Date: December 5, 1972
Time: 8:10 am – 9:50 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Col. Richard T. Kennedy.
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Vietnam negotiations
-Henry A. Kissinger’s report from Paris
-Kennedy’s conversation with Kissinger
-Meeting
-Timing
-Kissinger’s outlook
-Congressional relations
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Congressional relations
-Funding for US aid to South Vietnam
-South Vietnam’s position
-US withdrawal for POWs
-North Vietnam’s position
-US withdrawal for POWs
-Cessation of US bombing, mining
-Congressional relations
-Cut off of US military funds
-Continuation of war
-US bombing, mining
-Timetable
-Settlement agreement
-Kissinger’s conversation with Kennedy
-Postponement of meeting
-Kennedy’s conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kennedy’s conversation with Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s conversation with Dobrynin
-October 26
-Dobrynin’s message to North Vietnamese
-Moscow
-Reply
-Soviet Union’s role
-US-Soviet Union relations
-Breakdown in talks
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] role
-Timetable
-Congressional reconvention
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Air Force
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Effect on US-PRC and US-Soviet Union relations
-North Vietnam’s posture
-Dobrynin
-Compared to March 30, 1972
-Intransigence
-US-South Vietnam relations
-US-Soviet Union summit
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-The President’s meeting with Nikolai S.
Patolichev
-North Vietnam’s offensive
-Settlement agreement
-Enforcement
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-North Vietnam
-Possible effect on Thieu
-Press relations
-Late October 1972
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South
Vietnam
-North Vietnam’s March 30, 1972 invasion
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-US public opinion
-POWs
-Cease-fire
-Louis P. Harris poll
-Kissinger
-Settlement agreement
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 8:10 am and
8:26 am.
[Conversation 387-4A]
[See Conversation No. 34-17]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam negotiations
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-White House polls
-US withdrawal
-Congressional relations
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Committees
-Organization
-Meetings
-Statements
-US military action
-Recess
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Psychological effect
-Compared to military effect
-The President’s plan
-Compared to the Joint Chiefs of Staff [JCS] plan
-B-52s
-Civilian targets
-Timeframe
-Pace
-Cambodia
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-US bombing, mining
-North Vietnam’s reserves
The President talked with Charles W. Colson between 8:26 am and 8:27 am.
[Conversation No. 387-4B]
[See Conversation No. 34-18]
[End of telephone conversation]
Polls
-Colson
Vietnam negotiations
-US military action
-Kennedy’s conversation with Kissinger
-Messages
-Kennedy’s communications with Kissinger
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Open line
-“Double talk”
-Soviet Union
-France
-Secure line
-Embassy chancery
-Residence
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew’s possible trip to Saigon
-The President’s conversation with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
Colson entered at 8:29 am.
Polls
-Colson
Vietnam negotiations
-Harris polls
-Settlement agreement
-Cease-fire
-South Vietnam
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Peace
-Communists
-POWs
-Cease-fire
-International supervision
-National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord [NCRC]
-South Vietnam
-Representation
-Communists
-Election
-Thieu
Peace treaty
-POWs exchange
-Settlement agreement
-Thieu
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-Relations with US
-Cease-fire in place
-Compared to North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-“Doves”
-George S. McGovern
-Settlement agreement
-Terms
-Compromise
-Violation by Communists
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Effect
-October 1972 agreement
-North Vietnam
-Changes
-Kissinger
-Changes
-Thieu
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-NCRC
-Governmental compared to administrative function
-Interpretation
-Veto
-Withdrawal of North Vietnamese troops from South Vietnam
-South Vietnamese military action
-Cease-fire
-North Vietnam’s interest
-Victory
-Thieu
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Thieu
-Vietcong [VC]
-Kissinger
-Instructions
-Morale
-Outlook
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-1972 election
-Consultations with South Vietnam
-Option two
-Continuation
-Breakdown
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Pace
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Weather
-20 Parallel
th
-Weather
-B-52s
-20 Parallel
th
-Surface to air missiles [SAMs]
-Shift
-B-52s
-Protection
-B-52s
-Hanoi
-Weather
-SAMs
-North Vietnam
-Plan
-Timing and duration
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Loss
-SAM
-Airmen
-Bail-out
-Haiphong, Hanoi
-Distinguished Flying Crosses
-Air Force
-Oak leaf medals
-Navy
-Plan
-Timing
-Kennedy’s conversation with Moorer
-The President’s conversation with Moorer
-Secretary of Defense [Melvin R. Laird], JCS
-Timing
-Breakdown in talks
-Kissinger’s report
-Meeting
-Timing
-Postponement
-Kissinger’s report
-Kennedy’s call to Kissinger
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Kennedy’s possible call to Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Kennedy’s call to the President
-The President’s schedule
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
-Possible messenger to Kissinger
-Kissinger’s possible return for consultations with the President
-Duration
-Effect
-Breakdown in talks
-Speculation
Kennedy left at 8:45 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Harris poll
-Question
-Thieu’s position
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Coalition government
-Elections
-Reconciliation
-Elections
-Offer
-Coalition government
-NCRC
-Functions
-North Vietnam
-Communist-held areas
-Xerox copy
-North Vietnam’s position
-Tone
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-October 26, 1972 agreement
-South Vietnam’s position
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Legal right
-US public opinion
-Thieu
-10-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-South Vietnamese
-Non-communist government
-Breakdown
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 8:45 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger’s message
The President and the unknown person left at an unknown time after 8:45 am.
The President entered at an unknown time before 8:56 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-North Vietnam’s position
-Tone
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 8:45 am.
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 8:56 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Public relations [PR]
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendations
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-The President’s November 3, 1969 speech
-Cambodia
-The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Hanoi, Haiphong
-Settlement agreement
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 8:45 am.
Item for the private file
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 8:56 am.
-11-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendations
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Translation problems
– -US bombing of North Vietnam
-Duration
-Settlement agreement
-Kissinger’s possible return
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Stalemate
-North Vietnam’s intransigence
-1972 election
-Action
Kennedy talked with the President between 8:56 am and 8:59 am.
[Conversation No. 387-4C]
[See Conversation No. 34-19]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam negotiations
-Settlement agreement
-Kissinger’s efforts
-1972 election
-The President’s conversations with Kissinger
-Polls
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-Saigon
-Paris
-North Vietnamese
-Thieu
-1972 election
-The President’s conversation with Kissinger
-North Vietnam’s message, November 4, 1972
-McGovern
-PR
-12-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Kissinger’s “peace is at hand” statement
-North Vietnam’s publication of settlement agreement
-The President’s address, “Look to the Future”
-Kissinger’s credibility
-North Vietnamese reneging
-US reneging
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendations
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-The President’s credibility
-The President’s address, “Look to the Future”
-Kissinger
-Timing
-Christmas
-1972 election
-Playoffs
-Tone
-The President’s credibility
-“Peace is at hand”
-The President’s address, “Look to the Future”
-Timing
-1972 election
-Press relations
-Kissinger
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 9:01 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-PR
-Anti-war sentiment
-POWs
-Christmas
-US mining, bombing of North Vietnam
-Kissinger’s message
-Haldeman’s reading
-Tone
-Content
-13-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 9:43 am.
Press relations
-New York Times article on monograph, “The Dirtiest Campaign in History Against
a President”
-1972 campaign
-The President’s conversation with Patrick J. Buchanan
-Distribution
-Mailings
-Editors
-Republican leaders
-Congressmen
-Purpose
-Frank F. Mankiewicz
-Historical record
-Editors
-Newspapers
-Mailings
-James Schurz
-James Keogh
-Monographs
-“Things They Would Like to Forget”
-“RN Won It!”
-McGovern
-Reaction
-Double standard
-Schurz
-Distribution
-Mailings
-Letter
-1972 campaign
-Publishers
-New York Times
-Time
-Washington Post
-Unknown person
-Columbia University
-Assistant
-Research
-14-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Democratic National Committee [DNC]
-Robert S. Strauss
-Buchanan
-Governors
-Edmund S. Muskie
-McGovern
-Statement
-1972 election
-Governors’ endorsements
-Jacqueline Lee Bouvier Kennedy Onassis [?]
-Southerners
-Labor
-Jews
-Labor
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-Peter J. Brennan
-William S. White
Republican National Committee [RNC]
-Chairman
-South
-Southern strategy
-Brennan
-Blacks
-Busing
-Welfare
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Press relations
-Monographs
-Buchanan
-“Things They Would Like to Forget”
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Settlement agreement
-Polls
-Republicans
-George H. Gallup
-Harris
-Gallup
-Cease-fire
-Harris
-Public opinion
-McGovernites
-POWs
-Stock market
-POWs
-Kissinger’s credibility
-The President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Kissinger’s message
-Compared to the President’s credibility
-“Peace is at hand”
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam
-US bombing
-Compared to the President’s credibility
-The President’s address, “Look to the Future”
-“Peace is at hand”
-1972 election
-Peace
-Settlement agreement
-Politics
-“Peace is at hand”
-December 6, 1972 talks
-Kissinger
-Haldeman’s view
-PR
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Pace
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Translation problems
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Backgrounder
-Briefing
-Previous negotiations
-Translation problems
-North Vietnamese troops in South Vietnam
-Thieu
-Settlement agreement
-Tone
-Kissinger’s emotions
-Mea culpa
-Resignation
-The President’s trips to the PRC and the
Soviet Union
-Berlin
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty
[SALT]
-North Vietnam
-Withdrawal of US forces
-Thieu
-Residual forces
-US-North Vietnam bilateral deal
-South Vietnam
-Thieu
-Kissinger
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Escalation
-Kissinger’s return from Paris
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Backgrounder
-North Vietnam’s possible statement
-Settlement agreement
-Thieu
-North Vietnam
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-PR
-Withdrawal of US forces
-Withdrawal of US forces
-Announcement
-Timing
-Christmas
-North Vietnam
-Casualties
-Timing
-POWs
-US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-Residual forces
-Connally’s view
-Residual forces
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Kissinger’s credibility
-“Peace is at hand”
-Kissinger’s press relations
-Press conferences
-William P. Rogers
-Mistakes
-Consultations
-Haig
-The President
-Points
-Process
-Briefing
-Oriana Fallaci interview
-Effect
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-North Vietnam
-The President’s previous statements
-PR
-Press relations
-Christmas
-POWs
-Families
-Stock market
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Washington, DC
-PR
-David T. Dellinger
-Chicago Seven
-Demonstrations
-Christmas vigil
-1973 Inauguration
-Press relations
-1968
-Mobilization
-Issues
-Vietnam War
-Ground troops
-TV
-Draft
-Volunteer armed forces
-Casualties
-Airplanes
-Aircraft carriers
-TV
-Girl
-Napalm
-Kissinger’s possible TV statement
-North Vietnamese
-National honor
-Demonstrations
-Mobilization
-Dellinger
-1972 election
-McGovern
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Kissinger’s view
-North Vietnam
-The President’s possible conversation with Dobrynin
-Tone
-Press relations
-Kissinger’s view
-The President’s press conferences
-Effect on the enemy
-Effect on Dellinger and anti-war activists
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Effect on the enemy
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-1972 election
-McGovern
-Margin of victory
-Congressional relations
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-National Governor’s Conference
-Compared to Republican Governors Conference
-Agnew’s attendance
Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-POWs
-Possible executions
-US response
-North Vietnam
-Reaction
-PR
-Expectations
-Congressional relations
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Cut off
-The President’s message to Thieu
-Communists, spies
-Kissinger’s view
-Settlement agreement
-Difficulty
-North Vietnam
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-US staying in war
-South Vietnam
-US withdrawal
New establishment
-The President’s recent conversation with Haldeman
-Colson’s role
-Labor
-Democrats
-Italian-Americans
-Blacks
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Leonard Garment
-Press relations
-Business community
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-1972 election
-The President’s supporters
-Top 100 contributors
-Press
-Editors
-The President’s supporters
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Updated lists
-1972 campaign
-Distribution
-Colson’s responsibility
-Haldeman’s role
-Flanigan
-Colson’s meetings
-Flanigan
-Frederic V. Malek
-Donald McI Kendall
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
White House social affairs
-Invitations
-Rose Mary Woods
-Colson
-Parties
-Blair House
-Church services
-State dinners
-Quotas
-Blair House
-Friends, military, Cabinet officers, Congress
-Congressional relations
-William E. Timmons
-Ronald L. Ziegler
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-The President’s supporters
-Southerners
-Republicans
-Colson’s responsibility
-Republicans
-1972 election
-Charles McC. Mathias, Jr.
-Charles H. Percy
-Southerners
-Mathias
-Agnew
-Paul Hall
-Kendall
-David Packard
-Los Angeles
-Edward W. Carter [?]
-Chicago
-Ohio
-Florida
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-1972 election vote
-Democrats for Nixon
-Southern strategy
-Harry S. Dent
-John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-The President’s box
-Political supporters
-White House staff
-Cabinet
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Second term reorganization
-Leaks
-Peter G. Peterson
-John N. Mitchell
-Kevin Phillips’s article
-Frederic V. Malek
-Cabinet
-Personnel
-Under Secretaryship
-James T. Lynn
-Peterson
-Trade
-Commerce Department
-South
-Archibald K. Davis of North Carolina
-Wachovia Bank
-Frederick B. Dent of South Carolina
-Textile industry
-Republican Party
-Phillips’s article
-Buchanan
-Mitchell
-Washington Post
-Washington Star
-Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD]
-Rogers
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-John A. Scali
-1972 election
-Italian-American vote
-Background
-Education
-Boston University
-Canton, Ohio
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-George H. W. Bush
-Compared to Rogers
1972 election
-Voters
-Italian-Americans
-Percentage
-Catholics
-Percentage
-Italian-Americans
-Irish-Americans
-New York
-Harris poll
-Results
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Colson left at 9:43 am.
Second term reorganization
-Leaks
-Haldeman’s reaction
-Peterson
-Washington Post article
-Haldeman’s conversation with Ziegler
-George P. Shultz
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Economics “czar” position
-Shultz’s conversation with Peterson
-Haldeman’s conversation with Ziegler
-Washington Post
-Washington Star
-David S. Broder
Tricia Nixon Cox talked with the President between 9:44 am and 9:45 am.
[Conversation No. 387-4D]
[See Conversation No. 34-20]
[End of telephone conversation]
Second term reorganization
-Leaks
-Peterson
-Washington Post article
-Ziegler
-Compared to Dent
-Opportunism
-Frank F. Church
-Cabinet and White House staff
-Unknown man
-Loyalty
The President’s schedule
-California
-Kitchen work
-Deadline
-Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Pool
-Camp David
-White House
-Reception for California administration officials
-Dinner
-The President’s attendance
-Camp David
-Cocktails
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Dress
-Business suit
-White House
-Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger
-US military action
-Plans
-Moorer
-Camp David
-Ziegler’s announcement
-Compared to White House
-Vietnam negotiations
-Kissinger’s return from Paris
-Settlement agreement or breakdown
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Messages
Christmas
-The President’s conversation with Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Lucy A. Winchester
-Stephen B. Bull
-Plans
-Winchester and Bull meeting
-Haldeman’s role
-Mrs. Nixon
-Edward C. Nixon [?]
-Talking paper
-Haldeman’s conversation with the President
-Tree lighting ceremony
-The President’s role
-1971
-Rex W. Scouten
-Message
-Thanksgiving
-Radio message
-Timing
-Duration
-Mrs. Nixon
-Guests
-Groups
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Size
-Clean-up
-The President’s role
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Invitations
-1972 campaign workers
-Clark MacGregor
-William Matthew [?]
-Speeches
-The President’s schedule
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-Shultz’s meeting with the President
-Ehrlichman’s presence
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray, III.
-HUD
-Kissinger
-Shultz’s position as Assistant to the President
-Kissinger’s meetings with the President
-Ehrlichman’s meetings with the President
-Agnew’s meetings with the President
Watergate
-John J. Sirica
-Handling of case
-[Pre-trial conference, December 4, 1972]
-Story
-Indictments
-Meeting
-John W. Dean, III, report
-Draft
-White House staff
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Announcement
-Donald H. Segretti
-Ehrlichman
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Subpoenas
-Staff investigations
-Mitchell’s efforts with James O. Eastland
Second term reorganization
-Peterson
-Richard M. Helms
-Ambassadorship to Iran
-Rogers
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA]
-Joseph S. Farland
-William H. Sullivan
-George H. W. Bush’s conversation with Rogers
-Haldeman’s possible conversation with Bush
-Colson
-Italian-Americans
-Confirmation
-Foreign policy
-Rogers
-Congressional relations
-Nomination
-Colson, Bush
-Foreign policy
Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-PR
-Vietnam War as issue
-Resumption
-Impasse, postponement
-Resumption
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Breakdown
-Washington, DC
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. July-08)
-Congressional relations
-Instructions for Haldeman
-Ehrlichman, Shultz
-Judgment
The President’s schedule
-White House
-Kissinger
-Helene (Colesie) Drown
-Blair House
Haldeman left at 9:50 am.