memorandum for the President

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:40 am

President’s schedule
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Cabinet meeting

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:55 am

Vietnam
-Washington Post story, March 26, 1971
-President’s response
-Peter Osnos
-Quotes by an American major

Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:40 am

Washington Post delivery

Bull left at an unknown time before 9:55 am

Vietnam
-Washington Post story
-A major’s quotes
-Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
-General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
 2

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-President’s view
-Ranks
-Osnos
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Content of press account
-Abrams
-Washington Post story
-A major’s quotes Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.)
-President’s concern

Abrams
-Work
-Kissinger’s view
-Possible appointment as Chief of Staff
-Army’s needs
-Kissinger’s view
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-General Richard G. Stilwell

Vietnam
-Washington Post story
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Account
-Congressmen
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-End of operation
-Kissinger’s view
-President’s March 14, 1971 press conference
-US and South Vietnam command
-General Nguyen Van Thieu’s decision
-Weather
-Army of the Republic of Vietnam [ARVN] losses
-Enemy losses
-Number
-Abrams
-South Vietnamese morale
-Ellsworth F. Bunker memorandum
-Success of operation
-Publicity
-Thieu
-Bunker
-Cable
 3

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-President’s assessment
-Washington Post story
-A major’s quotes
-Haig
-Army and Air Force morale
-Press
-Public opinion
-President’s view Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.)
-Kissinger’s previous meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-North Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming announcement
-President’s forthcoming speech
-William P. Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird
-Negotiations
-Dobrynin
-Timing
-Kissinger’s response
-President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-Negotiations
-Troop withdrawals
-Number
-Effect of Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Length
-Writer
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-William L. Safire
-Winston Lord
-October 10, 1970 Speech
-Draft
-President’s delivery
-Compared with Howard K. Smith interview
-Delivery of draft
-Press
-Kissinger’s role
-Stewart J. O. and Joseph W. Alsop
-S. J. O. Alsop’s position
-Withdrawal
-President’s response
-Democrats’ caucus
-A vote on March 31, 1971
 4

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-President’s statements
-President’s policies
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs

Southerners

Boggs
-Previous dinner with Kissinger Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.)
-Support for the President
-Compared with Republicans

Republicans
-Support for President
-Congressional leaders
-Draft

Vietnam
-Television coverage
-Effect
-Abraham Lincoln’s presidency
-Shenandoah Valley
-Laos operation (Lam Son)
-Evaluation
-President’s view
-Press
-Public relations efforts
-President’s view
-New York Times, March 25, 1971
-Television
-Coverage
-Previous footage
-Public opinion
-Effect
-Casualties
-Decreases
-Future military action
-Kissinger’s view
-Possible North Vietnamese attacks
-Possible ARVN attacks
-Effect on public opinion
-Kissinger’s view
-I, III, IV Corps
 5

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 9/08)



-US role
-President’s view
-South Vietnamese role
-US role
-Air power
-A meeting with Laird and Moorer
-Future
-Military equipment and material Conv. No. 474-1 (cont.)
-Air strikes
-Number
-Attacks on Kissinger

Kissinger left at 9:55 am