519–14

Conversation No. 519-14

Date: June 14, 1971
Time: 5:30 pm - 6:10 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods


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Woods left and Leslie C. Arends, Gerald R. Ford, Clark MacGregor, William E. Timmons, and
General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. entered at 5:35 pm

Greetings
-John Cooper [?]

Vietnam
-Upcoming caucus
-Previous conversation with Carl B. Albert
-MacGregor
-Analysis of votes
-Lucien N. Nedzi-Charles W. Whalen, Jr. Amendment
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Democrats
-Republicans
-Alternative path
-Relation to President’s position
-President’s position
-Talk with John Sherman Cooper
-Cooper’s credibility
-Negotiations
-Status
-Chances
-Importance
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Interpretation of Congressional action
-Negotiations
-Status
-Chances of initiation
-Notification of Congress
-Incentive to talk
-Factors involved
-North Vietnamese
-US-People’s Republic of China [PRC] contact
-US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] contact
-Strategic Arms Limitations Talks [SALT] talks
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-Effect on negotiations
-Breakthrough possibilities
-Dr. David K. E. Bruce
-Last chance for talks
-POWs
-Drawbacks of Congressional efforts
-Carl T. Curtis [?]
-Political problems Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
-Fear on part of President’s enemies
-Cambodia precedent
-J. S. Cooper-Frank F. Church amendment
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Facts of involvement
-Pentagon Papers
-Democratic position changes
-Muskie
-Humphrey
-Kennedy
-John F. Kennedy
-Fear on part of President’s critics
-Reasons for negotiations
-President’s efforts for Republican image
-Effect on elections
-Chances of negotiations
-Responsibility of Congress for failure
-Policy history of critics
-Combat situation
-US reduced role in ground combat
-Drawbacks of Congressional action
-Destruction of President’s position
-Future tactics
-Present tactics
-Rumors
-Significance
-Past use
-Example of bombing halt negotiations
-Movement
-Clark M. Clifford efforts
-Xuan Thuy
-Strategy
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-Bruce
-Effect on President’s position
-Cyrus R. Vance
-Clifford
-E. M. Kennedy criticism
-Strategy
-Reason for criticism
-Alternatives to talks Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
-Robert J. Dole
-Revolution
-Announcement
-Congressional strategy on anti-war bills
-Blanket opposition
-Albert
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs
-Supporters of President
-Reasons
-View of Nedzi-Whalen Amendment
-Opposition to President
-Efforts against non-supporters
-Senate situation
-Milton R. Young
-Leonard B. (“Len”) Jordan [Idaho]
-Robert A. Taft, Jr.
-Reasons for wavering
-Taft
-Ohio newspaper reports
-Non-supporters
-Albert
-History of President’s efforts
-Troop withdrawals
-Albert
-President’s fulfillment of promises
-POWs
-Bruce
-Drawback of deadlines
-Loss of bargaining “chips”
-Effect on POWs
-General effect of resolution passages
-End of negotiations
-Recall of Bruce
-Position of Congressional leaders
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-Civil War
-Relation to World War II negotiations
-Taft

Congressional schedule
-Conference timing
-Confirmation of H. R. Gross
-Meeting of President and leaders Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
-Timing
-Length
-Up-to-date reporting of floor status

Pentagon Papers
-Alger Hiss case
-Whitaker Chambers
-Publication of secret papers

Congressional strategy
-John B. Anderson
-Contact with President
-Senate leaders and House leaders
-Taft
-Robert W. Scott [?]
-Problems of contact with President
-Leaks
-Negotiation announcement
-Political impact
-Eugene J. McCarthy
-Christian Science Monitor editorial
-Democratic leaders
-Democratic strategy
-Credit for ending war
-Strategy towards Herbert C. Hoover’s administration
-Charles Michelson
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Lawrence F. O’Brien, Jr. statement
-Republican strategy
-Elections
-Negotiations
-Impact of Congressional action
-Albert
-Action on amendments
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-Albert’s vote
-Scheduling of anti-war resolutions
-George S. McGovern-Mark O. Hatfield
-Effect of Senate vote on House
-Contact with White House
-Head-counting
-Discipline of troops in Congress
-Focus on outcome of war Conv. No. 519-14 (cont.)
-Taft
-Control of troops
-Thomas J. Houser

Ford, et al. left at 6:10 pm