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1553021
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April 11, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger
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1553021
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document
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April 11, 1975 - Ford, Kissinger
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collections
Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Cambodia
Vietnam (Republic)
Foreign aid
International relations
Middle East conflicts
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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1975-04-11
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4
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1975
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11
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1975-04-11
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4
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1975
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
DECLASSIFIED
THE WHITE HOUSE
E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6
WASHINGTON
MR 01-56 #28; st.etr 9/19/01
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
By
doe NARA, Date 10/11/01
MEMOR ANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
and Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant
to the President for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Friday, April 11, 1975
9:12-10:10 a. m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
The President: Jack told Betty it was my best speech.
Kissinger: What else could you have done? Think of the Presidency if
you had said nothing. How would you have justified sticking with the $300
million [request for Vietnam]?
The President: I thought I should put the intelligence part in.
Kissinger: I can't campaign directly, but next year I will give foreign
policy speeches around the country.
I will go to the CENTO meeting and then meet with you for NATO.
The President: Will you go to Latin America?
Kissinger: I thought I would cut it down and go the week after next.
The President: Will you go to Chile?
Kissinger: I think it is not good for me to be gone too long at this time.
If you lose the Vietnam aid, you should speak for 10 minutes and
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
GERALD FORD LIBRARY
SECRET - XGDS (3)
CLASSIFIED BY: HENRY A. KISSINGER
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-2-
say you are pulling the Americans out. What are the Democrats going to
run on next year? They got us into it, and we got out of it, and they won't
even fund the poor GVN that they got into the whole thing. They will have
no issue on Vietnam -- but you will.
I think you should now got out and sell this the way you did energy.
The President: I am christening the Nimitz this month and the Hebert
Library soon.
Kissinger: I would focus on the second part of the speech -- what you
want done.
From a posture of detente, you can go to the people and say we
tried and the bastards wouldn't do it. This keeps the liberals in line.
I think a series of speeches -- lower on Vietnam and higher on
the rest.
If Israel doesn't come through soon, I would announce a compre-
hensive program.
This is a message we just got from the Soviets. [He gives it to
the President. ] They are scared right now, because they think you might
pull a Nixon and clobber someone. But if they detect weakness.
The President: Let's keep them thinking that.
Kissinger: They were anxious you got it before your speech.
I would send Berger to Taiwan to quiet the flak. I think the Vice
President is too political a signal.
I will answer Brezhnev: I will say that I will go to Moscow only
(1) if my meetings are with Brezhnev, (2) if at the end of the meeting we
must announce the date of the summit. That is tought, but it' S the only
think these SOB's understand. If it is with Gromyko I will meet in Europe.
I think you should have given your Mideast speech by then.
The President: Will you start on it?
Kissinger: I am. One sign of cooling relations with Israel could be to
do business through Keating. Eilts is really good. I want to make him
Assistant Secretary.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
-3-
The President: How about Toon?
Kissinger: If Geneva doesn't come off, maybe we can send him to Bonn.
Allon is coming here next week and Hussein is coming soon. We
maybe should invite others here. Or I could go from Turke y to the Mideast
before your speech.
Proposing an overall solution won't be accepted, but then we will
be in a good position. I would like to seel your plan to the Arabs first.
Kissinger: Sihanouk is now seeing the need for the GKR and is scrambling
around. I think maybe the French screwed us in December. He is acting
as if he heard this balancing idea for the first time.
But now we have a problem. Defense is saying they are asking
you to pressure me to evacuate. You and I can't decide this. Ambassador
Dean says it is too dangerous to get to the airport -- he has to make that
decision. However, we could ask Dean if he thinks he and two or three more
should stay behind and work on the Sihanouk angle.
The President: We have to execute Eagle Pull. But if Sihanouk won't be
back in, wouldn't it be good if the Ambassador stayed behind?
Kissinger: Yes.
The President: What would happen?
Kissinger: [Described Sihanouk calling for government of national unity. ]
The President: What if Sihanouk can't stabilize it?
Kissinger: Dean would be captured. They would sell him back to us.
It is a bad idea to let an Ambassador be captured.
The President: Call Dean. I am willing to gamble.
Kissinger: The Consumer-Producer preparatory meeting is totally
screwed up. They can't even agree on an agenda.
The French are hinting about getting an invitation to Geneva.
SEGREP/NODIS/XGDS
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-4- -
The President: No.
Kissinger: They would be worse than the Soviet Union. We now have to
be tough. We can't be pushed around.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
FORD LIBRARY & GERALD
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P
Jack told Betty it my let spuch
K
W hat else could you have drue? Think of the
Presidency if you had find northing? Hourword
you home stining w/c 300 mil.
P
& tht Ishmld put until past in
K
2 can't compaign anouth but rept year Junist give
F p yuchro around.
will go & CENTO enty + then weet w/ you per
NATO
P
LA?
K
2tht I would cut it damn 490 wish often next
P
not Chile?
R
I think it not good To be your at this time
If you lose caid, you should sprak for 10 minute
& say thing you and purting - Charrisers
ant. What and the Dinronate gerring to runn next
year? They got no in to it and such get and jit
and they won't even from the you GUN they got
into - whole thing. They inice have no issue m
UN - but you will
Ithnish you should what go ant and seld this
the way your did energy
V
I em christing himits this worth and H ( ehert
throng soon,
K
I world form on - I wl part of C Hell h- what you
want lone.
From - postune of detents, you can to - pingle & 2mg
w trivel to - horstands wouldn't dont- burpor c librab
in line.
DECLASSIFIED
AUTHORITY per me 01- 56, # 28; students 9/19/01
BY Wh
NLF, DATE 5/26/04
Chip Justice & units
I think a sink of spuches - linner ase VIV r higher
one rest,
of I dmon't come them your I would annumed a
proy.
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upit num, become they think you might pull
a Wipm + clother forners, But if thing ditect ariabars.
P
hat's hey them thinking that.
K
They who amprins you got it hyoe your sysech
& would send Berger & Twick to quit flack &
think UP too politived a segural.
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inty and are w/ Buz, (2) at but of mty and must
amount date of primmit and That tangh
hutc only thing these SoB's indication. If it w/
Groughs I will unet in Eur. 9 Think your
should have prin your ME tpuch by then.
P
will you start on it?
K
I am. O we sign of cabbing waters w/I could he
to lo business then Keating Enits in really good
d want to make him Gost Sicy.
P
Homelmet Twon
K
If Garrira dissn't come off, maybe we can send him
to Born
after your spuch, & imight go from Tenhery
allow eveny here rept anch & Hersin soun. Cru
manyle should minito (hopse) others here. Or I could jo form
Turney to C NIE after Jane spuch.
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United end of Angeruments but 8 good
of help Ent going. we annof gaing to
bromsthing or priceptate He know I's
them we him paral poetin smoold Who a
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K
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and is screwing aromal. 2 ctrip englishe e
Frank decreased in Dec. H & acting or P he
hand this balming idea for think.
But how me have a prot. Dep is orging they are
asking you to & pressure me to evarnate. your 2
can't diads time. Dean says it to Imagerous to
gett- amport- he has a make that. Humener, all cauld
ask Dean if her 2 202 3 more that they shimld stay
behind & work of on - Scharank
P
we hand excents Eagle Pull. But if Sithman currt
brihin consident it he good if and stayed behind
K
Yes.
P
what would happen?
K
(Described Schools calling for Govt of noth with)
P
what if Schamb crunt structize
K
Dean anmull be captured. They world sell him horb
to ho, Bad ilsa K ht and he coytuned
P
cell Dran. & withing & garnles
K
The C-P preparating unty is totally desemed up. They
can't has Q you on ayenda.
Frinch an hinting about irite to Ceneral
P
No
K
They would he werse than - J. we now-hmet me
tough. Can't he purshed arand.