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1553561
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November 4, 1976 - Ford, Kissinger, Scowcroft
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1553561
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document
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November 4, 1976 - Ford, Kissinger, Scowcroft
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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Israel
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National security
Presidential elections
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1976-11-04
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1976
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1976-11-04
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11
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1976
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File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
MEMORANDUM
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Thursday, November 4, 1976
3:34 - 4:49 p.m.
PLACE:
The Oval Office
Kissinger: You did a noble job.
President: Back in August the odds we figured were 2½¹ to 1.
Kissinger: I am worried about our foreign policy.
President: They herded the blacks to the polls.
Scowcroft: They may start feeling their power.
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/96, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state state leview3/13/04
President: If Bella Abzug had won or if McCarthy had been on the ballot
in New York, we would have won in New York. But you can go on and on
with those.
NARA, DATE 7/30/04
Kissinger: I am sick when I think of all the things we are on the verge of
getting in foreign policy -- the Middle East, Rhodesia, Namibia, SALT,
non-proliferation, etc.
You have nothing to feel sorry about. You took over when the
government was falling to pieces. You have been a good President. You
have had bad luck. Reagan.
President: Agricultural prices, unemployment.
BY
BRENT SCOWCROFT
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFE CATION
CLASSIFIED BY
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 5 (b) 11652 (1,3)
AUTOMATICALLY EXEMPTION CATEGORY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
2.
Kissinger: And on employment, just a few months would have made
the difference.
What those bastards did to you in the Pentagon
President: I agree with you.
Kissinger: They will pay for it.
Scowcroft: All you have to do is look at the budget figures.
President: That's right. Defense has been allocated 119 and what are
they up to?
Scowcroft: 130 and rising.
President: There is just no way. They are nuts.
Kissinger: They have got to fund their social programs. They will say
it's fat, etc., but it will be bad.
(Discussion of possible personnel.)
President: Tell me about Geneva. I see Smith has packed his bags.
Kissinger: That means nothing. The blacks are making optimistic
sounds and they are now actually going down the five points.
Did you know Makarios called a holiday when Carter won?
President: Really? How about the Israelis?
(Discussion of Jewish votes, Dayan, etc.)
Kissinger: The Israelis need you, too, though they may not realize
that for a while. They think they are in the clear now, but the Soviets
will get back in and we may have a war.
President: I am worried about oil prices. Is there anything we can do?
Kissinger: We could send an emissary, but I don't think you should risk
your prestige on it.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
3.
President: Should it be you?
Kissinger: I am about in as bad shape as you. I hate to tell you, but
these foreigners will start buttering up to Carter. Maybe Robinson.
I think the best for you and me is to do the day-to-day business. The
bureaucracy will start blocking if we try.
But you should go to the Middle East next year after a decent
interval.
Scowcroft: That is an excellent idea. I think you need to stay in the
limelight and lead the party. Otherwise Reagan will take it over.
(Discussion of Scranton UN issues -- UN, Angola, Israeli
occupied lands.)
(More discussion of the election.)
President: What about Lebanon?
Kissinger: Another great success. The PLO is going back with their
camps, being put into their place, Syria has things under control, the
Saudis are doing okay, and the Arab League Army is going to protect
the Israeli border for infiltration.
(Discussion of Republican politics.)
Kissinger: Carter I think could easily be a one-term President.
President: He has a lot of IOU's out, in bad hands. We may have
another 1946.
(General discussion)
Kissinger: These new guys are hungry. They are thinking of their
prerogatives, not the country. What a President needs to have is the
ability to live in a pressure cooker day-after-day. A President has
to have a steady character to be able to withstand the pressure.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
Turban
2
P/K
Nov.4,1976
3:34-4:49 3:
K you I'l a with job
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K
I increased about am foreign policy
P
They huded blacks The folls
S
They eng start feeling then power
P
of abzug and wou or We Centry been
L hellot, we wered have went 4. But
our are those.
K I am sick when I think fall - things
are and onc enzeg getting in FP-
ME, Rhurlesen, "ambie, Salt then-
prolig, etc.
you have withing to ful form short.
you Trask over whene your was falling 6
preces. For have been a good per,
for have had bad buck. Reala
P agreementment peries, employment
R and on employment, just a for works
would have smoke dif.
What three bastable did to you in Pertago
P Ingreent you.
K Transfill pay for it.
S av you have & & do is bon at - budyet fegrises,
P
Thats right. Defense has here albrated 119 +
what recting mpti-
S 130 and scoring.
P There is just no way They are mits.
K Tray howe got to femal their social props They annil
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, SEC. 3.5
NSC MEMO, 11/24/98, STATE DEPT. GUIDELINES state leview 3/13/04
BY Cab
NARA. DATE 7/30/04
say its pet, its but it will be bal
(Desceison of posible process
P
Tel one about when Isee Singh has
perped the buys
K
That was writing The blackoone enoting
gatestic samels *thay one none artivally
going lower C 5pts.
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R
Really. Home about Smalts?
(Desission of Jenia into, Day m, etc)
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close emer, but Suns will get back in &
we my home was
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any thing years are can do?
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think you should with your prestige an
it.
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K dan about in as bad shape or you I
hate to all you, but these focigies will start
barthing my & Carter. wighe Robinson
Ithis L but for you & The ish to doc day
to long business, The buseassing will
start Working if me try
But you should go of he WE wept you
Sadnt
ftera deceased internal
S That is an expedlent idea. I think for and
to stay in the builight 8 Ind the party.
Octimise Repayan will Cahe it one
(Disission of Screnton VN units - UN,
Anyola, Isralli occuried lands
P
(mas f- electrin)
callent about have
K
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P
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we my have another / 946.
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Stundy Charge to
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a pressure enstur day The dog. Ca /
CORD