Secret White House Tapes

631–4

About this recording

631–4
  • President Richard M. Nixon
  • Maurice H. Stans
  • Alexander M. Haig
  • Peter G. Peterson
  • White House photographer
  • H. R. Haldeman
December 7, 1971
Conversation No. 631-4

Date: December 7, 1971
Time: 3:12 pm - 4:29 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Maurice H. Stans, Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and Peter G. Peterson;
the White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting

Greetings

Stans's trip to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR], November 20-30,1971
-Length
-Sweden
-USSR
-Poland
-Duration
-Sweden
-Courtesy call by Stans
-Poland
-Bank credits
-Debt
-Stans' report
-Export-Import [Ex-Im] Bank credits
-Romania
-Timing
-USSR
-Moscow
-Leningrad
-Azerbaijan Republic
-Baku
-Georgian Republic
-Tbilisi
-Duration of time
-Stans' visits with Aleksei N. Kosygin
-Length of meetings
-Proposed agenda
-US-USSR relations
-Trade
-Kosygin’s view
8

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Working groups
-The President's forthcoming trip
-Timing of working groups announcement
-Political situation
-Importance and possible improvement
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Commercial situation
-Letter to the President
-Contents
-Agreements reached during Stans’ visit
-Description of letter
-Stans's meetings with Minister of Foreign Trade
-Stans's meeting with the Ministers of Petroleum, Gas, Automobiles, Shipping,
and Standards
-Stans's meeting with the Chairman of the State Committee on Science and
Technology, The Chamber of Commerce, Foreign Trade Bank and the
Chairman of the Council of Ministers
-Azerbaijan and Georgian Republic
-US-USSR relations
-Kosygin's five-year plan
-Significance
-Supreme Soviet
-Helmut(“Hal”) Sonnenfeldt
-Stans' attendance at the Supreme Soviet
-Treatment
-Georgian Republic
-Entertainment for Stans’ group
-Plane
-Escorts
-Entertainment
-Pravda
-Stories about Stans’ visit
-Commercial relationship
-Trade
-Improvement of relations
-Most-favored nation [MFN] status
-Possible discrimination
-Export-Import [Ex-Im] bank credits
-Trade restrictions
-Possible negotiations
-Lend-lease debt
9

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Potential settlement
-Working groups
-Minister of Foreign Trade
-US Department of Commerce
-Continuance of discussions
-Four members from each
-Location of meetings
-Joint trade ventures
-American businessmen in the USSR
-Special arrangements
-Discussed on fact finding groups
-Kosygin’s view
-Trade possibilities
-Peterson’s figures
-Possible conversation between Stans and Peterson
-President’s previous meeting
-Western Europe
-Amount
-Stans' goal
-Projections
-1975
-Poland
-Eastern Europe figures
-Comparison with USSR
-Vietnam
-Kosygin
-Grain sales
-Ex-Im bank credit
-Compared to industrial equipment
-Duration
-Poland
-Yugoslavia and Romania
-Duration
-Commodity Credit Corporation [CCC] credits
-Political value
-Amount
-Grain supplies in Eastern Europe
-Credit terms
-Maritime unions
-Factories and plants
-Off-shore oil operations in Baku
10

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Steel mills, generator factories
-G.U.M store
-Travel restrictions
-Freedom for Stans
-Stans's talk with workers and shopkeepers
-The President's forthcoming visit
-Possible tone of reception
-Desire for understanding from all Russians
-Press
-Stans's letter to the Minister of Foreign Trade
-January 6, 1972 meeting
-Location
-Grain agreement
-Ex-Im bank credit
-Lend-lease agreement
-Pace of negotiations
-Offer of visit to the US
-Stans’ counterpart
-Timing
-The President’s forthcoming trip to the USSR
-USSR bank in the US
-Location
-Reciprocal basis
-Stans’ impressions
-Store merchandise
-Quality of merchandise
-Housing shortage
-Automobiles
-Five year plan
-Consumer goods
-Standard of living
-Factories
-Performance
-Profit motive
-Progress
-Poland and USSR
-Similarities
-Stans in Poland
-Apparent US-USSR differences
-Kosygin
-US business in USSR
11

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Natural resources
-Gas
-Copper
-Diamonds
-World production
-Percentage
-Potential US rival
-Timing
-Issues
-Level of importance
-MFN status
-1951 trade agreement
-Kosygin’s view
-Congressional action
-Poland
-Romania
-Vietnam
-Trade
-US tariffs
-USSR difficulties
-Ex-Im bank credit
-Consumer goods
-Capital
-Joint ventures and credit facilities
-Export controls
-Ongoing reductions
-List
-Kosygin’s view
-Increase in scientific and technological cooperation
-Working group
-Space flight
-Pollution control
-Range of cooperation
-Trade agreement
-1936-1951
-Duration of US-USSR agreement
-Other countries
-Number of agreements
-Lend-lease negotiations
-State committee for science and technology
-Cooperation
12

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Canada and France
-Potential working group
-US issues
-Access for us business
-Offices
-Lack thereof
-Pan American [PanAm]
-American express
-Telex
-Intourist
-MFN restrictions
-Market requirements
-Freedom
-Access to factories
-Bilateral procedures for settling commercial disputes
-Agricultural exports
-Lend-lease debt
-Joint ventures
-US equipment
-USSR natural resources development
-Mining of copper, nickel, chrome, gas and oil
-Pay back in product
-Including interest
-Long-term supply contract
-Gas pipeline
-Location
-Baltic Sea
-Analogy to Algeria
-Possible national security concerns
-Trade
-Proposed increase with the US
-Contracts to US companies
-Kama River truck plant
-Timing
-Minister of petroleum
-“Shopping list”
-Technology and equipment
-Cost
-Advantages of US
-Labor intensive products
-US buying of resources
13

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Europe
-Joint ventures
-Other European countries
-USSR agreements with western countries
-Tupes of ventures and development
-MFN status
-Amount of trade
-Ex-Im bank credit
-Credit from other countries
-Economy
-Increase in productivity and trade
-Growth rate
-Projected amount
-Gross National Product [GNP]
-Japan comparison
-Kosygin's speech
-Five year plan
-Potential equivalent of US in production
-Potential truck plant
-Kama River
-Ford Motor Company
-USSR representatives
-Raw materials
-Titanium, platinum, copper, zinc
-Timber development
-US-USSR collaboration
-Significance
-Step up economic relations with US
-Develop greater understanding of US
-Technological growth
-Need to catch up
-Government
-Structure
-MFN status
-Limitations
-Possible psychological barrier
-American goods
-Equivalent amount
-USSR self-interest
-US economy
-USSR propaganda
14

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Capitalism
-Possible USSR attitudes
-Stans’ conversation with Minister of foreign trade
-Press criticism
-The President’s forthcoming visit
-SALT
-USSR press towards the US
-Separation of commerce and political activities
-Stans's recommendations
-Fact finding group
-Continuation
-Ex-Im bank credit
-Step towards normalizing relations
-Romania
-Lend-lease debt negotiation
-Grains
-Five year agreement
-Value to US
-Export control lists
-Coordinating Committee [COCOM]
-Military hardware
-US-USSR high level working group
-Scientific and technological cooperation
-Travel restriction reduction
-Tourism
-Potential for buying more goods
-MFN status
-Lend-lease debt
-Johnson Act repeal
-Congress
-Private financing limits
-Negotiation of a trade agreement
-Establishment of US control
-USSR protection of copyrights
-Stans' report to the president
-Memorandum of conversations
-USSR trade agreements with other countries
-USSR joint ventures
-United Kingdom
-West Germany
-Italy
15

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-France
-Stans' letter to the Minister of Foreign Trade
-Kosygin
-Previous conversation with Stans
-The President
-Decision-making
-Possible tenure
-Democrats
-Future of US-USSR relations

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman at an unknown time between 3:12 pm and
4:00 pm.

[Conversation No. 631-4A]

The President's schedule
-Meeting with Ronald L. Ziegler and Henry A. Kissinger
-Timing

[End of telephone conversation]

Stans' trip to the USSR
-Kosygin
-Conversation style
-Alertness
-Age
-Tea
-Bridges
-US
-USSR bureaucrats
-Minister of Shipping
-Age
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Spain
-Age comparisons to USSR leaders
-Stans' forthcoming press meetings
-“Face the Nation”
-“Meet the press”
-Press conference
-Nature of Stans’ trip to the USSR
-India/Pakistan situation
16

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Stans' report
-Guidance paper
-President’s instructions
-Recommendations
-State Department
-US bargaining position

Kissinger and Ziegler entered at 4:00 pm.

-Stans' recommendations
-Press
-Relations
-American businessmen
-Stans’ deal
-[Unintelligible]
-Length of trip
-Press interviews
-US News and World Report
-Interview
-Timing
-Stans’ relationship with the press
-Importance
-Grain credits
-Bank credits
-Joint ventures
-Long term financing efforts
-John [Surname unknown] telephone call
-Timing
-SALT
-Stans' report
-Copies
-Possible watershed in US-USSR relations
-Kosygin
-Optimism
-Entertainment
-Haig
-Press interviews
-Stans and Peterson meeting with Haig
-Stans’ possible comments
-Recommendations
-Briefing paper
17

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-Stans’ tone with the press
-USSR
-Possible MFN status
-India/Pakistan
-Stans’ possible comments
-Businessmen
-USSR learning US markets
-Kosygin's interests
-Politics
-The President's recommendations
-The President’s upcoming meeting with USSR leaders
-Thoughts for Stans
-European alliance
-COCOM
-American businessmen in USSR
-Department of Commerce
-Trade documentation center
-Poland
-State Department
-Value of trip
-Briefing the cabinet

Stans, Haig and Peterson left at 4:15 pm.

The President left and returned at an unknown time before 4:19 pm.

An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 4:19 pm.


**************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 26s


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

**************************************************************************
18

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


India-Pakistan situation
-Press conference
-Number of participants
-Backgrounder
-India as a country
-President’s instructions
-The President's trips to India in 1953, 1957, and 1969
-Backgrounder preparation for Kissinger
-Foreign aid
-Indira Gandhi
-Marvin L. Kalb
-Summarize the administration’s efforts
-Indians
-East Pakistan
-William P. Rogers
-Economic and military aid cut-off
-Kissinger's trip to India
-Pakistanis
-Kissinger’s conversations with the Indians
-Alternatives
-Military aid

The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 4:15 pm and 4:19
pm.

[Conversation No. 431-4B]

Kissinger’s request for Haig

[End of telephone conversation]

Haig entered at 4:19 pm.

Kissinger’s schedule

India-Pakistan situation
-Press
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Intended action
-US actions
-Documentation
19

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


-East Pakistan

Haig left at 4:20 pm.

India-Pakistan situation
-Press
-Ziegler’s conversation with Kalb
-Concerns from Kalb
-President’s schedule
-Transcript
-The President’s previous conversations with Gandhi and Indian officials
-USSR
-Kalb


**************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[National Security]
[Duration: 8s ]


INTELLIGENCE


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

**************************************************************************


-President’s instructions
-US influence
-United Nations [UN] observers
-Military and civilian governments
-Kissinger's meetings with Indian ambassador and the Pakistan foreign secretary in
November 1971
-Timing
-Refugees
-Political settlement
-Negotiations
20

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


Haig entered at 4:23 pm.

-Aid program
-Amount
-Timing
-Bureaucracy
-Soviets and India
-Chinese and Pakistan
-US interests
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Kissinger’s plan
-Refugees

Kissinger talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 4:23 pm and 4:29 pm.

Request for a call to Harold H. Saunders

[Conversation No. 431-4C]

[End of telephone conversation]

-Backgrounder
-White paper
-Bangladesh
-US contact
-Indians
-Gandhi
-Possible withdrawal of forces
-Difference of opinion
-UN
-Support of Administration’s position
-General assembly
-Kissinger's talk with George H. W. Bush
-Vote
-Kennedy
-Possible actions taken by the Administration
-USSR
-Indians
-Message
-Kissinger’s forthcoming briefing
21

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 631-4 (cont.)


Ziegler, Kissinger and Haig left at 4:29 pm.
Secret White House Tapes |

631–4

This recording is currently not available on millercenter.org. To listen to it, please email Mike Greco at mdg4u@virginia.edu

More Richard M. Nixon Recordings

View all Richard M. Nixon tapes
632–1
audio icon
307–1
audio icon
632–10
audio icon
307–10
audio icon
632–11
audio icon
307–11
audio icon
632–12
audio icon
307–12
audio icon
632–13
audio icon
307–13
audio icon