911–9

Conversation No. 911-9

Date: May 3, 1973
Time: 9:48 am - 10:12 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with David K. E. Bruce. The White House photographer and members of the
press were present at the beginning of the meeting.

Greeting

Bruce’s schedule

Arrangements for photograph

-Seating


[Photograph session]

The White House photographer and members of the press left at an unknown time before 10:12
am.

Long March

Bruce’s mission to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Symbolism
-Social dynamics
-Evaluation of leadership
-Mao Tse-tung
-Chou En-lai
-Compared to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Leonid I. Brezhnev [?]
-Observations of people, country
-Compared to routine, narrative cables
-US-PRC relations
-President’s view
-Importance
-Subtlety
 -15-


NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. September-2012)

Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)

-Compared to USSR
-President’s reception in PRC
-Return visit
-Potential Chou visit to US, United Nations [UN]
-Significance for peace
-Effect of USSR-PRC relations
-US support

-PRC’s relations with India

-USSR

-PRC’s relations with Japan

-US relations with Japan

-PRC’s foreign policy concerns

-Underdeveloped nations

-“Revolutions of the mind”

-Africa

-US presence in Europe

-Effect on USSR
-US withdrawal from Asia, Europe
-Congress members
-US presence in Europe
-PRC’s support of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Reading
-PRC history
-Diplomacy
-Mission goals

-Preservation

-Contacts

-PRC’s impression of US

-Strength

-USSR

-Middle East diplomacy

-US friendship

-Compared to Romania, Tanzania, Albania

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 9:48 am.

Refreshments
 -16-


NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. September-2012)

Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)


The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:12 am.

US relations with PRC

-Bruce’s assessment of policy change

-President’s reputation concerning communism

-“Silent confrontation”

-Effect

-Breakthrough

-Effect on USSR

-Compared with US-USSR relations
-President’s forthcoming meeting with Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Superpower status
-Europe, Middle East interests
-Danger
-Need for communication
-USSR’s power, expansionism
-Communication with PRC by Bruce
-Communism
-President as “Man of the Pacific”
-Common interests
-“Lynchpin of peace in the world”
-Forthcoming summit with Brezhnev
-Bruce’s knowledge
-Kissinger
-Visit to PRC [?]

-Kissinger’s role

-Bruce’s role

-President’s ambassador
-State Department
-Bureaucracy
-William P. Rogers
-State Department
-Security
-Back channel
-Kissinger’s visit
-Briefings
 -17-


NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. September-2012)

Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)

-Contrasted with Bruce’s experience at Vietnam Paris peace talks

Cambodia

-Settlement

-PRC



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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

[National Security]

[Duration: 7 s ]



CAMBODIA


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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Cambodia
-PRC
-Conversations with President, Kissinger
-Nerodom Sihanouk
-Support

-Statements

-Coalition government

-Role of Sihanouk

-Sihanoukville

-Port of entry

-South Vietnam

-Military situation

-North Vietnamese infiltration

-Sihanoukville
-Demilitarized zone [DMZ]
 -18-


NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. September-2012)

Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)

-US presence

-Thailand

-US policy aims
-Neutrality
-Settlement
-Withdrawal
-North Vietnam

-Coalition government



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


BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

[National security]

[Duration: 2 s ]



CAMBODIA


END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4

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


Cambodia
-Imperial dynasty

-Restoration

-PRC support

-Contradictions

Bruce’s mission to PRC
-Residence

-Alfred Jenkins

-Austerity

-Chinese women

-Peking

 -19-


NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM


Tape Subject Log

(rev. September-2012)

Conversation No. 911-9 (cont’d)

-Food and drink

-PRC’s generosity

-Space for communication equipment

-Assurances of meaningfulness

-Compared to John T. Downey

-Incarceration
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] intervention
-Bruce’s view
-PRC compared to USSR
-Conversation with chief interpreter at restaurant dinner
-President’s potential future visits
-Mao

-Ability to travel [?]

-Health

-Bruce’s health

Watergate

-State Department

-John D. Ehrlichman and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

-Elliot L. Richardson

-Importance of PRC relationship


Bruce left at 10:12 am.