726–15

Conversation No. 726-15

Date: May 19, 1972
Time: 5:25 pm - 5:35 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-Kissinger's work with John C. Stennis
-Anti-ballistic missiles [ABMs]
-Offensive weapons
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-ABM
-Objections to provisions
-Attitude on offensive weapons
-Meeting in Kissinger's office
-Don Maynard
 52

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 726-14 (cont.)

-Response on ABMs
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Military recommendations
-Position
-Meeting with Kissinger and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Stennis
-Support
-Need for lobbying
-Gerard C. Smith and William P. Rogers
-Understanding
-Press briefing
-President's statement
-Caution
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Compared to information supplied Congress
-Caution
-Areas to mention
-Space
-Environment
-SALT

Soviet Summit
-President's meeting with Congressional leaders
-Expectations
-President's handling
-Expectations
-Kissinger's meetings
-Stennis
-Undersea Long-ranged Missiles [ULMS]
-Others
-President's speech
-Raymond K. Price, Jr. and Kissinger work
-Toasts
-William L. Safire
-Problems
-Speechwriters compared
-John K. Andrews, Jr.
-Safire
-Price
-SALT references
-SALT
-Action in Moscow
-Possible objections by “Hawks”
 53

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 726-15 (cont.)

-ABM
-Kissinger’s view
-Kissinger's discussions with Jackson
-Conflict in Senate
-SALT
-Support
-John G. Tower
-Stennis
-US weaponry
-Multiple Independently-targeted Reentry Vehicles [MIRVs]
-ULMS
-Soviet Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles [ICBMs]
-Status
-US weaponry
-Aircraft
-Problems
-Duration
-Comparison to PRC Communiqué
-Administration's position
-Vietnam
-President's position
-SALT
-Selling of Administration position
-Kissinger's absence during Summit
-Laird and Moorer's role
-Kissinger's early return
-Likelihood
-Work on communiqué, five principles
-ABM
-President's disagreement with Jackson
-Sites
-SALT
-Treaty
-Kissinger’s view
-Public response
-Peter H. Dominick
-Response
-Kissinger’s view
-Threat of funds cutoff
-James L. Buckley
-Dominick
-ULMS
-Appropriations
 54

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Jan-02) Conv. No. 726-15 (cont.)

-Freeze
-Alternative
-Submarine provision
-Soviets
-Number built per year
-Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS]
-Support
-Moorer

Vietnam
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-J. William Fulbright

Soviet Summit
-Prospects

The President and Kissinger left at 5:35 pm.