Conversation No. 336-1

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:15 and 3:25 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 23-167]

Conversation No. 336-2

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:25 and 3:26 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 23-168]

Conversation No. 336-3

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 3:26 and before 3:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  9s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:30 pm.

Conversation No. 336-4

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 3:26 and before 3:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

President’s schedule
-Camp David

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  21s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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-Departure time

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:30 pm.

Conversation No. 336-5

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:26 and 3:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.

President’s schedule
-Camp David trip
-Helicopter
-Time

Conversation No. 336-6

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  3:30 - 3:35 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

Camp David trip
-Reading material

President’s schedule
-Duke Law School dinner
-Number attending

-Tables
-Arrangements
-Number attending
-Seating
-Drinks
-Grand Hall
-East Room
-White House photographer
-Tables
-Meeting with law school dean
-Number of regrets
-Remarks
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-Dean Joseph T. Sneed

Butterfield left at 3:35 pm.

Conversation No. 336-7

Date:  May 5, 1972
Time:  3:36-3:46 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech
-Draft
-Status
-Completion time
-President’s work
-Camp David
-US command structure
-President’s meeting with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Melvin R. Laird

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods at an unknown time between 3:36 and 3:46 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-7A]

President’s schedule
-Camp David departure
-Time

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-US command structure
-Laird
-The President’s view
-Change
-Commander-In-Chief, Pacific [CINCPAC]
-Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.
	-Removal
-Haig
-Allied commander for Southeast Asia
-Reasons
-CINCPAC
-Gen. Bruce Palmer
-An Admiral
-Gen. Frederick C. Weyand
	-[Forename unknown] Huxtable [?]
-Lt. Gen. William E. Dupuy [?]
-Gen. John W. Vogt
-Haig
-Abrams
-Ambassadorship
	-Spain
-Laird
-Handling
-Meeting with Kissinger
-Abrams
-Possible Chief of Staff
-Transfer from South Vietnam
-Possible Chief of Staff
-Haig
-Palmer
-Kissinger’s view
-Dupuy
-The President’s view
-A Navy Commander
-Palmer
-An Admiral
-Necessary qualifications
-Kissinger’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Soviets 
	-The President’s view
-Mutual pressures
	-Vietnam

Vietnam
-US command
-Changes
-Laird
-William P. Rogers
-Camp David
-Support from Laird and Rogers
-President’s orders
-The President’s view
-Laird, Kissinger, and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Meeting with Rogers
	-Timing
-Rogers
-Forthcoming meeting with President
-Command structure change
-President’s previous meeting with Haig
-Reason for change
-Abrams
	-Job transfer
-Haig
-Change
-Palmer
-Day
-Announcement
-President’s forthcoming speech
-Laird
-Palmer
-Abrams
-Lines of communication
	-Palmer
-Reports to the President
-Laird

Kissinger’s schedule
-New York
-Return

Kissinger left at 3:46 pm.

Conversation No. 336-8

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  1:15 - 2:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

[Discontinuities in the conversation appear in the original recording.]

President’s schedule
-A meeting
-Time

Vietnam
-President’s policies
-Veterans
	-Support
	-Opposition
	-President’s actions
-John B. Connally
-Blockade
-Soviet summit
-Possible cancellation
-Seperability
-Risks
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Hue

-Television coverage
-Nature of reports
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Negotiations
-Kissinger’s schedule
	-Paris trip
-Collapse
-Soviet Summit
-Agreements
	-Timing of blockade
-Possible South Vietname collapse
-Melvin R. Laird
-Senate
-J. William Fulbright, John C. Stennis
-Advice
-Risks
-South Vietnam collapse
-Hue
-South Vietnamese morale
-Blockade and mining of Haiphong
-South Vietnamese morale
-Soviet summit
-Timing
-Possible South Vietnam collapse
-Postponement
-Timing
-Negotiations
-North Vietnam offensive
-Political risks
	-Kennedy
-Connally’s advice
-President’s goals
-Peace

Abortion
-President’s letter to Terence Cardinal Cooke
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Release
-Circumstances
-Review
-Ehrlichman
-John N. Mitchell
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Haldeman’s advice
-Mitchell
-Ehrlichman
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] role
-Ehrlichman’s advice
-Issue of public release
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Ehrlichman
-Buchanan
-Public release
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-New York legislation
-Effect
-Release
-Ehrlichman’s explanation
-Rockefeller
-Abortion bill
-Rockefeller’s veto
-Release
-Flanigan’s advice
-Anti-abortion supporters
-Rockefeller’s report
-Demonstrations in Albany

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 1:35 pm.

German treaties
-Call from Egon Bahr
-Message from the President

Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Forthcoming meeting with Kissinger
-[David] Kenneth Rush

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Support
-William P. Rogers
-Timing
-Rush

Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:35 and 2:10 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-8A]

[See Conversation No. 24-3]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Soviet summit
-Impact of blockade
	-Haldeman’s view

Kissinger talked with rush at an unknown time between 1:35 and 2:10 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-8B]

[See Conversation No. 24-4]

[End of telephone conversation]

Kissinger talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:35 and 2:10 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-8C]

Call To Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Soviet summit
-Possible cancellation
-Risks
-Hue collapse
-Significance
-South Vietnam collapse
-Significance
-Brezhnev
-Summit agreements
-World peace
-Timing
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Camp David
-Soviet summit
-German treaty
-President’s decision
-Hue collapse
-Timing
-Significance
-Timing
-President’s decision
	-The President’s view

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 1:35 pm.

Delivery of lunch

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:10 pm.

Vietnam
-Blockade
-President’s decision
-Timing
-German Treaty
-Failure to act
-Meaning
	-The President’s view
-Timing
-Negotiations
-Delay in decision
-Possible South Vietnam collapse
-Possible US defeat
-Laird’s view
-Soviet interpretation
-North Vietnam offensive
-Kissinger’s view
-Hue
-Objectives
-Saigon
-Soviet summit
-Probability of military setbacks
	-Kissinger’s view
		-Kontum
	-Press reporting
		-The President’s view
	-Probability of Kontum collapse
-Rogers
-Connally’s advice
-US bargaining position
	-Public opinion
-Soviet Summit
	-US bombing
	-Hanoi
	-Haiphong
-Cancellation possibility
-Bombing
-Duration
	-Kisssinger’s view
-South Vietnam collapse
-Impact
-Cancellation
-Impact on forthcoming election
-Importance
-Impact on US loss in Southeast Asia
-Soviet prestige
-North Vietnam offensive
-Tanks
-Laird
-Numbers and size
-US tanks in South Vietnam
-Laird
-Soviet summit
-President’s decision to blockade
-Air strikes
-Hanoi, Haipong
-Risk of South Vietnam collapse
-Blockade and mining
	-Effect on North Vietnam strategy
-Duration
-Impact on North Vietnam
-Impact on Soviets
-Soviet summit
-Possible cancellation
-Likelihood
	-Kissinger’s view
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Air strikes
-Connally’s advice
-Effectiveness
-Blockade
-Effectiveness
-South Vietnam survival
-Comparison with bombing
-South Vietnam defeat
-Consequences for US
-Connally’s view
-Rogers’s view
	-Haldeman’s view
-Domestic public opinion
-Haiphong
-Consequences for the President
-Forthcoming presidential campaign
-Blockade
-President’s purpose
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Laird’s view
-President’s forthcoming speech
-Numbers
-US withdrawal
-Impact on North Vietnam
-President’s final decision
	-President’s forthcoming speech
-Democratic Caucus
-Kissinger briefing
-President’s meeting with Michael J. Mansfield
-Resolution to end the war
-Delay
-Soviet summit
-President’s meeting with Congressional leaders
-Fulbright, Stennis
-Attendees
-Fulbright
-Allen J. Ellender
-Timing
-Attendees
-Possible Congressional response
	-Kissinger’s view
-Senate request
-Blockade decision
-Haldeman’s opinion
-Comparison with Cambodia
-Briefing of Congressmen
-Rogers
-Laird
-Kissinger
-President’s speech
-Notification of Congressional leaders
-Mansfield
-Handling
-President’s manner
	-Haldeman’s view
-Rogers
-Fulbright
-Comparison with President’s Cambodian announcement
-Timing
	-Reasons
-Legal aspects of blockade
	-Haig
	-Rogers
-Attendees
-Appropriations Committee
-Armed Services Committee
	-The President’s view
-Ellender
-Appropriations Committee
-Armed Services Committee
-George H. Mahon
-Telephone call
-A previous dinner attended by Kissinger
-Thomas W. Braden
-Frank F. Church
-Fulbright
-President’s terms
-The President’s view
-Blockade
-Ceasefire
-POWs
-US withdrawal
-Cabinet meeting
-Kissinger’s view
-Rogers
-President’s appearance
-Cabinet Room
-Television speech
-President’s remarks
-Position
	-Support for the President’s decision to blockade
		-Haldeman’s view
-Rogers

Haldeman left at 2:10 pm.

Kissinger talked with Haig at 2:10 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-8D]

-Notification of blockade decision
-Haldeman
-Laird
-Washington Special Action Group [WSAG]

[End of telephone conversation]

-President’s decision
	-Kissinger’s view
-President’s forthcoming speech
-Soviet weapons
-Deletions and additions
-Draft
-Rose Mary Woods
-Civilian casualties
-Delivery on television
-Time
-Comparison to John F. Kennedy’s Cuban missile crisis speech
-Length
-Announcement
-Escalation
-US peace offers
-Rejection by North Vietnam
-Wording
-US troops in Vietnam
-Numbers
-Withdrawal
-Number
-Wording
-Soviet weapons
-Delivery to North Vietnam
-US aid to South Vietnam
-Wording
-Implementation of blockade
-Communications
-Soviet aid to North Vietnam
-Surrender
-Hanoi
-Saigon
-Draft
-Woods’s suggestion for the conclusion
-President’s letter to Brezhnev
-Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s review
-Woods
-Completion

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Military action
-Ceasefire
-Extent
-Supervision
-Extent
-Outcome
-Previous National Security Council [NSC] meeting
-Outcome
-Laird
-Position 
-Rogers
-Support for the President
-Public opinion
-President’s decision

Kissinger left at 2:30 pm.

Conversation No. 336-9

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  2:33 - 2:35 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

Vietnam
-Blockade
-President’s speech
-Timing of the President’s decision

Ziegler left at 2:35 pm.

Conversation No. 336-10

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 2:35 and before 3:45 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown person.

Delivery of an unknown object
	-Placement

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 3:45 pm.

Conversation No. 336-11

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 2:35 and before 3:45 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown person.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Delivery

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 3:45 pm.

Conversation No. 336-12

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  3:45 - 3:46 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Marjorie P. Acker.

[Unintelligible]

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
	-President’s copy
-Preparation
-Rose Mary Woods

Acker left at 3:46 pm.

Conversation No. 336-13

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:46 and 3:58 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Draft
-Wording
-Deletions

Conversation No. 336-14

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:46 and 3:58 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Wording

Conversation No. 336-15

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 3:46 and before 3:58 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  6s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 3:58 pm.

Conversation No. 336-16

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Between 3:58 and 3:59 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 24-5]

Conversation No. 336-17

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:59 and 4:13 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Final copy
-Preparation
-Wording
-Changes

Conversation No. 336-18

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:59 and 4:13 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

President’s schedule
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Preparation
-Cabinet meeting
-Time
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Return calls
-John B. Connally
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Democrats

Conversation No. 336-19

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 3:59 and 4:13 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 24-6]

Conversation No. 336-20

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  4:13 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 24-7]

Conversation No. 336-21

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Between 4:14 and 4:15 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander P. Butterfield.

[See Conversation No. 24-8]

Conversation No. 336-22

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:15 and 4:25 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 24-9]

Conversation No. 336-23

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:15 and 4:25 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown man.

Vietnam
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Arrangements

Conversation No. 336-24

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  4:25 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The White House operator talked with the President.

[See Conversation No. 24-10]

Conversation No. 336-25

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 4:25 and before 4:35 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Manolo Sanchez.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Attire
-Color
-Tie

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 4:35 pm.

Conversation No. 336-26

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:25 and 4:35 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Preparations
-Copies

Conversation No. 336-27

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 4:25 and before 4:35 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  10s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:35 pm.

Conversation No. 336-28

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Between 4:35 and 4:36 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

[See Conversation No. 24-11; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation.]

Conversation No. 336-29

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:36 and 4:50 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

President’s forthcoming speech on Vietnam blockade
-Soliciting public reaction to speech
-The President’s view
-Well-wishers

Conversation No. 336-30

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 4:36 and before 4:50 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

President’s forthcoming speech on Vietnam blockade
-Attire

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:50 pm.

Conversation No. 336-31

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  4:50 - 4:55 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Copy
-Proofreading
-Changes
-Wording
-Winston Lord
	-South Vietnam
		-Proper title

Woods left at 4:55 pm.

Conversation No. 336-32

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Between 4:55 and 4:57 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 24-13]

[End of telephone conversation]

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 4:55 pm.

Delivery of speech draft

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 4:57 pm.

Conversation No. 336-33

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 4:57 and before 5:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown person.

The President’s schedule

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 5:23 pm.

Conversation No. 336-34

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:57 and 5:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-35

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:57 and 5:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with the White House operator.

[See Conversation No. 24-14]

Conversation No. 336-36

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 4:57 and 5:23 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-37

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Between 5:23 and 5:27 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 24-16]

Conversation No. 336-38

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  5:27 - 5:30 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Change in wording

Woods left at 5:30 pm.

Conversation No. 336-39

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:52 and 5:54 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Revisions
-Escalation of war
-References
-Deletions
-Strength of wording
-Kissinger’s revisions
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo

German treaties

Conversation No. 336-40

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  5:54 - 5:55 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

[Unintelligible]

Woods left at 5:55 pm.

Conversation No. 336-41

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972,. pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-42

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 5:55 and before 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Woods’ work

Woods left at and unknown time before 6:09 pm.

Conversation No. 336-43

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 5:55 and before 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  2s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 6:09 pm.

Conversation No. 336-44

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Cabinet meeting
-President’s appearance
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-President’s departure

Conversation No. 336-45

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-46

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Press copy
-Deletion

Conversation No. 336-47

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-48

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Change
-Deletion

Conversation No. 336-49

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  6:09 - 6:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Alexander P. Butterfield.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Change
	-Henry A. Kissinger
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-A copy
-President’s meeting with Congressional leaders
-Time and place
		-Cabinet

Butterfield left at 6:14 pm.

Conversation No. 336-50

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:14 and 6:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-51

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:14 and 6:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Deletion

Conversation No. 336-52

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:14 and 6:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-53

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:19 and 6:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Lighting
-Mark I. Goode

Conversation No. 336-54

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:19 and 6:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Meeting with the President

Conversation No. 336-55

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:19 and 6:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-56

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  6:22 - 6:34 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s speech on the blockade
-US courses of action
-Wording
-Deletions
-US withdrawal

The President talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 6:22 pm and 6:34 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-56A]

			-Changes

[End of telephone conversation]

-US offers
-North Vietnam rejection
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Withdrawal
-Cambodia
-Wording
-Melvin R. Laird, William P. Rogers
-Tone
-Blockade
-President’s decision
-President’s orders
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Termination of war
-Importance
-Kissinger’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Blockade
-President’s speech
-Demeanor
-Press reports
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Arrangements
-Previous US actions
-Cambodia, Laos
-Rogers, Laird
-Cambodia
-Laird, Rogers
-Blockade
-President’s decision 
-President’s speech
-Delivery
-Tone

Kissinger left at 6:34 pm.

Conversation No. 336-57

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:34 and 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34]

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-58

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:34 and 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s speech on the blockade
-Changes
-Peace offers
-Cease-fire
-Troops

Conversation No. 336-59

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:34 and 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-60

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 6:34 and before 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  5s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 7:14 pm.

Conversation No. 336-61

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:34 and 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

Meeting with the President
	-Speech

Conversation No. 336-62

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 6:34 and 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-63

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 6:34 and before 7:14 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration:  33s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 7:14 pm.

Conversation No. 336-64

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  7:14 -7:25 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech
-Soviet Summit
-Possible cancellation
-US response
-Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Handling of questions
-Soviet ships on high seas
-Blockade
-Weapons and supplies
-Air strikes
-Time
-Comparison to 1966-67
-Petroleum, oils, and lubricants [POL]
-William Yandell Elliott
	-World War II
-Targets
-POL dumps
-Psychological impact
-Priority
-Railroads
-Power plants
-Destruction
-POLs and power plants
-Effectiveness to date
-Supplies on hand
-Melvin R. Laird

-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Kissinger
-William P. Rogers
-Laird
-Kissinger’s meeting with Dobrynin
-President’s meeting with Congressional leaders
-Length
-Questions
-Rogers and Laird
-Blockade
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Position
-Gen. Creighton Abrams
-Position
-Laird
-The President’s view
-Political plans

Kissinger left at 7:25 pm.

Conversation No. 336-65

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 7:25 and 8:04 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown man.

Vietnam
-William P. Rogers
	-Peace offer
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Melvin Laird
-Rogers

Conversation No. 336-66

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 7:25 and 8:04 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

Conversation No. 336-67

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown between 7:25 and 8:04 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Meeting with Congressional leaders
-Call to the President

Conversation No. 336-68

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  Unknown after 7:25 - 8:05 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President between 8:04 and 8:05 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-68A]

[See Conversation No. 24-17]

[End of telephone conversation]

Conversation No. 336-69

Date:  May 8, 1972
Time:  9:45 - 11:22 pm
Location:  Executive Office Building

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

Vietnam
-President’s forthcoming speech on the blockade
-Delivery
-Wording
-Appeals to deity
-Rose Mary Woods
-Responses
-Soviet Summit
-Press
-Advanced texts
-Length
-Mining
-Tone
-Wording
-William P. Rogers
-Blockade
-Purpose
-Rhetoric

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 9:45 and 9:57 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69A]

Henry A. Kissinger
-Meeting with the President
-Time
-Location
		-Meeting with Congressmen

[End of telephone conversation]

Kissinger
-Location 
-Meeting with Congressmen

Cabinet meeting
-Value
-William P. Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Briefings
-Importance
-Content
-Response

Haldeman talked with Alexander P. Butterfield at an unknown time between 9:45 and 9:57 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69B]

[See Conversation No. 24-18]

[End of telephone conversation]

Call from Laird

Laird talked with the President between 9:57 and 10:00 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69C]

[See Conversation No. 24-19]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Rogers
-The President’s view
-Laird
-Rogers
-Public stance
-Press reports
-Leaks
-Laird
-Public support
-Necessity
-Rogers
-Public stance
-Press reports
-President’s speech

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:00 and 10:04 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69D]

[See Conversation No. 24-20]

[End telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Blockade

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:00 pm.

Refreshment

Manolo Sanchez
-Health

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:04 pm.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Response
-Phone calls

The President talked with Julie Nixon Eisenhower between 10:04 and and unknown time before 10:06 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69E]

[See Conversation No. 24-21; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation.]

The President talked with Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon between and unknown time after 10:04 and 10:06 pm.

[End of telephone conversation]

Henry A. Kissinger entered at 10:05 pm.

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Rogers’s statement
	-The President’s view
-Bombing
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Time
-Haldeman
-Necessity
-Michael J. Mansfield
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] border
-Meeting with Kissinger

President’s speech
-Charles W. Colson’s phone calls
	-The President’s view
-George Meany
-Kissinger’s call
-Frank E. Fitzsimmons
-I. W. Abel
-Postal workers
-Educators
-William Carter, Wisconsin State University
-Unknown person from Eastern Kentucky University
-Blockade
-Kissinger’s previous meeting with Dobrynin
-Soviet response
-Air strikes
-Intensity
-Bombing of civilian areas
-President’s speech
-The President’s view
-Delivery
-Blockade
-Laird’s public stance
-President’s message to pilots
-Rogers
-Position
-The President’s view
-Kissinger’s view
-Laird
-The President’s view
-President’s speech
-Message of support
-Victor Riesel
-Editorial support
-Seattle Post-Intelligencer
-Arizona Republic
-Boston Herald-Traveller
-Denver Post
-Bill Hornby
-Buffalo Evening News
-Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
-San Diego Union
-Philadelphia Inquirer
-Columbus Dispatch
-Carl McLunan [?]
-Hartford Courant
-Houston Chronicle
-Chicago Tribune
-George Healy
-Wallace F. Bennett
-Mayors and governors
-Mayor of Spokane
-Salem, Oregon
-Winfield Dunn
-Comparison to Cuban Missile Crisis
	-Mining
-Soviet Summit
-Possible cancellation
	-Kissinger’s view
-President’s speech
-Support
-Max M. Fisher
-Mr. and Mrs. Taft Schreiber
-German leaders
-Franz Josef Strauss
-Willy Brandt
-Message
	-Soviet Summit
-Delivery
	-The President’s view
-Blockade
-Foreign response
-Egon Bahr [?]
-Relations with the US
-Bombing
-PRC border
-Mansfield’s reservations
-Rogers
-Rogers
-Subcabinet briefing
-Value
-Position
-North Vietnamese mining of Saigon River
-US attitude
-Haig
-Trip to Vietnam
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Kissinger’s briefing
-Meaning of President’s decision
-Support within Administration
-Rogers

Kissinger’s schedule

Vietnam
-Blockade and bombing
-Laird
-Position
-Rogers
-Europe
	-Laird
-Subcabinet briefing
-Kissinger
-Value
-Time

Kissinger’s schedule

Vietnam
-Blockade
-President’s decision
-Necessity
-Lot’s wife
-Importance
-Kissinger’s view
-Air strikes
-Compared with World War II
-Hanoi, Haiphong
-Intensity
	-The President’s view

Kissinger left at 10:23 pm.

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Rogers
-Public stance
-The President’s view

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:23 pm.

A cigar

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:42 pm.

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Need for support

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 10:23 pm.

Cigars

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 10:42 pm.

Vietnam
-Blockade decision
-Supporters
-Telephone calls
-Initiative
-List
-Purpose
-Mobilization
-Cabinet
-Elliott L. Richardson
-Rogers
-Donald H Rumsfeld and Robert H. Finch
-Philosophy

Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Philosophy

Soviet Summit
-Cancellation
-Likelihood
-John B. Connally’s forthcoming resignation
	-Timing
-Rogers
-Laird
-Supporters
-[Forename unknown] Lang [?]
-Telephone calls

Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:23 and 10:42 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69F]

[See Conversation No. 24-22]

[End of telephone conversation]

President’s schedule
-Duke Law School reunion
-Photographs
-Location
-Butterfield
-Remarks
-Speechwriters

Colson
-Call

Haldeman talked with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo at an unknown time between 10:23 and 10:42 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69G]

[See Conversation No. 24-23]

[End of telephone conversation]

Rebozo
-Telephone calls
-Number
-Sloane McCray [?]
-A woman caller
-Western Union
-Responses to the President’s speech

Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:23 and 10:42 pm.

[Conversation No. 366-69H]

[See Conversation No. 24-24]

Haldeman conferred with the President at an unknown time between 10:23 and 10:42 pm.

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Comparison with other speeches
-Public response

[End of conferral]

Haldeman talked with Colson at an unknown time between 10:23 and 10:42 pm.

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:23 an 10:42 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69I]

[See Conversation No. 24-25]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Blockade
-[David] Kenneth Rush
-“Today” show appearance
-Colson
-Analysis of speech
-Analysis of response
-President’s speech
-Public response
-Phone calls
-Publicity
-Ziegler
-Western Union
-Volume of messages
-Ziegler’s analysis

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 10:23 and 10:42 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69J]

Call to Ziegler

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with Rush between 10:42 and 10:45 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69K]

[See Conversation No. 24-26]

[End of telephone conversation]

Haldeman talked with Ziegler between 10:42 and an unknown time before 10:47 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69L]

Vietnam
	-President’s speech
		-Response

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 10:45 and 10:47 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69M]

[See Conversation No. 24-169]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Response
-Ziegler
-Telephone calls
-Volume
-Support
-Western Union
-Volume
-Ziegler’s statement
-President’s demeanor
-John A. Scali

The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 10:45 and 10:47 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69N]

[See Conversation No. 24-27]

[End of telephone conversation]

The President talked with George Meany between 10:47 and 10:48 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69O]

[See Conversation No. 24-28]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Meany
-Statement

Tricia Nixon Cox talked with the President between 10:49 and an unknown time before 10:52 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69P]

[See Conversation No. 24-29; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation.]

The President talked with Edward R. F. Cox at an unknown time after 10:49 and 10:52 pm.

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Telephone calls
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham

Haldeman talked with the White House operator at an unknwon time between 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69Q]

[See Conversation No. 24-30]

[End to telephone conversation]

Graham
-Position on Vietnam

Vietnam
-Air strikes
-Intensity

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time netween 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69R]

[See Conversation No. 24-31]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Public response
-Rose Mary Woods
-Jack Cauley [sp?]

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13
[Privacy]
[Duration:  4s  ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 13

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

-Telephone call
-Charles S. Rhyne
	-Telephone call
-Adm. Moorer
	-Telephone call
-Claudia Miles
	-Call from Llewelyn J. Evans, Jr.
-Woods
	-President’s delivery
	-Soviets
	-Schedule

The White House operator talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69S]

[See Conversation No. 24-32]

[End of telephone conversation]

Haldeman talked with Graham at an unknown time between 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69T]

[See Conversation No. 24-33]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Blockade
-President’s speech
-Graham’s response
-Ruth McC. (Bell) Graham’s response
-National response
-Press comments
-British response
-German and French responses
-Soviet summit
-Effect
-Billy Graham’s press conference
-Memphis, Birmingham
-Content
-Public response
-Telegrams of support
-Michael Sinacrombie [sp?]
-Hancock County, West Virginia
-Unknown worker
-A Monterrey citizen
-Democrats from Massachusetts
-Thomas B. Thornton
-Princeton, West Virginia

Colson talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69U]

[See Conversation No. 24-34]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-Blockade
-Public response
-Western Union offices
-Colson’s talk with company president
-Volume of responses
-Emergency crews
-Apology statements
-Albert E. Sindlinger polls
-Public desires for action
-Possible effect on the Soviet summit
-Louis P. Harris poll
-Soviet reactions
-Public reaction
-Duration of support

Colson talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69V]

[See Conversation No. 24-35]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-Meany’s public statement
-Strength of support
-Rogers [?]
-A report
-Harris poll
-Public support for blockade
-President’s candor
-Enhancement

Lawrence M. Higby talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 10:52 and 11:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 336-69W]

[See Conversation No. 24-36]

[End of telephone conversation]

Vietnam
-President’s speech
-George D. Aiken
-Statement of support
-Statements of support
	-Reading of Telegrams
		-Publicity

The President and Haldeman left at 11:22 pm.