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OCR Page 1 of 14This Copy For
PRESIDENT RICHARD M. NIXON'S NEWS CONFERENCE #21
Held in the Briefing Room
At the White House
Washington, D. C.
November 12, 1971
at 4:00 P.M. EST (Friday)
Official White House Transcript
THE PRESIDENT: Won't you be seated, ladies and
gentlemen.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement of
a substantially increased troop withdrawal from Vietnam.
When I entered office on January 20, 1969, there were
540,000 Americans in Vietnam and our casualties were running
as high as 300 a week.
Over the past three years, we have made progress
on both fronts. Our casualties, for example, for the past
five weeks have been less than 10, instead of 300 a week;
and with regard to withdrawals, 80 percent of those who
were there have come home -- 365,000.
I have now had an opportunity to appraise the
situation as it is today. I have consulted with my senior
advisors and I have had an up-to-date report from Secretary
Laird. Based on those consultations and consultations with
the Government of South Vietnam, I am now able to make this
announcement.
Over the next two months, we will withdraw 45,000
Americans. I will make another announcement before the first
of February. As far as that second announcement is concerned,
before the first of February, the number to be withdrawn ---
the rate, that is -- as well as the duration of the announcement,
will be determined by three factors: First, by the level of