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This Copy For PRESIDENT RICHARD NIXON'S NEWS CONFERENCE #8 Held in the East Room At The White House Washington, D. C. December 8, 1969 At 9:00 P.M. EST (Monday) Official White House Transcript THE PRESIDENT: Won't you be seated? Mr. Smith. QUESTION: Mr. President, do you see any signs of the Vietnam War cooling off? THE PRESIDENT: Well, looking over the long period, yes - as far as recent weeks are concerned, since my speech of November 3, no significant change. When we compare the situation with regard to infiltration and casualties this year with last year, there is a great difference. Looking to the future, if that situation continues, I believe that we can see that the Vietnam War will come to a conclusion regardless of what happens at the bargaining table. It will come to a conclusion as a result of the plan that we have instituted, on which we are embarked, for replacing American troops with Vietnamese forces. Mr. Cornell. QUESTION: In your opinion, was what happened at Mylai a massacre, an alleged massacre, or what was it? And what do you think can be done to prevent things like that? If it was a massacre, do you think it was justifiable on military or other grounds?