About this recording
855–12
- President Richard M. Nixon
- Brent G. Scowcroft
- Richard M. Helms
- Ronald L. Ziegler
- Stephen B. Bull
February 14, 1973
Conversation No. 855-12
Date: February 14, 1973
Time: 11:16 am -11:52 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Richard M. Helms, Ronald L. Ziegler; the
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
Greetings
-Greek Chorus
Photograph session
Ziegler left at an unknown time after 11:16 am.
Seating
[Photograph session]
Iran
-Caviar
-Quality
-Compared to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Ambassador’s gift
Helms
-Departure for Iran
-William P. Rogers
-Shah of Iran [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi]’s schedule
-Iranian New Year
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[PRIVACY]
[DURATION: 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**********************************************************************
-Trip
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Joseph Simpson Farland
-Overlap of ambassadors
-Preparations for trip and post
-Conversations with John B. Connally
-President’s letter
-First draft of paper
-Persian Gulf states
Middle East
-Talk with Great Britain’s diplomatic counterparts
-President’s conversation with Edward R. G. Heath
-Problem
-Great Britain’s security and trade interest in Persian Gulf region
-US interests
-US companies
-Oil from Saudi Arabia
-Great Britain, France, Netherlands
-Strategy
-Helms’s view
-Cooperation
-Great Britain
-Security problem in Persian Gulf
-Non-cooperation on other issues
-Connally
-Oil companies
-Helms’s viewpoint
-President’s advice
-Helms’s role
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] background
-Governments’ stability
-Energy problem
-US interests
-Dealing with area countries, USSR
-Pipeline
-USSR, US companies
-Consultations
-Iran
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Foreign companies
-Great Britain, Netherlands
-US companies
-Connally
US-Mexico relations
-Luis Echeverria Alvarez
-Actions
-Graciousness during US visit
-Nelson A. Rockefeller’s viewpoint
-Welcoming Salvador Allende Gossens
-Criticism of US
-Motives
-Cheapshot
-Deep beliefs
-Helms’s view
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National security]
[Duration: 5s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
US-Mexico relations
-Echeverria’s previous US visit
-Statements
-Domestic political reasons
-Latin America
-Difficulties
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National security]
[Duration: 3s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
******************************************************************************
-Ties with US
-Echeverria’s actions
-Panama meeting
-United Nations [UN] Security Council
-Helms’s statement for President
****************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National security]
[Duration: 21s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
****************************************************************************
US-Mexico relations
-US concern about leaders
-Leftism
-Advisors to Echeverria
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Echeverria
-US business people
-Concern
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Connally
-Foreign governments’ criticism of US
Domestic reasons
-Yucatan meeting
-Vietnam
-US opportunity
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[National security]
[Duration: 1s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
**************************************************************************
-US reaction to public statements
-Dangers of overreaction
-Private meetings
US-Indonesia relations
-Lt. Gen. T. N. J. Suharto
-Conversation with Spiro T. Agnew
-Supporter of US
-Request for military aid
-Adam Malik
-Agnew’s conversation with Suharto
-US Congress, public opinion
-Opposition to assistance
-Equal treatment
-Private discussion
-Suharto’s survival
-US support
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
US-Philippine relations
-Ferdinand E. Marcos
-Criticism of US
-Elections
-US aid
Criticism of US
-Pierre E. Trudeau
-Philippines
-Allies
-Japan
-Europe
-Great Britain
-Dependence on US
-US arrogance
-Respect for US
-World leaders
-Need for balance
-US pressure
-William P. Rogers
-India
-Indira Gandhi
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Suharto, Echevarria, Trudeau
-US handing
-Reactions
-Public opinion
-Congress
-Trend toward isolationism
-Helms’s role
-CIA background
-Public position
-Echevarria
*************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
[National security]
[Duration: 14s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO.7
*************************************************************************
-US protest
-Responsiveness
US-Mexico relations
-Echevarria
-Susceptibility to Communism
************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[National security]
[Duration: 22s]
MALIK
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
************************************************************************
Criticism
-Malik
-Agnew’s report
-Statements
-Thailand
-Thanom Kittikachorn
-Support for US
-US withdrawal
-Anti-US statements
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Congressional reaction
-Isolationism
-Spending on ghettos
-Japan
-Kakuei Tanaka’s statements
-Eisaku Sato
-Suharto
-Communist threat
-US in Vietnam
-Thailand
-Singapore
-Lee Kuan Yew
-Agnew
Scowcroft left at 11:38 am.
Middle East
-Helms’s notes
-Split in US government
-Tactics, policy, strategy
-State Department
-Pro-Arab
-Public negotiations
_Israel
-Rogers
-US Jew’s criticism
-Rogers’s plan
-Criticism
-Concessions to Israel
-Unfairness of criticism
-“Pro-settlement”
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Kissinger
-Jewish background
-Pressures
-US Jews
-Israel
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Compensation
-Leanings
-Israel
-Settlement
-Timing of US elections
-Israel’s elections
-Non-public tactics
-Conflicts with Rogers, State Department
-Concerns
-Public confrontations
-Armed conflict
-Private talks in US
-Rogers’s, Sisco’s opposition
-Egypt
-Golda Meir
-State Department’s role
-USSR involvement
-Kissinger’s, President’s views
-Talks with Leonid I. Brezhnev, Anatoly F. Dobrynin
-Objectives
-Settlement
-Client states
-Avoidance of conflicts with US
-US interests
-Jewish support for President
-Israel lobby
-US support for Israel
-Motives
-Balance of power
-Meir
-Statements of intransigence
-President’s concern
-Domestic pressures
-Status quo position
-Kissinger
-USSR role
-Helms’s role
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Shah of Iran
-Moderate position
-Helms’s role
-Call to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Departure for Iran
-Report
-Israeli-Arab negotiations
-President’s position
-Pressure on Israel
-USSR
-Pressure on Egypt
-Effect of US support of Israel
-Long term interests
-Isolation
-Anti-American Arabs
-USSR
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:38 am.
Schedule[?]
Bull left at an unknown time before 11:52 am.
Middle East
-Helms
-Reputation as Pro-Arab
-President’s experience
-Visit to Egypt
-Gamal Abdel Nasser
-Dealings with Israelis
-Mission to Iran
-Pro-Israel assignment
-Publicity
-Helms’s attitude
-Support for settlement
-Tactics
-Need for action
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-USSR
-Summit meeting
-Israel’s election
-Helms’s paper
-Haldeman
-Meeting with President
James R. Schlesinger
-Jewish background
-Lutheran
-Vulnerability
Jewish influence
-Kissinger
-Liberals’ criticism
-Vietnam settlement
-Bombing of Germany in World War II
Schlesinger
-CIA director
-Jewish background
President’s schedule
-Meeting with Helms
-Paper
-USSR
-Middle East settlement
-Meir’s visit
*************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Privacy]
[Duration: 21s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
*************************************************************************
Helms left at 11:52 am.
Date: February 14, 1973
Time: 11:16 am -11:52 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Richard M. Helms, Ronald L. Ziegler; the
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
Greetings
-Greek Chorus
Photograph session
Ziegler left at an unknown time after 11:16 am.
Seating
[Photograph session]
Iran
-Caviar
-Quality
-Compared to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Ambassador’s gift
Helms
-Departure for Iran
-William P. Rogers
-Shah of Iran [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi]’s schedule
-Iranian New Year
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[PRIVACY]
[DURATION: 10s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**********************************************************************
-Trip
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Joseph Simpson Farland
-Overlap of ambassadors
-Preparations for trip and post
-Conversations with John B. Connally
-President’s letter
-First draft of paper
-Persian Gulf states
Middle East
-Talk with Great Britain’s diplomatic counterparts
-President’s conversation with Edward R. G. Heath
-Problem
-Great Britain’s security and trade interest in Persian Gulf region
-US interests
-US companies
-Oil from Saudi Arabia
-Great Britain, France, Netherlands
-Strategy
-Helms’s view
-Cooperation
-Great Britain
-Security problem in Persian Gulf
-Non-cooperation on other issues
-Connally
-Oil companies
-Helms’s viewpoint
-President’s advice
-Helms’s role
-Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] background
-Governments’ stability
-Energy problem
-US interests
-Dealing with area countries, USSR
-Pipeline
-USSR, US companies
-Consultations
-Iran
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Foreign companies
-Great Britain, Netherlands
-US companies
-Connally
US-Mexico relations
-Luis Echeverria Alvarez
-Actions
-Graciousness during US visit
-Nelson A. Rockefeller’s viewpoint
-Welcoming Salvador Allende Gossens
-Criticism of US
-Motives
-Cheapshot
-Deep beliefs
-Helms’s view
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[National security]
[Duration: 5s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
******************************************************************************
US-Mexico relations
-Echeverria’s previous US visit
-Statements
-Domestic political reasons
-Latin America
-Difficulties
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[National security]
[Duration: 3s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
******************************************************************************
-Ties with US
-Echeverria’s actions
-Panama meeting
-United Nations [UN] Security Council
-Helms’s statement for President
****************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[National security]
[Duration: 21s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
****************************************************************************
US-Mexico relations
-US concern about leaders
-Leftism
-Advisors to Echeverria
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Echeverria
-US business people
-Concern
-23-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Connally
-Foreign governments’ criticism of US
Domestic reasons
-Yucatan meeting
-Vietnam
-US opportunity
**************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[National security]
[Duration: 1s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
**************************************************************************
-US reaction to public statements
-Dangers of overreaction
-Private meetings
US-Indonesia relations
-Lt. Gen. T. N. J. Suharto
-Conversation with Spiro T. Agnew
-Supporter of US
-Request for military aid
-Adam Malik
-Agnew’s conversation with Suharto
-US Congress, public opinion
-Opposition to assistance
-Equal treatment
-Private discussion
-Suharto’s survival
-US support
-24-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
US-Philippine relations
-Ferdinand E. Marcos
-Criticism of US
-Elections
-US aid
Criticism of US
-Pierre E. Trudeau
-Philippines
-Allies
-Japan
-Europe
-Great Britain
-Dependence on US
-US arrogance
-Respect for US
-World leaders
-Need for balance
-US pressure
-William P. Rogers
-India
-Indira Gandhi
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Suharto, Echevarria, Trudeau
-US handing
-Reactions
-Public opinion
-Congress
-Trend toward isolationism
-Helms’s role
-CIA background
-Public position
-Echevarria
*************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
[National security]
[Duration: 14s]
US-MEXICO RELATIONS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO.7
*************************************************************************
-US protest
-Responsiveness
US-Mexico relations
-Echevarria
-Susceptibility to Communism
************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[National security]
[Duration: 22s]
MALIK
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
************************************************************************
Criticism
-Malik
-Agnew’s report
-Statements
-Thailand
-Thanom Kittikachorn
-Support for US
-US withdrawal
-Anti-US statements
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Congressional reaction
-Isolationism
-Spending on ghettos
-Japan
-Kakuei Tanaka’s statements
-Eisaku Sato
-Suharto
-Communist threat
-US in Vietnam
-Thailand
-Singapore
-Lee Kuan Yew
-Agnew
Scowcroft left at 11:38 am.
Middle East
-Helms’s notes
-Split in US government
-Tactics, policy, strategy
-State Department
-Pro-Arab
-Public negotiations
_Israel
-Rogers
-US Jew’s criticism
-Rogers’s plan
-Criticism
-Concessions to Israel
-Unfairness of criticism
-“Pro-settlement”
-Joseph J. Sisco
-Kissinger
-Jewish background
-Pressures
-US Jews
-Israel
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Compensation
-Leanings
-Israel
-Settlement
-Timing of US elections
-Israel’s elections
-Non-public tactics
-Conflicts with Rogers, State Department
-Concerns
-Public confrontations
-Armed conflict
-Private talks in US
-Rogers’s, Sisco’s opposition
-Egypt
-Golda Meir
-State Department’s role
-USSR involvement
-Kissinger’s, President’s views
-Talks with Leonid I. Brezhnev, Anatoly F. Dobrynin
-Objectives
-Settlement
-Client states
-Avoidance of conflicts with US
-US interests
-Jewish support for President
-Israel lobby
-US support for Israel
-Motives
-Balance of power
-Meir
-Statements of intransigence
-President’s concern
-Domestic pressures
-Status quo position
-Kissinger
-USSR role
-Helms’s role
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-Shah of Iran
-Moderate position
-Helms’s role
-Call to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Departure for Iran
-Report
-Israeli-Arab negotiations
-President’s position
-Pressure on Israel
-USSR
-Pressure on Egypt
-Effect of US support of Israel
-Long term interests
-Isolation
-Anti-American Arabs
-USSR
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:38 am.
Schedule[?]
Bull left at an unknown time before 11:52 am.
Middle East
-Helms
-Reputation as Pro-Arab
-President’s experience
-Visit to Egypt
-Gamal Abdel Nasser
-Dealings with Israelis
-Mission to Iran
-Pro-Israel assignment
-Publicity
-Helms’s attitude
-Support for settlement
-Tactics
-Need for action
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
-USSR
-Summit meeting
-Israel’s election
-Helms’s paper
-Haldeman
-Meeting with President
James R. Schlesinger
-Jewish background
-Lutheran
-Vulnerability
Jewish influence
-Kissinger
-Liberals’ criticism
-Vietnam settlement
-Bombing of Germany in World War II
Schlesinger
-CIA director
-Jewish background
President’s schedule
-Meeting with Helms
-Paper
-USSR
-Middle East settlement
-Meir’s visit
*************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Privacy]
[Duration: 21s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 855-12 (cont’d)
*************************************************************************
Helms left at 11:52 am.
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