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On April 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:15 pm to 12:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 709-019 of the White House Tapes. Topics include: The President met with Henry A. Kissinger. Vietnam Kissinger's conversation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin - William P. Rogers's testimony - Praise from Kissinger - Kissinger's conversation with Dobrynin - Purpose - Interim compromise - Difficulties - Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr's report - Demilitarized zone [DMZ] - North Vietnamese capabilities - US response - Negotiations - US bombing - Soviets - Pressure - Dobrynin - Blockade - Implementation - Immediacy - Upcoming elections - Interim agreement - Rejection - Consequences - Possible Soviet actions - Advantages according to Kissinger - Soviet Summit - People's Republic of China [PRC] summit - Possible Middle East settlement - Problem -1972 election - Continuation of war - Possible outcome - Haig's report - Cessation of offensive - Prevention of future offensive - Timing - Assurance by the Soviets - North Vietnamese offensive - Possible actions by Hanoi - US response - Timing - Prisoners of war [POWs] - Failure - Concern from Kissinger - Blockade - Impact - Compared to 1969 - Weaknesses - Circumvention - Interim Solution - POWs - Haig report - Military Region One - South Vietnamese performance - Increase in South Vietnamese strength - US bombing - Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr. - Carriers - Bombing support - North Vietnam - Number of sorties - South Vietnam - Increase - I Corps - North Vietnamese weakness - B-52s - Ground action - South Vietnamese strength - Improved situation - Compared with Laos operation - Retreats - Provincial capitals - Demoralization of North Vietnam - US strategy - Military action - Toughness from the President - Peace offers - Soviet Summit - Preservation of US integrity - Blockade - Implementation - Timing - Threat - Soviet Summit - Meeting with Polish Ambassador [Witold Trampczynski] - Cancellation - Chances - Symbolism - Kissinger's Moscow meeting - Press reports Kissinger left at 12:28 pm. Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.