810–2

Conversation No. 810-2

Date: October 31, 1972
Time: 11:10 am - 11:36 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Nelson A. Rockefeller and Henry A. Kissinger; the White House
photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the meeting.

Greetings

Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
-Cuts in text
-Vietnam

Vietnam negotiations
-History of US peace agreement
-1968 bombing halt
-Possible agreement
-Deadline
-Message from Hanoi
-North Vietnamese position
-View of US negotiating tactics
-Deadlines
-The President's previous message to Hanoi
-Possible publication of negotiation record
-Demand for settlement
-North Vietnamese leaks of terms
-Phom Van Dong’s interview in Newsweek
-Attempted modification of settlement terms
 3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Coalition government
-Orders to North Vietnamese cadres
-Ignore cease-fire to seize territory
-North Vietnamese interpretation administrative structure
-North Vietnamese troop withdrawal
-No reinforcement provision
-Message from Hanoi
-Kissinger’s view
-1972 election
-Factors conducive to settlement
-Bombing
-Possible publication of negotiation record
-Possible backgrounder by Kissinger
-Timin
-The President’s speech [“Look to the Future”] November 2, 1972
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
-Use of information regarding orders to Vietcong [VC]
-The President’s view
-Differences between negotiating parties
-Peace
-1968 agreement
-Phom Van Dong’s interview in Newsweek
-Attempted modification of settlement terms
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
-The President’s view
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Analysis
-Timing of possible settlement
-1972 election
-US position
-North Vietnamese strategy
-Quality of agreement
-North Vietnamese strategy
-Concessions
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-1972 election
-Military Situation
-Cadres
-Bombing
-B-52s
-19th parallel
 4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Previous US internal restriction
-20th parallel
-19th parallel
-Supply dumps
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
-Possible press questions
-Kissinger’s “Peace is at hand” remark
-Progress of negotiations
-Rockefeller’s view
-Administration press strategy
-Possible publication of negotiating record
-Breakdown of talks
-Blame on North Vietnamese
-Nature of agreement
-North Vietnamese position
-Kissinger’s forthcoming backgrounder
-Timing
-Rockefeller’s view
-Kissinger’s view
-Information from Hanoi
-US press reaction
-Possible clarification of points
-North Vietnamese troop withdrawal
-North Vietnamese seizure of territory
-Pham Van Dong’s interview
-Coalition Government
-Rockefeller’s view
-The President compared to Winston S. Churchill
-Rockefeller’s forthcoming National Press Club speech
-John N. Mitchell’s request of Rockefeller
-Thieu
-Kissinger’s previous meeting with Thieu
-Necessity of US consultation with Thieu
-North Vietnamese pressure for settlement
-Possible publication of negotiation record
-Rockefeller’s dinner with Abraham M. Rosenthal
-Foreign Affairs Editor of New York Times, [James Greenfield]
-New York Times
-Greenfield’s view of Kissinger’s press briefing
-Editorial
-Consistency of the Administration’s negotiating position
 5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Far left
-Attitude toward Thieu
-Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.
-US position
-Press statements
-Conciliation
-Status of negotiations
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Jay Lovestone
-George Meany
-George S. McGovern stance
-Signing of agreement
-Abrogation of agreement
-Arms to South Vietnam
-Aid to South Vietnam
-Effects on talks




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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 50s ]


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Support for the President
-New York Times
-Catholic community
-Jewish community
-Catholic community
-Vietnam War
-Francis Cardinal Spellman
-The President’s previous trip to Vietnam as Vice President

Vietnam negotiations
 6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)

-Administration’s desire for peace
-North Vietnamese demand for settlement
-Need for clarification of settlement terms
-Kissinger possible backgrounder
-Paris Situation
-Timing
-Issues
-Propaganda
-The President’s defense of national interests
-Nature of agreement
-South Vietnam

The President’s schedule
-Possible post-election meeting with Rockefeller
-Camp David
-Lyndon B. Johnson,
-Forthcoming signing of 1973 Appropriations Act

Rockefeller and Kissinger left at 11:36 am.