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This file contains edward Levi, Morton Halperin, press attacks on Kissinger
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March 15, 1976 - Ford, Kissinger
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1553395
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March 15, 1976 - Ford, Kissinger
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This file contains edward Levi, Morton Halperin, press attacks on Kissinger
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Memoranda of Conversations (Nixon and Ford Administrations)
Ford Administration Memoranda of Conversations
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China
Cuba
Department of State. 9/1789-
Ex-presidents
Middle East conflicts
Presidential campaign, 1976
Voyages and travels
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1976-03-15
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1976
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1976-03-15
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3
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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
DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
MR 98.38,41 NSC ltr. 6/24/99
By KBH NARA, Date 4/21/00
MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION
PARTICIPANTS:
President Ford
Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State
Brent Scowcroft, Assistant to the President
for National Security Affairs
DATE AND TIME:
Monday - March 15, 1976
FORD
9:23 - 10:06 a. m.
?
PLACE:
The Oval Office
GALD
The President: What do you think about sending Nixon's report back
to him after we have seen it?
Kissinger: I don't think we should give it wide distribution. It sounds
like a good idea to me. I don't think anyone but us and maybe George
needs to see it.
The President: Let's think about it.
Kissinger: Rogers has agreed to the economic job. So I would move
Habib to the Sisco job. Then for the Assistant's jobs, we could move
up the deputy in Latin America. For Asia, either Sneider or Newsom.
Newsom is quiet and no world-beater, but Sneider's problem is he is
out for himself.
The President: I don't know either of them.
Scowcroft: I prefer Newsom.
Kissinger: We also need someone at Moscow. We could use Toon,
though he is known as anti-Soviet. Bruce is a possibility, or Davis.
The President: Bruce is great, but it is a tough job.
CLASSIFIED BY Henry A. Kissinger
EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652
EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5 b (1,3)
AUTOMATICALLY DECLASSIFIED ON Imp. to det.
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-2-
Kissinger: We don't have to decide it now.
The President: Sadat's speech played well. This should have some
effect on the C-130' S for Egypt. He is really being tough.
Kissinger: It is possible we could have a war over Lebanon. Partly
because the Israelis might want to crack the Syrians. And the Syrians
may want to put troops along the southern frontier to help the PLO army.
It would be a peaceful move, but I'm sure the Israelis would move. I
have warned Dinitz and told Asad I think it would provoke an Israeli
reaction. But if the PLO is there, that could provoke a war too.
The President: How about a UN presence along the border?
Kissinger: That is a possibility -- I may have to go out there if it really
gets bad.
I think sooner or later we have to crack the Cubans. I talked
to Yamani last Friday and even the Iranians are worried about the Cubans
getting into the Middle East countries. I think we have to humiliate them.
If they move into Namibia or Rhodesia, I would be in favor of clobbering
them. That would create a furor and we might have to come out for black
rule. But I think we might have to demand they get out of Africa.
The President: What if they don't?
FORD e LISHARY OTVUEO
Kissinger: I think we could blockade. But I think we need a WSAG
and maybe an NSC. But I don't think we have to identify where they
might move -- just examine contingencies for wherever they might act.
The President: I am for that. Can we do it right away?
Kissinger: I am giving a speech in Dallas. I thought I would talk about
the need for a high defense budget, point out the slackening relevance
of strategic forces and that the present force structure relates to decisions
of 10 years ago. No one has taken on my Boston speech except it was
political. They even aren't talking about detente anymore.
The President: I didn't see Jackson, but he didn't sound so strong.
Kissinger: I went to a dinner Saturday with Democratic liberals. They
attacked Jackson and congratulated me on my speech. If Jackson is to
the right of you, I think you are in great shape.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
SEGRET/NODIS/XGDS
-3-
The President: I think it will be Humphrey and Carter.
Kissinger: I like Humphrey and it would be a good campaign, but I think
he would be an easy mark for you too.
I am in a fight with Levi. I think I cannot stand by while Halperin
tries me in the press. There is no inconsistency between me and Nixon
except on an inconsequential point. Hoover made clear in a memcon
that Haperin was a security risk. Edward Bennett Williams recommends
I ask the court for relief from these attacks, by enjoining against talking
to the press, and ask for dismissal, and so on. In making a petition,
I could make the point there are no inconsistencies. Levi says I have
the case won and I just have to sit and take it. I think I might pull the
case away from Justice. It will cause a bit of a stink.
The President: Does Levi know this?
Kissinger: He doesn't believe I'll go through with it. But I am being
tried in the press and when I win two years from now I will already
be convicted. Ed just doesn't want to make waves. He thinks I have
it won and he is right on the legal points.
SECRET/NODIS/XGDS
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GERALO FORD
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DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958 Sec. 3.6
Same as MR 98-38, #1
By KBH NARA, Date 4/21/00
Bookly
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GERALD R LIBRARY FORD
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