Ask the Scholar

On March 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:51 am to 9:01 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 467-011 of the White House Tapes. Topics include: The President met with Henry A. Kissinger Kissinger's meeting with an unknown person - A draft letter to the President - Reply - A letter from the President - Anatoliy F. Dobrynin Possible summit with the Soviet Union - Announcement Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT] negotiations - US proposal - Kissinger - President's previous letter - Dobrynin's response - Soviet Union reply - Soviet Union proposal - Order of negotiations - Kissinger's response - Anti- Ballistic Missile [ABM] - Soviet missiles - ABM - Kissinger's view Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 8:51 am Items for President's signature President's schedule Butterfield left at an unknown time before 9:01 am SALT negotiations - President's view - Soviet Union proposal - President's response - Future meeting - Draft letter from the President - Kissinger - Timing US textile negotiations with Japan - President's assessment Vietnam - President's Call to General John W. Vogt, Jr. - Military situation - Washington Post story - National Broadcasting Company [NBC] News story - Need for White House response - Military situation - Vogt's view - Ho Chi Minh Trail - Increased interdiction - Decreased traffic - Possible call to Howard K. Smith or Thomas E. Jarriel - Success of Laotian operation - Effect on Ho Chi Minh Trail - Tchepone - Truck traffic -[Arnold] Eric Sevareid's commentary - US foreign policy - Isolationism - Compared with position after World War II - Marshall Plan - Lyndon B. Johnson - Relations with newsmen - Military situation SALT negotiations - President's position - Instructions for Kissinger - Forthcoming letter from the President - Kissinger - Henry M. ("Scoop") Jackson - Kissinger The President and Kissinger left at 9:01 am. Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Butterfield, Alexander P.