887–19

Conversation No. 887-19

Date: March 22, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:53 pm and 1:12 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with an unknown man.

President's meeting with Ronald L. Ziegler

Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
-Arrival
-Meeting with President
-Ziegler

The unknown man left and Scowcroft entered at 12:54 pm.

Vietnam settlement
-Message to Laos
-Delivery
-Answer
-President’s schedule
-Delivery
-Acapulco, Mexico
-Courier plane
-Delays
-Arrival
-Response
-Contact with President
-Key Biscayne, Florida
-Pathet Laos
-Laos
-US bombing halt
-Reconnaissance
-Cease-fire agreement

Vietnam settlement
-Possible air strikes
 -29-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 887-19 (cont’d)


-Airplane losses
-Antiaircraft capabilities
-Laos
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Risks
-Continued bombing of Cambodia
-Warning
-Future cease-fire violations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s view
-Airplane losses
-Military effectiveness
-Value
-US determination
-POWs
-Kissinger’s view
-Conjecture
-May 8, 1972 decision
Ziegler entered at 12:59 pm.

-Domestic reaction
-Press coverage
-North Vietnam’s infiltration
-Laos
-Ho Chi Minh trail
-POWs
-New negotiations
-North Vietnam’s action
-Provocation
-Intensity
-Ho Chi Minh trail
-Supplies
-Domestic reaction
-Airplane losses
-New POWs
-Military commission statement
-Troop withdrawals
-POW list in Laos
-Invasion by North Vietnam
-Return of POWs
 -30-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 887-19 (cont’d)



POW
-Party
-Announcement
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Helen [last name unknown]

Vietnam settlement
-POW release
-Terms of agreement
-Timing
-Laos
-Kissinger’s press conference
-President’s speech
-Press coverage
-Conditions of troop withdrawal
-South Vietnam
-State Department
-Message

Scowcroft left at 1:04 pm.

Ziegler's press briefings
-Cost of living
-Summer youth program
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.'s program
-Calls to mayors
-Jacob K. Jacobs
-Tone of response
-Negativity
-Cycles
Press relations
-News stories
-Cost of living reports
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III issue
-Controversy
-Food prices
-Recent rise
-New York Times
 -31-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 887-19 (cont’d)


-Article on White House menu
-White House Chef
-Henry Haller
-Virginia H. Knauer’s show
-Demonstrations of concern
-Effect of Soviet gymnast and Mrs. Bruce Bedford photograph

Ziegler's schedule
-Trip to Florida
-William P. Rogers
-Dinner

President's trip to Florida
-Ziegler's statement
-Purpose of trip
-George P. Shultz’s report
-Energy policy
-Cost of Living Council

Vietnam settlement
-Possible air strikes
-Domestic reaction
-“Leveling Hanoi”
-Infiltrations
-POWs
-Press concerns
-Legality
-Cease-fire agreement violations
-POWs
-North Vietnamese action

Mrs. Nixon
-POW dinner
-Announcement
-Timing
-Entertainment
-Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope
-National security briefing
-Reception for wives
 -32-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-2010)
Conversation No. 887-19 (cont’d)


-Plans

Ziegler left at 1:12 pm.