Reproduced from the open files
of the Nixon Presidential
Materials Staff

DECLASSIFIED
E.O. 12958, Sect. 3.6

By: KHC NARA, Dato 5/12/04

TELCON
Sisco/Kissinger
9:10 am 3/2/70

KI I just got a note from the President waying me I should follow up on his conversation with you yesterday. I don't know what that meant.

S: The President called me last night and he was blazing angry at the demonstrations and he has decided to postpone his decision indefinitely. In terms of follow up, he gave me no indication

K: That's what he told a number of people earlier. I think we should sit tight today.

S: Nothing should be said until Pompidou leaves town. Then I will sit down with the Secretary and make a decision on how the announcement should be made.

*

By K.L. NARA, Date 5/12/04

TELCON

Max Fisher/Kissinger

9:55 am

3/2/70

FI had a call last night from Len Garment. I wish he would call a little earlier. I think something of a constructive nature will take place today. The war veterans will be off completely. You know about this?

K: Yes, I know about it.

F: A group are meeting with Pompidou at 11:00. I didn't want to go with them. I don't think it's our perogative for citizens to tell another country how to run their country. They will call me about 11:30. I'm concerned about the rally and radicals getting involved.

K: In NY?

F: The thing that concerns me is you can have some radicals -- the Weathermen and the SDS -- it reflects on the people and the Jews.

K: I haven't seen the President this made. I don't know what the Jewish groups are trying to accomplish.

F: It wasn't organized. When we talked to the President the other night at dinner, there was nothing to worry about. Then the Jewish League, veterans and politicians like Lindsay don't help.

K: The politicians are disgusting.

F: If someone had briefed me sooner I could have done something. I think it's better.

K: I will tell the President.

F: I will call you after I here -- between 11:30 and 12:00.

K: I would appreciate that.

F: I also told them that after that they meet with Pompidou they should indicate to Pompidou that there was no disrespect nor any desire to make him feel he isn't welcome. You can disagree with a policy but you have no right to be disrespectful. I think I was reight trying to get them not to meet

K: That was essential.

F: I told the President last week if he wanted me to meet with him I would. The organized groups are not involved. I called Amb. Rabin -- he went all out to reach the people he could. They have not been involved.

*

By KHC NARA, Date 5/12/04

-2-

F (cont.): When these things come up, I would certainly appreciate having a pipeline to you. Christine called me yesterday. She enjoyed here evening with you and I'm sure you enjoyed her too.

K: Yes, very much.

F: I am trying to bring Ford back in the Republican party.

K: Good.

F: I will call you later.

Reprinted from the open files
of the Nixon Presidential
Materials Staff

By KHL NARA, Dato 5/12/04

TELECON

The President
Mr. Kissinger

March 2, 1970, 11:25 a.m.

P: I just talked with Rogers who said Fulbright was trying to get a statement. I told him to indicate that a statement would be made sometime this week (everybody is leaking it all over the place anyway).

K: I was thinking of Wednesday or Thursday.

P: That's what I told Bill -- Wednesday.

K: I will have a draft on the plane for you today. If you think it's in the ballpark, we can go with it.

P: Let's shoot for Wednesday. Why don't you give Rogers a call -- say we now feel we can get ready by Wednesday.

K: Did you tell him about the note to the Russians that would go with it?

P: No, I have not mentioned that -- not the tactics. I think we should get that dressed full-blown and then just do it -- then I will tell him. Let me look at your statement. [On second thought] never mind KHL and ROG calling Rogers. Don't tell him now -- everybody would get in the act and it would leak.

K: Did he raise the Middle East issue?

P: No -- only to the same effect we had already spoken about; that there would be no announcement before Pompidou left. I said we needed a plan for our negotiation -- a game-plan to be worked out on how we hit the Soviets.

K: I will get hold of Sisco and get it moving.

P: Not as a defensive measure. If escalation occurs, then they have done it. We want to play it that way -- the ball will be in their ballpark.

*

By KHL NARA, Dalo 5/12/04

TELCON
Sisco/Kissinger

11:35 am

3/2/70

K: I have had a session with the President on what we want to do and we have drafted up something you can put in diplomatic double talk. We are putting a 90 day hold on it on the basis that we have made a study that the balance is not now in danger. Therefore, he is holding up for 90 days the provision for arms and has asked the Soviet Union to hold up. ? ? ? ? ? How does that strike you?

S: Fine except for the part about 90 days. No new deadline should be set up. It will create the same situation as in the last few days.

K: OK, can we put it in the framework that it doesn't look like a turn down?

S: Yes, without putting X date on it.

K: Let me send to you for your eyes only and the Secretary's our draft. Can you have a game plan by tomorrow?

S: Certainly. None of this should be done out of lack of time considerations that you and we have been saying are all there. The Soviet Union will exploit the thing. While I agree fully, as I told the President last night, let's not forget what the rational should be because there are other considerations than what is upper most at the moment. I have an announcement in the typewriter now. I didn't want to send it until you and the Secretary have seen it.

K: OK, I will see it tomorrow.

S: Yes.

K: Let me send over the Presidential business.

*

By KHU NARA, Dalo 5/12/04

TELCON
Laird/Kissinger

11:45 am

3/2/70

L: I talked to Bill this morning and he wanted me to convey to the President what I thought on the Middle East thing. I did. Now I have these authorities ready. I wonder if someone should explain it to you. Maybe Haig and Purcely could talk it over. It's important to know what the changes mean. They are all set and they could talk now.

K: Why don't they do it when I am out of here.

L: I'll have Bob come over and talk to Al.

K: I'll be back tonight.

L: That's going to make some changes as far as some of these people are concerned.

K: We are making up a game plan on the Arab-Israeli thing and we will send you a copy.

L: The man who is keeping track of public affairs thing and the Hill is Gerry Friedmeim. I think he should report to your office on every other day basis and you can report to the resident.

K: That's OK

L: Rather than running through Haledman

K: That's good. I agree. I will get a copy to Haldeman.

L: I don't want a lot of lines into the WH.

K: The President has mentioned that he lost those two copies on Laos you gave him.

L: I sent them to you.

K: I have them? I just found them. The President also mentioned the Geo. Sliman (?) article.

L: Did you read it?

K: No

L: It went into the sorties raids and supposedly I dragged my heels on not authorizing strikes and by-passed State. Not very helpful. I don't know what you can do about it. Everyone should keep quiet until the President

*

By KHC NARA, Date 5/12/04

TELCOM

Haldeman/Kissinger

1:52 am

3/2/70

H: You do go on.

K: I didn't know you were sitting on the line.

H: I told here not to tell you. I didn't want to disturb you. He is changing his plans to leave at 2:30. It will give you a chance to work with him.

K: That M. E. thing is an unholy mess.

H: Did he level with you?

K: He has a hell of a guilty conscience. He should have. He really wrecked 6 mos. work. I gave him some notes and ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?.

H: We will get it patched back up.

K: The M. E. will blow up. I have not believed in what we are doing on the M. E. for 10 months. We are not on top like we are in VN. It's heading us into a confrontation with the Soviets and the Israelis. I can't fight it now or it will be I having changed his mind. What do we do?

H: Have you a white tie?

K: Only the head table has white tie. I doubt I am there.

H: We will get that word.

K: I would appreciate it.

H: 2:30 departure.

K: From the lawn?

H: Yea.

*

By KL V NARA, Date 5/12/04

TELCON
Laird/Kissinger
12:10 p.m 3/2/70

L: This is the 4th item. A memo I sent there about setting up a group to study the economic impact of base closings. I think the President should act on that so Zeigler can announce it Wed. morning. He should be out ahead of base closings so it doesn't look like he is covering up. I will have Bob Purcely talk to Al Haig about that too. He should be out ahead so it doesn't look as if he is acting after the fact.

K: On the Rome, NY airport. He wants to be helpful to Rockefeller. He doesn't want to send anything to Mo.

L: I will not shoot down Rome. But everything is set in Mo. and the housing is built. But we are not shooting down Rome. I talked to the President myself about this.

K: He averages he didn't understand what you were saying.

L: He didn't understand it?

K: I was told to tell you. Nothing more into Mo. If not NY, then Illinois.

L: We are not closing the Rome base. I talked to Rockefeller today and he is delighted. Seamans is going to talk to him later. I told him we never get a vote from his state but we are glad to do this. We tried to get a vote for the HEW veto but ________ voted against it. Rockefeller is delighted. We invested several million dollars for family housing. It will have to be amoratized (?) and use it. If you go to Rome and Illinois you have to build housing. Rockefeller says he will build the housing if we go to NY -- but there's more to it than that. Both Fields and Rockefeller are satisfied. ________ said if you move this to NY

K: I will go back to the President and if you don't hear from me it will be all right.

L: I talked to Rockefeller at 9:15 this morning and he was delighted. I can't change these packages around. The clearance procedure started this morning.

K: So you are locked in.

L: 13,000 jobs in this package. 9 - - - million dollars. If you get these savings. I;m taking care of Long and Stennis is satisfied. If I do not throw it to NY I would have to close Stennis' base. Then Harlow calls and says don't upset Palmer in Miss. Now I have everyone happy.

*

Laird/Kissinger

12:10 pm 3/2/70

By: KHL NARA, Date: 5/12/04

K: I was just acting as messenger boy. Keep it like it is unless I call you.

L: I talked to Rockefeller and Seamans will talk to him at 4:30.

K: Let's leave it at this.

By: KHL NARA, Date: 5/12/04

TELCOM

12:30 pm 3/2/70

Harlow (?)/Kissinger

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

H: Laird contends he discussed it with the President and it was approved. Ehrlichman talked to the President and so John should call Mel. I didn't think I would know what the President wants and neither do you.

K: Let me get to John.

H: If John dislikes doing anything, tell me what to do.

K: I will call John.

(about 2:15 HAK finally talked with Ehrlichman. Although I listened, I wasn't at my desk and couldn't take notes. They upshot, as I recall, was that Ehrlichman was to call Harlow. About 2:45 Harlow called ans asked if HAK had talked to Ehrlichman and I told him I thought JE was going to call him. He said nobody wanted to play this ball and he would call JE.)

*

By: KML NARA, Dalo 5/12/04

TELCON
Zeigler/Kissinger
1:20 pm 3/2/70

?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??

K: Now that I think of it, the only concern is that this ______ all of them act. It doesn't represent all of the group.

Z: I said a few citizens that act disrespectfully do not charaterize the policy of the government or the outlook for all the citizens.

K: What time is dinner?

Z: 8:00

K: What time are we leaving?

Z: You will have to take care of your activities between 4:30 and 8:00. You are not concerned that the President has apologized?

K: No, that I like.

*

By KHC NARA, Dato 5/12/04

TELCON
Fisher/Kissinger
1:30 pm 3/2/70

F: Pompidou cancelled the meeting. Another problem. I'm going to release the statement saying we are sorry about the discourtesies. They will protest the policy. Because the President is coming up. It's a GD mess.

K: For the Jewish community to get into confrontation with the President is quite an achievement.

F: I didn't expect anything. I don't know what else I can do. I have been on the phone with them. I will keep on top of it. They have made commitments that they will do all they can and I have asked some organizations -- in one statement they apologize but state they don't like the policy.

K: We don't ask them to like the policy. That's ok.

F: It's damn unfortunate because they will get kooks in that mob and it will be another Chicago. The war veterans are going to police the thing.

K: Thanks Max.

F: I will keep you informed. I hope the President won't feel too damn bad. After all the work and effort. When is the President flying up?

K: Later this afternoon.

F: Why Pompidou kept them waiting and didn't meet them. You know about that.

K: I didn't know he kept them waiting.

F: They got the word from the newspapers. 20 of them. I have been talking with them and calming them.

KX

*

By K.L. NARA, Dato. 5/12/04

TELCON
McCloy/Kissinger
2:00 pm 3/2/70

M: We had quite a session the last two days on Fri. and Sat. and we are ready to give you our judgment on all questions except one. We have had to postpone MIRV and ABM. It's framed in language that will cause you no embarrassment. ?? ?? ?? We did a letter of transmittal that says we didn't have all points of view but the testimony leads up to these. ?? ?? ?? all that has come from the committee, you can go on these discretions.

K: If you can go on Ruina's discretion, you have something.

M: I took him aside and said you had to be discretionary -- it's not appropriate to go on the Hill or talk to his colleagues about this. We have a problem before this committee on Congress. We have a privilege which cannot be exercised without consent of the President. Any leaks would waive the waiver from the President. I got assurances from him. He said he would do all he could. I said if you can't, let me know. I have two questions. The committee, when I said to whom do we send it, the committee said we have a letter from the President and we have had communications with the President and we haven't had meetings with the Secretary of State and we should respond to the President and let the WH distribute the paper. We could notify the advisors that the paper has gone to the WH. We are gun shy about leaks. Second, Do you think there's any reason for me to present this to the President personally?

K: The best would be for me to look at it and then I will get you in to see the President to talk about it.

M: I can give him background on the discussion. I will send it to you in a secure form and until we here from you, we will do nothing more. On 11 Mar. when they can meet again, we will have the final one on MIRV and ABM and that's #4 and on that there might be some difference of view. It remains to be seen if it's unanimous or not. The rest of it is.

K: Good

M: Don't worry about it. I have talked hard to ______ and Ruina. I can almost personally guarantee that nothing will embarrass him.

K: Thank you.

By KLC NARA, Dato 5/12/04

TELCON
Arthur Burns/Kissinger
2:20 pm 3/2/70

K: I wanted to tell you one thing about the conversation between Pompidou and the President. When they were discussing international monetary needs, Pompidou asked in whom the President had the most confidence and the President mentioned you. If you are in France, sometime in the next month, Not to be talks kicked all over the bureaucracy but quiet. There's no urgency but he wanted you to know. How are you enjoying your new job?

B: Very well. You must come and visit me here.

K: Your's is one place I cannot interfere.

B: Any news on the textile negotiations? I did something on that today.

K: We should know by Wed. Obviously Sato promised something he couldn't deliver.

B: I met with some old Japanese friends of mine and I explained the problem to them. They tell me they never understood the politics of this. I advised them. They said now they understand, they will no longer resist. One is Tishero (phonetic) -- he's a very honorable man.

K: Good. I have to run with the President to NY.

B: Very useful. That you.

By: KMLV NARA, Dato: 5/12/04

Telecon
Secretary Laird
3/3/70 8:30 a.m.

K: The President just called me, and he's very upset about the
Washington Post story about troop withdrawals.

L: I would think he would be; no one has a figure like that.

K: That's what I told him.

L: What happened was, somebody put out a story higher than we
can make.

K: Do you know this correspondent? Do you know what agency
he covers?

L: He is a foreign correspondent. He was in Saigon, Korea, all
over the world. He has written for the Los Angeles Times. Of course
they take the Los Angeles times service. The only thing I'm concerned
about is why he picked such a large number. But the President under-
stands that.

K: Oh the President understands that; he just wanted to make sure
it didn't come out of a department.

L: Hell, no. We don't have such figures here. Maybe it came out
of the White House.

K: No . . .

L: While we're talking, they have been saying on this all-volunteer
armed force July 1, 1971.

K: No, we can't make that.

L: They're very excited about this. I hope that they talked to
Bryce. This program would cost me another 3.5 billion, and I'm al-
ready short. They say you can eat it; the only way to eat it is to
accelerate withdrawals in Vietnam, stop the bombinb, or fore more
people. If they're willing to go to Congress and fight for the 3.5 bil-
lion, I can do it but . . .

K: How about sending me a memo and I'll fight for it.

L: Okay. I'm all for volunteerism, but we are not going to have
that by July 1, 1971.

*

Telcon
The President
3/3/70; 8:30 a.m.

By KHC NARA, Date 5/12/04

N: ...you and Ziegler track down that story in the Post on troop pullouts.

K: Oh, yes, the 70,000.

N: There is nothing to that at all. Who is putting that out. There has never been any figure at all. In my talks with Laird I have always talked about the low number 50.

K: We were even talking about going below 50.

N: My point is there has never been any number like this. I want to find out who talked - a State man or a Defense man and have somebody fired who is putting out this sort of thing. I wonder who the hell did it. Both Rogers and Laird were present when I said we were not going to discuss it. Somebody in one of those two shops is going out for the purpose of doing it.

K: I have never seen the name of this correspondent. I will look into it immediately. This stuff usually comes out of Defense. It is so contrary to what Laird has been recommending. He is not eager to make the next one large and given the Abrams problem I don't know what his interest would be.

N: Well, you get at it, will you? OK. Henry, fine.

ms

Telcon
Ambassador Dobrynin

3/3/70;9:30 a.m.

D: I tried to get you yesterday.

K: I notice that I am getting friendly notices in your press now. You
know what they say, "as long as they spell my name right."

D: I called you yesterday. I have the flu and wondered if our meeting could be held next week.

K: How about next Tuesday at 3:00.

D: Fine. I will be there.

Ambassador Dobrynin went on to discuss the joint ceremony on the
Non-Proliferation Treaty to be held in Washington and Moscow on the
5th of March. In Moscow, Kosygin and Gromyko, and some other
members of the Government will participate. Dobrynin will attend
here at the State Department, for about one-half hour.

K: Will you participate? Good, I will tell the President.

D: I will see you next Tuesday at 3:00, and we will check the spelling.

ms

DECLASSIFIED

Authority EOLASZ
By CHNARA Date 9/30/70

*

By KHL NARA, Date 5/12/04

D: Fine. I will be there.

ms

By KHC

NARA, Dato 5/12/04

TELCORN

Mayo/Kissinger

10:10 am

3/3/70

M: I called last night after Bill called me. You remember the request you sent about the Peace Corps in Afghanistan? I promised I would look into it because the President wanted them removed from there. The VP talked with Bill and Bill says it was an erroneous report that should not have happened and that the PC nor any Americans were involved.

K: I have a Presidential order that he cannot just countermand.

M: But if they didn't do it

K: That's right. I will talk to the President.

*

By KLC U

NARA, Dato

5/12/04

TELCON
Vice President/Kissinger

10:35 am

3/3/70

K: I wanted to check with you. Bob Mayo called that he had been called by Rogers and that you are convinced that what happened in Afghanistan was not Peace Corps people.

VP: You mean the demonstrations?

K: Yes

VP: Amb. Newman sent me a long cable between Katmandu and Kabul saying that in an effort to quiet the students the DCM had met with them and as a result they had called off demonstrations to confront me. The demonstrations that did take place were communist. I know that. But this did not do away with my attitude about the PC and the Embassy having to placate them.

K: The President wanted to reduce the PC. Now Rogers called Mayo and said you are satisfied.

VP: I haven't talked with Rogers about it.

K: The President didn't care if they demonstrated but objected to

VP: That's what I object to. They came in with an AP reporter and the DCM quitied them down by saying he would talk with them later. You have my memo?

K: Yes.

VP: This is not hooked into the demonstrations in Afghanistan. They were communist. They had nothing to do with it. The PC cannot be allowed to come into the Embassy and demonstrate and negotiate with high level government officials over the visit of the VP or a Senator or someone else.

K: I can't let a Presidential order -- If you and Rogers had agreed, I would ask him to rescind it.

VP: Not so.

K: They came in, as your memo says, and deomnstrated within the Embassy and in an effort to quiet them down the DCM offered to meet with them later. The press was there. Our objection is that people in a quasi-governmental position should not be in a position to negotiate with the government.

VP: It's not a matter that effects them and they are matters of foreign policy.

K: It's blackmailing the VP.

By KHL NARA, Dalo 5/12/04

VP/Kissinger

10:35 am 3/3/70

-2-

VP: I'm not sure about that but any thought that there were no PC volunteers among the demonstrators -- that's true. But they had to be placated with higher meetings than they were entitled to.

*