About this recording
928–6
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Stephen B. Bull
- Henry A. Kissinger
- White House operator
- UNKNOWN
May 25, 1973
Conversation No. 928-6
Date: May 25, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:10 am and 10:44 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Stephen B. Bull.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Center event
-Memorial Day
-[Dwight ] David Eisenhower, II and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Audience
-Size
-Forum
-Washington, DC
-Joint Veterans event
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-American Legion
-World War I
-Library
-New wing dedication, 1968
-Memorial Day event
-Invitation to the President
-Address
-Location of library
-Abilene, Kansas
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 10:24 am.
President’s schedule
-Memorial Day events [?]
-Roy L. Ash
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Weekly meeting
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:26 am.
Vietnam settlement
-Negotiations
-New York Herald Tribune articles
-Editorial page
-Attacks
-Patriotism
-Kissinger’s statement to Le Duc Tho
Prisoners of war [POWs] dinner
-Statement by the President
-Haig’s comments to Kissinger
The White House operator talked with the President at 10:26 am.
[Conversation No. 928-6A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 39-21]
[End telephone conversation]
Prisoners of war [POWs] dinner
-POWs
-Importance of Vietnam negotiations
-Statements by performers
-James (“Jimmy”) Stewart, John Wayne, and Vic Damone
-President’s decision on December 1972 bombing
-Kissinger’s role
-President’s comment to Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope
-Mrs. James Stockdale
-Haig
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Opinion of Kissinger
-Wives’ meetings with Kissinger
-Release of POWs
-Peace with honor
-Meaning to POWs
-R. Flynn’s statement about December 1972 bombing
-US collective memory
-Compared with Watergate
-John N. Mitchell and Robert L. Vesco
Watergate
-Cover-up
-Politics
-Assault
-Democratic liberals
-Loss in November 1972 presidential election
-Destruction of Republican Party
-Interests
-Power
-Destruction of US
-Loss of Vietnam War
-Loss of Americans
-Power
-President’s opponents
-Politicians
-Press
-Fanatical desires
-Power
-Hatred to US
-Self-hatred
-Loss of Vietnam War
-Betrayal of country
-McGeorge Bundy’s call to Kissinger
-Kissinger’s loyalty to the President
-J. Edgar Hoover’s wiretaps
-Morality
-Kissinger’s survival
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Daniel Ellsberg’s actions regarding Pentagon Papers
-Wiretaps
-Wiretaps during John F. Kennedy administration
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
-Leak to press
-Destruction of records by Hoover
-William L. Sullivan
-Bundy characterized
-Morality
-President’s reaction
US-Canada relations
-Withdrawal from International Control Commission [ICC]
-Discussion with Kissinger
-Sixty day extension
Vietnam settlement
-Kissinger’s negotiations
-Paris
-Cabinet meeting
-Disclosures by North Vietnam
Kissinger’s forthcoming cabinet briefing
-President’s discussion with Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Year of Europe
Vietnam
-Kissinger’s negotiations
-Schedule
-Paris
-Communiqué
-Compared to formal agreement
-Cease-fire order
-All sides
-Infiltration
-National Council of Reconciliation
-Cancelled
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Effect of leaks
-Effect on foreign relations
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Soviet Union
-Vietnam
-Forthcoming statement by Kissinger
-Necessity of secrecy
-Effect of leaks on President’s foreign policy
-SALT
-PRC
-Soviet Union
-Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s progress
-Two-party Joint Military Commission
-South Vietnam
-Pull back
-Zone with borders
-Vietcong presence
-Kissinger’s memorandum
-Delivery to Florida
-Cabinet meeting
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Political action
-Territorial holdings
-Recognition
-Division of country
-Population size
-Nguyen Van Thieu’s reaction
-Compared to November 1972
-US aid
-Haig, Sullivan
-US aid
-President’s support
-Withdrawal from Laos
-Schedule
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Cambodia
-News summary
-PRC
-Marshall Green and Emory C. Swank
-Phnom Phen
-Bombing restrictions
-Kissinger’s negotiating strategy
-“Playing chicken”
-Yield
Soviet summit
-Treaty on the Prevention of Nuclear War
-Act of strength
-Compared with act of desperation
-Watergate
-Bureaucracy’s possible reaction
-Procedure
-Preparedness of President
-Press statement
-Leak
-Sources
-State Department
-Soviet Union
-Great Britain
-France
-State Department
-Kissinger’s staff
-White House staff
-Control of bureaucracy
-Trip to Iceland
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Haig’s role
-Kissinger’s role
President’s meeting with Pompidou
-“Year of Europe”
-key
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Kissinger’s talking points
-Trip to Iceland
-France’s support
-Precision of talk
-Compared to President’s meeting with Willy Brandt
-President’s culpability
-Conditions
-Support
-Great Britain
-Germany
-France
-Timing
-Pompidou
-Support for Nuclear treaty
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:26 am.
President’s schedule
-Lt. Col. John A. Dramesi
-Flag
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:44 am.
Treaty on the Prevention of Nuclear War
-Pompidou’s knowledge
POW dinner
-POW wives
-Kissinger’s reaction
Watergate
-White House response
-Kissinger’s support
-President’s opponents
-Motives
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Maurice H. Stans, and
John N. Mitchell
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Europe’s reaction
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National security]
[Duration: 7 s ]
POMPIDOU’S CONVERSATION WITH KISSINGER
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Watergate
-Europe’s reaction
-Compared to Cambodia
-Compared to riots
-Severity of action
-Break-in of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office
-White House response
-President’s possible statement
-Toughness
-Public response
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Press briefing
-Wiretaps
-Need to stop leaks
Cabinet meeting
An unknown man entered and Kissinger left at 10:44 am.
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
Item for the President’s signature [?]
The unknown man left at 10:44 am.
Date: May 25, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:10 am and 10:44 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Stephen B. Bull.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Center event
-Memorial Day
-[Dwight ] David Eisenhower, II and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Audience
-Size
-Forum
-Washington, DC
-Joint Veterans event
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
-American Legion
-World War I
-Library
-New wing dedication, 1968
-Memorial Day event
-Invitation to the President
-Address
-Location of library
-Abilene, Kansas
Henry A. Kissinger entered at 10:24 am.
President’s schedule
-Memorial Day events [?]
-Roy L. Ash
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Weekly meeting
-Kenneth R. Cole, Jr.
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:26 am.
Vietnam settlement
-Negotiations
-New York Herald Tribune articles
-Editorial page
-Attacks
-Patriotism
-Kissinger’s statement to Le Duc Tho
Prisoners of war [POWs] dinner
-Statement by the President
-Haig’s comments to Kissinger
The White House operator talked with the President at 10:26 am.
[Conversation No. 928-6A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 39-21]
[End telephone conversation]
Prisoners of war [POWs] dinner
-POWs
-Importance of Vietnam negotiations
-Statements by performers
-James (“Jimmy”) Stewart, John Wayne, and Vic Damone
-President’s decision on December 1972 bombing
-Kissinger’s role
-President’s comment to Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope
-Mrs. James Stockdale
-Haig
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Opinion of Kissinger
-Wives’ meetings with Kissinger
-Release of POWs
-Peace with honor
-Meaning to POWs
-R. Flynn’s statement about December 1972 bombing
-US collective memory
-Compared with Watergate
-John N. Mitchell and Robert L. Vesco
Watergate
-Cover-up
-Politics
-Assault
-Democratic liberals
-Loss in November 1972 presidential election
-Destruction of Republican Party
-Interests
-Power
-Destruction of US
-Loss of Vietnam War
-Loss of Americans
-Power
-President’s opponents
-Politicians
-Press
-Fanatical desires
-Power
-Hatred to US
-Self-hatred
-Loss of Vietnam War
-Betrayal of country
-McGeorge Bundy’s call to Kissinger
-Kissinger’s loyalty to the President
-J. Edgar Hoover’s wiretaps
-Morality
-Kissinger’s survival
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Daniel Ellsberg’s actions regarding Pentagon Papers
-Wiretaps
-Wiretaps during John F. Kennedy administration
-Robert F. (“Bobby”) Kennedy
-Leak to press
-Destruction of records by Hoover
-William L. Sullivan
-Bundy characterized
-Morality
-President’s reaction
US-Canada relations
-Withdrawal from International Control Commission [ICC]
-Discussion with Kissinger
-Sixty day extension
Vietnam settlement
-Kissinger’s negotiations
-Paris
-Cabinet meeting
-Disclosures by North Vietnam
Kissinger’s forthcoming cabinet briefing
-President’s discussion with Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Year of Europe
Vietnam
-Kissinger’s negotiations
-Schedule
-Paris
-Communiqué
-Compared to formal agreement
-Cease-fire order
-All sides
-Infiltration
-National Council of Reconciliation
-Cancelled
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Effect of leaks
-Effect on foreign relations
-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Soviet Union
-Vietnam
-Forthcoming statement by Kissinger
-Necessity of secrecy
-Effect of leaks on President’s foreign policy
-SALT
-PRC
-Soviet Union
-Vietnam
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s progress
-Two-party Joint Military Commission
-South Vietnam
-Pull back
-Zone with borders
-Vietcong presence
-Kissinger’s memorandum
-Delivery to Florida
-Cabinet meeting
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Political action
-Territorial holdings
-Recognition
-Division of country
-Population size
-Nguyen Van Thieu’s reaction
-Compared to November 1972
-US aid
-Haig, Sullivan
-US aid
-President’s support
-Withdrawal from Laos
-Schedule
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Cambodia
-News summary
-PRC
-Marshall Green and Emory C. Swank
-Phnom Phen
-Bombing restrictions
-Kissinger’s negotiating strategy
-“Playing chicken”
-Yield
Soviet summit
-Treaty on the Prevention of Nuclear War
-Act of strength
-Compared with act of desperation
-Watergate
-Bureaucracy’s possible reaction
-Procedure
-Preparedness of President
-Press statement
-Leak
-Sources
-State Department
-Soviet Union
-Great Britain
-France
-State Department
-Kissinger’s staff
-White House staff
-Control of bureaucracy
-Trip to Iceland
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meeting with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Haig’s role
-Kissinger’s role
President’s meeting with Pompidou
-“Year of Europe”
-key
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Kissinger’s talking points
-Trip to Iceland
-France’s support
-Precision of talk
-Compared to President’s meeting with Willy Brandt
-President’s culpability
-Conditions
-Support
-Great Britain
-Germany
-France
-Timing
-Pompidou
-Support for Nuclear treaty
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:26 am.
President’s schedule
-Lt. Col. John A. Dramesi
-Flag
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:44 am.
Treaty on the Prevention of Nuclear War
-Pompidou’s knowledge
POW dinner
-POW wives
-Kissinger’s reaction
Watergate
-White House response
-Kissinger’s support
-President’s opponents
-Motives
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, Maurice H. Stans, and
John N. Mitchell
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
-Europe’s reaction
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National security]
[Duration: 7 s ]
POMPIDOU’S CONVERSATION WITH KISSINGER
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Watergate
-Europe’s reaction
-Compared to Cambodia
-Compared to riots
-Severity of action
-Break-in of Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office
-White House response
-President’s possible statement
-Toughness
-Public response
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Press briefing
-Wiretaps
-Need to stop leaks
Cabinet meeting
An unknown man entered and Kissinger left at 10:44 am.
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-2011)
Conversation No. 928-6 (cont’d)
Item for the President’s signature [?]
The unknown man left at 10:44 am.