DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, Sect. 3.6

By NARA, Dale 5/26

Mr. Kissinger/Otis Chandler

11:10 p.m., May 6, 1970

C: These kids are not sophisticated. On the surface, the President's San Clemente speech said things are going well, 150,000 are coming out, Vietnamization is working well -- and since then, there has been such an abrupt change. We are bombing north of the DMZ, and then there's this Cambodian thing. The kids interpret it as the President changing his whole policy. That is why the campuses are on fire. They are not sophisticated.

K: My problem is not with the kids. When I talk to kids -- I had 10 from Princeton yesterday -- they were all with us. They can't do much when they return to Princeton. But those kids are reachable. Our problem is the faculties and administrators. I had Stanford students in today. The kids were fine -- they didn't like it, but they are understanding. The faculties are the problem.

C: Once the kids understand, I agree. How do you reach those kids is the problem with the faculties.

K: We have two problems. The immediate problem is to get through this crisis without being driven off by a student rebellion. We have to go through with it now. Would there be any negotiations with the Soviets or the Chinese if our government was so weak and the leadership group so feeble that they can be driven off by universities on these issues. The second problem is how do we re-establish communications with these kids? I talked to the President tonight. We will make this top priority as soon as the current operation is successfully concluded -- that is June. I am going to set up a system by which groups like this come in regularly and systematically so we don't always just see them when the town is burning. The immediate problem is whether the leaders of our country can pull together in such a situation enough to separate the tactical problem from the moral issue. If you were in Washington, I would be delighted to sit down and talk with you. We didn't want Sihanouk overthrown. We were faced with a country that had asked for substantial military assistance because it was menaced by an army of 400,000 on its flank. Say we didn't give assistance; the country falls -- 600 miles of frontier would be wide open to South Vietnam where they could fight a guerrilla war. And we came to the view that we could have withdrawn 150,000 under these conditions. How could we have faced the American people next Spring -- we killed another 8,000 for what? This is what drove us crazy. We knew something might happen. The last thing we want to do is escalate the war.

By NARA, Date 5/26

Mr. Kissinger/Otis Chandler

11:10 p.m., May 6, 1970

C: That is good to hear. We have been for you and the President all along the line. I have been counselling our editorial writers not to go overboard.

K: That is, in fact, why I called you -- you have always been friends to us. I would like to think we share a number of concerns.

C: We do. I suggest one thing. If the President could issue a statement or go on national television to the kids -- because of his remark on April 20 about the militants burning which has been misinterpreted. It is becoming a catalyst to every campus.

K: He is having a press conference Friday night. He might open by saying something like that -- first of all, he had just received a letter from a Stanford professor whose 20 years of research notes were burned up. That is what he had in mind. The listeners didn't know that.

C: I'm trying to be helpful. I know what that remark did.

K: What is happening to my close friends in the academic community? It's been a hectic week for everybody.

C: Is there any way of slowing Kingman Brewster down? He is hot at the moment. I'm not trying to run him down because he is very bright.

K: He's a cheap grand-stander.

C: He's making a lot of calls around. He is convinced that the middle students -- the silent majority who didn't participate -- are now going to mover over to the extreme views of the militants. He is trying to generate support.

K: What these children want is somebody to stand for them. They are not sure of themselves. I treat them compassionately when they come in -- we part friends. These things Kingman Brewster is doing are an abdication of his generation. They are looking for heros, not buddies.

C: I thought maybe somebody could talk to him.

By

NARA, Dalo 5/26

Mr. Kissinger/Otis Chandler

11:10 p.m., May 6, 1970

- 4 -

K: I tried to one night -- he is extremely emotional.

C: He called me today and asked me to join some group. I said I could not.

K: I appreciate your telling me that.

C: He has intentions of trying to be helpful, but it won't help at all. It will be worse.

K: I might call him tomorrow and say before he does anything, would he come down

C: I have talked to Cy Vance and people like that are OK all Kingman Brewster fans. He has a lot of support. If you could slow him down, it might help. I shouldn't be giving you advice. It was very nice of you to take the time to call.

K: I remember our meetings on the West Coast and remember your courtesies and interests with great pleasure.

C: It was good to talk to you.

lds

By NARA, Date 5/26

TELCON

Yoshida/Kissinger

9:17 am

5/7/70

Y: It was good to see you again even briefly. I met my friend today and gave him my full report. He appreciates your message and expressed his preference for plan 2.

K: With the fewer items?

Y: Fewer specific items and more tighter consultation conditions. Apparently he found this plan more responsive and possible for us except the question of the duration of the agreement. Perhaps we might agree to 3 years on conditions on the clear understanding that this could be extended. My friend assured me he will take steps forward based on your planes and he hopes to reach a solution quickly. Our Parliament will close May 15. After that things can be dealt with easier from our internal point of view. If you will give us more time for the solution. He expressed his ______ for the policy your friend announced last week. (He is going to announce one himself.) He is sending Aichi to the Djakarta Asian Conference.

K: My friend will be delighted.

Y: He asked me to send his best wishes to you and your friend.

K: I will pass this on and give him our warm regards. I will pass on these messages immediately.

Y: This is exactly what my friend has told me this morning.

K: I appreciate this very much. Nice to talk to you.

Y: We shall be in close touch.

By NARA, Dalo

5/26

TELCORN

Milton Katz/Kissinger

9:35 am

5/7/70

MK: I hear you are meeting with Harvard today.

K: I'm meeting with Stanford yesterday and afterwards they said I didn't understand them.

MK: Institute people?

K: No, the University. No one from Harvard yet.

MK: Are they coming as a gang?

K: They haven't requested an appointment yet. They are going to picket my house.

MK: I heard they were going to meet with you and Elliot Richardson in your house.

K: At 6:30 a.m.?

MK: There's a meeting with Neustadt.

K: I have heard from them and I'm seeing them tomorrow.

MK: And another group?

K: I will meet with them in my house if they want but I haven't heard from them.
Zinberg tells me they are going to picket.

MK: I doubt she's informed.

K: The Harvard Business School is also asking. I'm trying to get them into one group. You and I are meeting Sunday. Or could it be Sat. dinner?

MK: That will be fine.

K: Come to the WH between 5:00 and 6:00. Shall I bring John Ehrlichman?

MK: That might be a good idea. I want to go past this current -- I am interested in the Presidency and where it goes in a year or so.

K: I do to.

MK: Then bring John.

K: I understand that Kingman Brewster is putting out a petition. The basic problem is that nothing these petitions can do is relevant to these operations which will be over in a few weeks. I cannot be in anybody's interest for us to collapse in the

By NARA, Date 5/26

M. Katz/Kissinger
9:35 am 5/7/70

-2-

K (cont.): face of this. It's an exalting felling to be at one with your students but that what made Nazis in the '30's. A leader should put a brake on emotion. It least Kingman should come and talk to me. I don't want to call him but I know he is a friend of yours.

MK: I can think about this. My off-hand reaction is that on a thing of this kind that is the potential success of your mission you should call him and say you heard he is doing something. You called me and asked me to slow down. Say you don't have any intention of trying to do that but you would like to talk to him. Put it simply. He has an emotional problem and he has made a couple of remarks he will regret. I have had several calls from people asking me to get him down. I wrote him a different kind of note -- it was a tranquillizing note as a friend standing by him in a time of stress. He was warmly responsive and appreciated my support. At a time like this he needed a friend who wouldn't knife him in the back. Just approach him simply.

K: Good, ok.

MK: I will be at the WH at 6:00 on Saturday.

K: I may call you to change it earlier, but let's aim for that.

By NARA, Date 5/26

TelCon
HAK
Sec'y Laird
5/7/70
9:45 a.m.

**Laird:** Did anything ever develop on the little game plan I sent over on Bunker or Habib.

**HAK:** We are going to have a meeting next week.

**Laird:** I think it is important because this opportunity that presents itself is one we don't want to miss from the standpoint of our overall program. I am going to be here next week except Monday when I am going to Detroit. I will be gone until about 3:30 Monday afternoon. Another thing, there are two points . . .

**HAK:** I have turned down that story about the decision making. You were unfortunately right.

**Laird:** They came over here and they were giving people the impression that this is a hard and tough decision for the President because he had to make it on his own without the support of his advisors. That does not help the President, it does not build him up, it tears him down.

**HAK:** Some of these salesmen haven't any sense. That was terrible.

**Laird:** It tears tears the President down.

**HAK:** I understand. I killed it.

**Laird:** The next point is that you know the President has really come over here and given the military the greatest license they have ever had and I am going to step in on a few things because if we let this thing get out of hand, they will use all American troops. We have got to keep the pressure on them to use South Vietnamese troops. The next thing they will be doing is requesting more Americans in South Vietnam. McCain would like to put the Marines back in. We can't do that.

**HAK:** I agree.

**Laird:** They have the idea that they have carte blanche authority and I have got to be a son-of-a-bitch to keep some pressure on them.

**HAK:** There is no argument here. There is no question on principle in putting new troops into Vietnam. There is no question about it at all.

By NARA, Date 5/26

**Laird:** If we are to keep maintaining the President's credibility, we must insure withdrawal.

**HAK:** There is no thought of authorizing more troops.

**Laird:** These people have the idea the President will probably allow that if we really need them.

**HAK:** Can you be specific; what do you want them not to do?

**Laird:** What I want to do is keep the pressure on to use South Vietnamese forces and it is going in the other direction now and I am going to try to turn it the other way.

**HAK:** I don't think we should stop or pull out what we already are doing. Isn't that 704 going to be all South Vietnamese?

**Laird:** No, some Americans are in there. I have got to have a talk with Mayo too because Mayo is sure that we are going to make our withdrawal schedule coincide with the budget. The budget is based on 10,000 a month and by delaying as we will a few months, if you delay that 4th increment two months, that is 300 million dollars and Mayo keeps saying we are going to make that schedule. I am not sure we are going to make it.

**HAK:** I know...

**Laird:** We know but Mayo doesn't seem to know it. On the Hill, Mayo was saying the rate would be maintained. We can make some troop reductions but most of the troop reductions will come after the first of the year. I think we can get to 60,000. I have a May 10 deadline for the withdrawal plan. I would like to have until June 1.

**HAK:** OK, I think that is fair.

**Laird:** Good, now let me think, is there anything else. I hope you do bring up with WAXX WSAG a plan to use those troops??

**HAK:** That is on the schedule today.

**Laird:** That is of utmost importance. We have got to have a plan for the use of people before we take action with them. ???? I think that is all.

**HAK:** OK, goodbye.

By

NARA, Dale 5/26

Telecon

Nathan Pusey

5/7/70 12:57 p.m.

K: Sorry to track you down. I just came from the President. We talked about this proposal of yours and we would like to do it by appointing a member of your group --the people that we have been meeting with in your group. And in view of the urgency, we propose we would ask one of your people to be here through the summer. We'd like Hurd.

P: That's fine. Did you get my message this morning?

K: No.

P: I made a different suggestion.

K: What.

P: Moose. Any of these would be excellent that we mentioned. The only thing I feel is it shouldn't be someone from New England.

K: Well, I now have the President's approval for Hurd.

P: Either would be fine. I just wanted to get both names to you.

K: He said it's fine with Hurd.

P: Fine with me. What's next then?

K: To get Hurd's agreement and then say this afternoon that this was done.

P: May I question him now?

K: Do you think we could announce it tomorrow. We're not in an urgent hurry. But given the urgency you describe, I thought we should move it.

P: I think he has to consult with his own board. He has just can't do it that quickly. But I'll get word back to you.

K: Thank you. Incidentally, I thought you were very moving this morning.

P: Well, I'd like to talk with you some time.

K: I want to talk with you.

By NARA, Date 5/26

Telecon

Nathan Pusey

5/7/70 12:55p.m. 2:15 p.m.

P: I talked with Alex. He's inclined to do this. He raised
several questions for me to come to you with. First, and I think
most important in his mind is *wk* whether the circumstances are such
that what we expect of him will be feasible? I think he should be in
the White House and have immediate access to the President.

K: I don't know about the White House. He would have an office in the ΟΚ ΕΟΓ. And I can guarantee him access to me, and the two of us can get access to the President. I will do my best to make it work.

P: We want to make sure the President intends to listen and that this is not just a device to get irate students off his back.

K: Well, on a decision like Cambodia, we cannot make our policy decisions reviewed byt if he comes to us and says there is deep concern in the academic community about certain *wk* trends, that we must listen to.

P: We just want that he will be heard and that his job is to convey the academics feelings. Secondly, we feel he should continue in the pay of his university. So that it is clear that he is a member of the academic community, and not on Nixon's payroll. But he'll need an office, a telephone and a secretary and so forth. He'll need a staff of some kind.

K: I'm sure that can be worked out.

P: He has to get the permission of the executive committee of the Board of Trusteed. He's talked only to the President so far. So we can't announce his acceptance yet. But we'll work on it right away.

K: Should it be announced before the weekend?

P: I think so, but only Alex can authorize that and he can't do it before it's been considered by his executive committee.

K: We'd like to announce it before the press conference tomorrow.

P: He says he will try to get the approval by morning.

K: By 11:00.

P: Okay. He'd like the end of his term there to be July 1.

K: All right. He couldn't make it through the summer?

By NARA, Date 5/26

Telecon
Nathan Pusey

P: He thinks no at the moment. But should leave it open. We feel it's a critical situation, and we do this only with that understanding. We feel the President of the United States has got a crisis on his hands with the academic community.

K: Believe me, I come from the academic community and I understand it. Not being from the academic world he doesn't see it exactly as we do, but he is concerned. I can think of nothing more important that I can do. I'm sending him spending more time on this this week than on that any problem in foreign policy. No society can alienate its best and still function.

By NARA, Date 5/26

TELCON

Makowitz&Braden/Kissinger

3:20 pm

5/7/70

M&B: You get two for the price of one.

K: I'm paying a great price these days.

M&B: We have a Sunday half hour now. We will be much more serious this week. We will have a tape on Cambodia and students. We are taping tomorrow morning. Can you tell us -- off the record and because this won't be aired until Sunday -- is there any sharp change we can put in or we should wait to put in?

K: Nothing we are initiating.

M&B: The U.S. or you?

K: The U.S. I don't know if the students will burn down the WH.

M&B: Of course. I wondered if in the course of the press conference the President would make something that will difusse the students. Or say something about Kent or South East Asia. I think the demonstrations will keep going.

K: ? ? ? ?

M&B: There's no bombshell then.

K: Nothing tremendously different. We are going to try to avoid a confrontation.

M&B: That's about what I figured you would do. We can live with that.

K: Of the operation, we will complete it as soon as we can.

M&B: Before the fiscal year.

K: That's an outside figure in order to have some latitude in case something happens.

M&B: You think it might be before? Not for quotation.

K: The major part, yes.

M&B: Let me pass this on to you. I have passed it to Ehrlichman's and Saffire. I am sure the New Mobe people would accept the Elipse as a site for a compromise between the Monument & Dupont Square.

By NARA, Dalo 5/26

Mankowitz & Braden/Kissinger

3:20 pm

5/7/70

-2-

K: I will see it gets highest attention. I would like to talk to you after the weekend is over. About communicating again.

M&B: You know the fellow you met at Dinner? He said "I live in a different world. Henry Kissinger's like me and a very nice guy and reasonable." You know, The (president or dean) of Dartmouth. But he says it's a completely different world.

K: In the next phase we have to try to have more ? ? ? ?

M&B: It's so thin now.

K: I have that message. We have to realize that it's not just one sided.

M&B: That's right. When I hear people who are reasonable people say that those kids at Kent "probably had it coming," it indicates a gulf on the other side. It's not just the intellectuals. Let's talk about it and see if we can do something.

By NARA, Dato 5/26

TELCOM

Ehrlichman/Kissinger

3:30 pm

5/7/70

E: How do you feel about outlawing SST's all over the world? The environmental people say no country should have an SST.

K: It's baloney because the Soviets won't agree.

E: They would be environmental criminal criminals.

K: They don't bother anybody. I'm glad you are addressing important issues. These academicians are threatening me.

E: Your life?

K: That have stopped short of that.

E: Everyone is nice to me.

K: OK. I don't think much of this idea.

E: Trane will get this at a hearing. He will propose an international conference on these things.

K: Why is it bad?

E: It adds moisture to the dry atmosphere of the ionosphere and eliminates ultraviolet rays.

K: I didn't know that. I think then that we have to study it on its merits.

E: Then I think it should sit down with the British and Soviets. I will have him talk with you if he gets into it. Catch any pajamas today?

K: It's devastating. Hold on and I will get you some figures. The biggest operation before this is Cedar Falls.

E: In Vietnam?

K: Yes. That produced 720 enemy killed. We have 3500. In that they had 213 POW's. We already have 613. they had 555 individual weapons. We have ______. Over a million five-hundred thousand pounds of small arms ammunition. And this doesn't count caches today. And they are tremendous.

E: Why don't they defend those?

K: Abrams threw in more artillery since WWII. He has attacked also from

By NARA, Date 5/26

Ehrlichman/Kissinger

3:30 pm

5/7/70

-2-

K: (cont.) Cambodia. The Washington Post in attacking this operation had an article saying that Cedar Falls set the enemy back 4-6 months. We already have 3 times as much.

E: At a time they are trying to expand their operations.

K: And they can't live off the land as much as before. If it weren't for the students, we would be great.

E: That's what I told the students.

K: On diplomatic grounds we have Moscow and others under control. But with them Moscow and Hanoi will act up again. It's unbelievable.

E: We will have a postal strike to divert them.

By NARA, Dato 5/26

Telcon
Laird
5/7/70; 4:45 p.m.

K: The President went to Camp David. He wondered whether I could help you.

L: You can help me, but I probably ought to talk to him about this. He evidently gave instructions over here to relieve Maj Gen Roberts by Gen Casey. Casey has been Assistant Division Commander of the First Cavalry Division.

K: He did this one morning. You don't.

L: How long does he want that held up?

K: You want this done.

L: Casey has been there for a year. Abrams comes in and says Casey is pure gold.

K: If you want to do it, you do it. If you and Abrams want it.

L: OK. Now, the next point. I have been up with some of my colleagues to the Congress. Spent a lot of time briefing members. I think we have things coming pretty good. I took on about 35 this morning. And I have it set up so Gerry Ford and another group in the Senate were briefing every day. My problem is that I am hung up a little bit on the President's all-out public commitments now on 30 kilometers. I would like to approve the riverine operation.

K: Yes. I discussed that with the President and somebody told me that if we give you 21 nautical miles you can do it.

L: It's probably a little more than that. But if we could let them go on the assault craft up there and the support craft will keep it to 30 kilometers and kind of close my eyes a little. But I don't want to go up there and brief that we have changed this rule because they all have it fixed in their minds. I don't think we should change that right now. Hugh Scott said, Mel, you got to get that operation over with. You have to start showing some declining troops. If there aren't any troop withdrawals soon they will start raising hell that this has been a complete

By NARA, Date 5/26

failure. The first withdrawal we can have is a few days in June or
July, but we have got to get the operation -- make a success out of this
operation and let people know it's a success. The only way we will be
able to make it a success is when it's over. I think I will send a
little note over on that because there are some things we can do to
build up the success of it. We are in for a tough time. These
Congressmen won't stay with us for more than 5 or 6 weeks.

K: That is all we need them for.

L: I am afraid this student thing is cutting back on our negotiation
posture.

K: I will talk to you about that some time soon. We are not in such
bad shape on that. We are pushing it.

L: I am sure we can last for another 4 or 5 weeks at a minimum.
Today we brought in a lot of people to be briefed.

K: We will be all right, Mel. We will make it. We will make it
into a conciliatory face.

L: Don't get your diaper down about how these things are going just
because we get some bad newspaper reports.

K: I think it's going terrifically. You have just been a great soldier.
The President and I have discussed it and you are doing a terrific job.
Mel, do you want to hear some bleeding hearts? Some of my Harvard
colleagues are coming down.

L: Are you going to see them? I don't think I should if you are. We
should not let them play one against the other. I am seeing a lot of
people and I don't think I should take on another group tomorrow. Maybe
next week.

K: OK, Mel.

ms

By NARA, Dato 5/26

Telcon
Norman Cousins
5/7/70; 6:10 pm

C: How are you?

K: It is not the most exhilarating period.

C: I have been here in Washington going to various meetings and churches where these students are meeting. They are congregating and they are buying piles of guns and lots of ammunition. We could have a wave of bloodshed and the tide could sweep from here in Washington right across the country. What matters is not the effects now - the important thing is to soften it. The only one man who can do it is the President. What he has to do immediately is to make a very comprehensive statement - an approach to peace in dynamic direct way, step by step beyond Vietnamization. He must say man doesn't have to kill or be killed. Specific recommendations about how to break the deadlock of Paris, about his mission. That is your only chance. What has appeared the middle ground is now being destroyed. What has happened is that the misquotation about the bombing - the Kent State - has destroyed a large part of the middle ground. The rest are arming - the middle ground has melted away. Between now and Saturday the President has to show the end of Cambodia, to pull this country together. If that doesn't happen this could be terrible. The kids will be walking through the city with guns, shooting at government buildings, then we are in for it.

K: Norman, I understand you. I will see what can be done. Let's you and me stay in contact whatever may happen because this thing isn't going to have any victors.

C: There is a small chance the crisis - the right words may be able to pull it off. But they will have to be beautiful words, deep beautiful and poetic, and that is what makes great Presidents in history.

K: If you want to put down some of the thoughts of what you think needs to be done I will appreciate having it.

C: Do you want me to give you a draft?

K: I hold down little prospect that this is the time it will be done.

ms

By NARA, Dato 5/26

TELCON

Mike Harris (S. F. Chronicle)

6:12 pm

5/7/70

H: One of the Stanford students said yesterday that "Henry Kissinger kept saying we might have made a mistake."

K: He missed the point completely.

H: I thought he probably had.

K: I don't want the thing reported particularly because I consider this a private meeting. I was trying to make the distinction between real mistakes one should discuss and those that justify tearing apart the society.

H: I understand that. We were obviously suspicious of it.

K: That would be grave --

H: That will be said in the Stanford Daily. I said anytime -- it shows how wrong several people could listen to a meeting and come up with different interpretations. Another person said no one had said anything that strong."? ? ? ? ? ?"

K: I wasn't applying that to Cambodia at all. That was a general discussion of where dialogue is useful. It's a period of great emotion and it's not always possible to be understood. I understand that too. It was good of you to call.

By NARA, Date 5/26

TELCORN

Rogers/Kissinger

6:40 pm

5/7/70

K: The doves are the most vicious birds.

R: They sure are. On these reconnaissance flights -- Phil Habib -- over NVN -- They are flying a lot which looks like we are looking for a fight. He thinks if we are bombing in the north to fly as few as we have to. If we appear to be escalating any more, there will be hell of a problem.

K: In contrast to what we have now.

R: If the kids think we are deliberately escalating there will be hell to pay. Some say that some of the colleges will not be able to open in the fall. First, I think we should cut down on those and have the President tell the military not to fly reconnaissance without Presidential approval.

K: No matter why what you have been told, every bombing of the north had Presidential approval and went through Mel. On the other it's very important and I will get it communicated immediately.

R: All bombing has Presidential approval? ? ? ? ? ? ?

K: Let me check on that. Can they fire back while they are attacking.

R: If they did just cut down the number-- they don't need 11 a day. That's just provocation. I'm cancelling my appointment in Hot Springs. I think I should stay here.

K: I think that's good.

By NARA, Dato 5/26

TELCON
N. Rockefeller/Kissinger
6:45 pm 5/7/70

R: I'm glad to talk to you.

K: Before they burn the WH down.

R: They won't. I have all the candidates outside my office in a huge rally. The Democrats. They want me to call a special session for the Mass. deal. The police say it's a political rally so they have to go down to 6th Ave. How are things with you?

K: We have to hold tight. As I told you yesterday, we keep piling up the equipment. They got a big cache again today. When this operation started the Washington Post had an article waying Cedar Falls was the biggest and it only gained us 6 months. The President is calling.

By NARA, Dato 5/26

TELCORN

President/Kissinger
6:50 pm 5/7/70

Missed first couple of sentences

P: I was going to say that the main purpose is to get him busy so he doesn't
get with these other groups.

K: I agree completely.

P: Send him to Rome. Get it done. Did you notice how he has aged
since he stopped doing anything. He looks tired.

K: That seems to happen.

P: Going to Rome will help him and keep him out of trouble here.

K: That was also the point of your remark on negotiations.

That
P: They will give him courage and make him think something is going on. He is suggesting silly things but this will keep him out of trouble. He is not a strong man. The professor today across the table from me was weak.

K: This generation has no moral left.

P: The only hope for this country is the blue collar guys.

labor
K: The labor movement -- they know there are some things for which you
have to fight. The labor people know that reason alone is not enough. They
have suffered enough to know that.

P: I want no crap from State on it. Tell Lodge to go to Rome and Flanigan to stay here and work on the economy. Everybody wants to go to Rome but we have other things for Pete. The main ball is to keep the operations going. I would think the military would be elated on this.

K: You could say on these operations that in Parrot's Beak the 12,000 troops
are now down to 780. And one of our operations will be done next week.
Rocekfeller called to say he is with you. The people are with you. Rockefeller
says the Democrats are trying to get a bill passed like Mass. He got the meeting
moved from in front of his office to 6th Ave. He says stay with it.

R: Isn't that something.

K: He has been a good soldier on this.

P: We have a few that stick with us.

K: three months from now there will be a hell of a lot more.

By NARA, Dato 5/26

-2-

P: We will remember those of now. Laird was OK when the chips were down.

K: Some stuff is leaking now on hex who recommended what.

P: On your backgrounder tomorrow you should say that we have given the enemy a body blow. Use that phrase. This is the most significant development since the war began. We need to use rhetoric now. Johnson used it before but with no reason.

wouldn't say

K: I think a decisive blow but we will work it out.

P: We will say here hex it is and you work it out. They do think now it's the control center.

K: I will try to find one of those statements. Here is one but it isn't what I was looking for. Reuters dispatch -- another one "? ? ? ? ? ? ". "This is the headquarters and we are in the heart of it". There's a better one but I can't find it.

P: That's good enough.

K: The other one goes into great detail. Frank Reynolds spoke of a huge cache of ammunition he saw.

P: He is a peacenik.

K: That was good that he did.

P: On NBC they are against us but a little has to get through if the others are for us. You put that out for news magazines and TV people. Let the columnists be there but don't spend much time with them. A minute in TV is worth 100,000 words in print. And release ? ? ? ? ? ? on Sunday am.

By NARA, Dato 5/26

TELECON

Jerry Weisner/Mr. Kissinger

7:15 p.m., May 7, 1970

W: I have two things: we are -- every college administrator -- is struggling like hell to keep the great bulk of the campuses from being taken over by a very small, very violent group.

K: I know.

W: This weekend will be tough -- mighty bad. Is there any kind of word coming out of the President in the Press Conference tomorrow?

K: Unfortunately, the press conference is after your meeting -- it's at 10:00 p.m.

W: Will there be some kind of statement that he is hearing these students?

K: Just for your information, and we are not going to announce this until tomorrow, so don't leak it -- we are appointing Heard from Vanderbilt as a special advisor to the President and contact with the campuses -- he will, in turn, appoint a small group, including students.

W: If the President could say he realizes this is half of the American youth and that he is hearing them. I know the problem.

K: I will have some influence over the statement; I will do my damndest = we all have to try to keep this together. We can argue later about how we got here.

W: I think it started in 1946.

K: We have been through too many things together to argue about that now.

W: I talked with Len Garment concerning the thing about which I wrote you.

K: I didn't know you talked to Len.

W: I mentioned Jerry Lester -- he was so upset about the drug thing. I called you and found you were away, so I called Len. There has been a lot of talk back and forth. I didn't expect the trouble to be starting this soon.

By

NARA, Date 5/26

Jerry Weisner/Mr. Kissinger

7:15 p.m., May 7, 1970

K: It was triggered, but not caused, by the events of last week.

W: It was ready to happen. When I was down for the Science Medal ceremony, the President asked me what I thought about the environmental thing. I said I was troubled -- that it was a temporary diversion, the kids were reflecting frustration and it would become worse. This is what is happening.

K: Anytime you think I can do something here to make it easier for you in what I know you are trying to do, call me. You are probably going through a rougher period than I.

W: You are going to see some of your colleagues tomorrow. They, I think, feel for you, but I also feel for the country. They think you have the power.

K: I understand. I am spending two-thirds of my time seeing people from the academic community who then leave and beat my brains out. I understand; there won't be any hard feelings. Don't mention this Heard thing.

lds

By NARA, Dalo 5/26

TELECON

Mr. Kissinger/Secretary Rogers

9:03 p.m., May 7, 1970

K: I have told the Defense Department that reconnaissance
flight should be put to the minimum average levels and not be
at... I don't know what the right level is.

R: Eleven seemed like a lot.

K: I have passed that word. I don't want to disturb the President.

R: He has enough problems.

K: He is at David -- and he has that press conference. I also
confirmed they are not going to take any military actions in the
north without coming here first.

R: These student protests are greater than any of us anticipated.
136 universities are now closed. If one could talk individually with
them, we could change their minds.

K: I have been talking to student groups, but when the faculties
are present, it is impossible.

R: I had some students and faculty members from Grinnell
in. The faculty have all the credentials of erudition and thoughtfulness,
but they are more emotional than the youngsters. Most of it is
psychological -- it's all mixed up with what Agnew said, the President's
unfortunate statement about bums, their worry that they will be drafted,
etc.

K: Jerry Weisner, the Provost of MIT, called me. He said he
wishes he could find it in his heart to say we caused it, but we gave
the pretext. MIT was ready to blow anyway.

R: It was really just a spark -- it was present there anyway.
One word of caution I would like to make -- on what we find in Cambodia,
I hope we don't get so eager that we don't overstate what we have
accomplished. I realize it is a tough line to draw. When it's over,
we can make a reputable showing.

K: I would prefer not to say anything until it's over.

R: Let it be said out there. Didn't the White House put out a
statement today that we found COSVN?

By NARA, Date 5/26

9:03 p.m., May 7, 1970

- 2 -

K: No.

R: It was on the ticker.

K: I saw it on the ticker. If the White House put it out, it was unauthorized. We haven't found it.

R: They apparently found a good cache today -- it looked as if it was a major find. If we are claiming credit too soon, it won't pan out.

K: I'm sure it didn't come out from any recognized spokesman from the White House. It's conceivable that one of these salesmen put it out.

R: We surely have a lot of salesmen -- putting out memoranda, telling people what to say. This is not a complaint.

K: It is a correct caution. I haven't read Ziegler's briefing, since I have been spending so much time with academicians, but I don't think Ron did this.

R: On the whole, Ron does a pretty good job. This is the fourth time in a short period that the President has had to make a major television appearance.

K: This will not end so quickly.

R: We all have to stick behind him.

K: After another week or two and the troops come out, it will be better. That bastard Brewster at Yale is one of the most despicable people. It's a pity Agnew saved his neck. He was going the way of Perkins. This guy is a cheap grandstander. If we need no instruction on anything, it is the desirability of ending the war.

R: And his calling for a major strike.

K: He should do exactly the opposite.

lds

By NARA, Dalo 5/26

TELECON

Mr. Kissinger/Dorothy Zinburg

11:00 p.m., May 7, 1970

K: I'm going to see a delegation tomorrow afternoon.

Z: One group is calling at 4:30 -- a different group. When I left you, everybody was locked up in a faculty meeting. I called the students I knew and tried to call off the picketing. I realized there was nothing to be accomplished there. I tried to make it clear you were trying to trade with them. If they could call off the picketing, you would see them. I said why don't you think about it and call me back.

K: OK.

K: This they did; however, they have not been given a time on Friday yet. I wonder whether they think they are being given the run-around. Secondly, the Secret Service insists that I stay at the White House tonight.

Z: They don't expect you to be at home.

K: They have to call back in and give us the names of the students so we can clear them through the gate. You are welcome to sit in on any of these student group meetings.

Z: I would like to -- the business students and the other students.

K: The business students are on Saturday morning. I don't know... they are having a mass rally there. You have no time in the afternoon.

K: I am seeing the Harvard people. Then I am seeing the Columbia, Bryn Mawr, Johns Hopkins, etc. en masse. I am going to see them at 4:00 and move the business school students to some other time.

Z: If you meet with any other student group, let me know. I plan to go to the Harvard caucus tomorrow at 9:00, but will be free from 10:30 on.

K: Do you think they will think I am betraying them if I am not in my apartment.

Z: I don't know. The young lady said, 'you mean he is going to be there?' It was almost as if they thought you wouldn't be there. I don't think they will feel betrayed because of the fact that they know you are willing to see them. I have made dozens of calls.

By NARA, Date 5/26

Mr. Kissinger/Dorothy Zinburg

11:00 p.m., May 7, 1970

= 2 =

K: I will see 20 of them.

Z: What time should I show up.

K: At 4:00, but call me in the morning after you are through at the other place. Then you can see whether I am seeing a group in the morning. I may have the business group in the morning.

Z: I will call you about 10:00. I hope it goes well.

K: I owe it to them. I don't dare to call our mutual friend, Shirley. When you see her, tell her she was there when it all started, though she didn't know it. I am giving a press briefing at 3:00, but that would upset you. Come at 4:00.

Z: I will speak to you in the morning.

Subsequent call: 11:42 p.m.

K: It will be at 4:00. I am afraid they will be at my house and feel I betrayed them.

Z: I will get to the caucus at 9:00 and make sure they understand the Secret Service said you couldn't stay at home, and I will have someone call with the names. You can see up to 20?

K: 25 would be all right, too. You think they understand that I couldn't give them a time?

Z: I heard one of the kids say, 'will become and meet in the Caucus Room?' But I know you can't.

K: I never speak for quotation. That is a rule.

lds