NIXON TAPES: "Kick the sh*t out of " N Vietnam (Kissinger) 1

-Part 1-
Henry Kissinger
April 11, 1972
022-111
White House Telephone

Then-National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and President Richard Nixon discuss the US bombing offensive in North Vietnam in April of 1972. Initially, they talk about First Lady Pat Nixon's tea with the Soviet ambassador's wife, Mrs. Dobrynin. Pat Nixon let Mrs. Dobrynin know that the current North Vietnamese offensive in South Vietnam might threaten the arms negotiation talks (SALT) that were soon to be held in Moscow. Nixon expects that Mrs. Dobrynin will carry this message back to Soviet leaders in the USSR.

The two men then talk more about the American offensive against North Vietnam with Nixon asserting that we're going to "kick the sh*t out of them" and that we're going to win whatever the cost. Nixon says he doesn't want to see any polls about this; he wants to do what in his opinion is right. They furthermore talk about Nixon's specific orders about ships and air strikes and an upcoming briefing on the offensive. They agree that they don't want Defense Secretary Mel Laird or Secretary of State Bill Rogers at the briefing.

(Although I've cleaned up the source recording some, the quality of this tape is poor. Specifically, I raised the volume for Henry Kissinger and lowered it for Nixon in an attempt at partially correcting the horrible imbalance of the source tape, in which Kissinger's voice was almost inaudible.)

(Photo: Richard and Pat Nixon voting and giving a V-sign ("victory" or "peace sign"), 1952.)

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• President
• Richard
• Nixon
• Tapes
• Henry
• Kissinger
• North
• Vietnam
• War
• Pat
• Dobrynin
• Moorer
• Hanoi
• bombing
• Soviet
• summit

[flyhead2]

I've been reading Anatoly Dobrynin's memoirs 'IIn Confidence' and it provides fascinating insight into how Nixon and especially Kissinger ran the whole show, using inofficial communication channels and circumventing the entire apparatus of state. It's difficult to say if this was necessarily bad when it came to achieving results but it was clear that Kissinger wielded enormous and unchecked clout, more than is customary in normal government. The Soviets afforded Dobrynin remarkable trust too.

[rmm413c]

Very interesting. Thanks for your comment. I'll have to check out Dobrynin's memoirs. I can hardly think of a more unofficial means of communication than having the First Lady relay messages through the Soviet ambassador's wife at an afternoon tea, which is apparently what happened here. I guess it is indicative of Nixon and Kissinger's larger style.

[sublunar82]

@prezjackie 

[sublunar82]

@prezjackie

Sorry, what is the oldest political method of communication?

[nirvgardengod]

too bad he isn't around these days to be on Faux news,,he would have been good

[rosskstar]

@rmm413c you're being what they call polyannish

[loyaldude10]

I love that comment---did you get Laird off his ass? Nixon was a brilliant foreign policy strategist.

[prezjackie]

@flyhead2 Tis the oldest political method of getting your message to the intended person or entity. That goes all the way back to ancient times. I especially loved the Roman methods - quite interesting. History always repeats itself.

[meloveicecream24]

thank you very much for posting these!