Date: April 10, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:10 am and 12:18 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Ambassador Ernest S. Monteiro, and
Henry A. Kissinger.
Greetings
Photographs
-Arrangements
-Rose Garden
-Types of plants
President’s re-election
-Margin of victory
-Compared to Yew’s election
Photographs
-Arrangements
The President et al. left at 11:11 am.
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[Photograph session in Rose Garden]
The recording cut off while the President et al. were in the Rose Garden.
The recording system re-engaged.
The President et al. entered at 11:13 am.
Photographs
-White House photograph
-Distribution
Vietnam
-President’s decisions
-Difficulties
-Protest marches
-Number of marchers
-Cambodia, May 8th decision
-Blockade
-December bombing
-December bombing
-Public reaction
-Press reaction
-Press relationship with Democrats
-Portrayal of President
-North Vietnam perception
-December 1972
-“Universal criticism” of President
-Compared to Cambodia
-“Genocide,” “insanity”
-Lee’s reaction
-Location
-Paris, from London
-Conversation with Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Setback
-Ceasefire agreement
-Ceasefire agreement
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-US withdrawal, return of Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Incentives
-Violations
-Failure to withdraw from Cambodia and Laos
-South Vietnam
-Hanoi’s intentions
-US public statements contrasted with private concern
-US-Soviet Union relations
-Politburo
-US withdrawal
-North Vietnam, South Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
-Legal justification for continued US involvement
-Bombing of Cambodia
-Violations of ceasefire agreement
-Agreement compared to treaty
-US Senate
-Difficulties
-Press reaction
-US Congress
-Senate
-Need for withdrawal
-Timing
-Kissinger’s assessment
-Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
-Troop drawdown
-J. William Fulbright
-Credibility
-Mansfield
-Charles McC. Mathias, Jr.
-Press
-Motives
-US withdrawal
-Southeast Asia
-Journalistic standards
-Lee’s speech to National Press Club
-Technology
-Globalization
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-Disengagement with Vietnam
-US sphere of influence
-US withdrawal
-Press coverage
Neo-isolationists
-US withdrawal
-Southeast Asia, Korea
-Implications for South Vietnam
-Treaty with Japan
-“Asia for Asians”
-Europe
-Unilateralism
-Arms limitations negotiation
-“Old internationalists”
-Marshall Plan
-Point Four
-US responsibility
-US isolationism
-Domestic issues
-Education, housing
-Contrasted with Defense Department spending
-Congress
-Veto
-Water and sewer program
-“Leader class”
-Great Britain
-Intellectual leadership
-Contrasted with Edward R. G. Heath
-France, Germany, Western Europe
-Global responsibilities
-Soviet Union, People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Europe
-Lee’s assessment
-“Men in authority” contrasted with “establishment intellectuals”
-Heath, Henry A. Carrington, Sir Alexander F. (“Alec”)
Douglas-Home
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-Pompidou
-Lord Rees-Mogg [editor of London Times]
-Conversation with Lee
-US withdrawal
-US nuclear response
-Credibility
-Rees-Mogg’s response
-France, Great Britain
-PRC, Soviet Union
-Competition
-Future president [?]
-Winston S. Churchill
-Biography by Charles McMoran Wilson [Lord Moran]
-Candid quality
-Triumph and Tragedy
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Soviet Union
-Geopolitical perspective
-Compared to Roosevelt
-Soviet intentions
-Yalta Agreement
-Charles E. (“Chip”) Bohlen’s conversation
with President
-Adherence
-Poland
-Compared to Indochina
Vietnam
-Threats, incentives
-North Vietnam compliance with peace agreement
-US Congress
-US aid
-Military strike
-Incentive, leverage
-South Vietnam military strength
-US influence on Soviet Union and PRC
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Southeast Asia
-Lee’s advice
-Conversation with Kissinger
-Confidence in President’s policies
-US Congress
-Press
-Realization of proposals
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 11:13 am.
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 12:18 pm.
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 11:13 am.
Southeast Asia
-South Vietnam
-Non-Communist government
-Lee’s assessment
-Leadership
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 12:18 pm.
Vietnam
-US withdrawal
-Honorable disengagement
-South Vietnam
-Leadership
-“Great power politics” compared to small nations
-Power relations
-US compared to PRC, Soviet Union
-Change
-Orthodoxy compared to reform
-Possible economic and social policy changes
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-South Vietnam
-Possibility for success
-Reliance on military strength
-Communist preference
-Communists
-Compared to North Vietnam
-Viability
-Social, economic base
-North Vietnam’s support
-Assimilation
-Municipal government
-Police, army
-Distinction between North Vietnam and South Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-Autonomy
-Viet Cong
-Possible effects
-US aid
-Allocation
-Funding for social and economic policy compared to
North Vietnam military spending
-Hanoi, Viet Cong
-Military expenditures
-Effects
Refreshments
Southeast Asia
-Danger for South Vietnam
-North Vietnam
-Hanoi
-Compliance with peace agreement
-US aid
-PRC, Soviet Union
-South Vietnam
-Arms support
-Expenditures
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-War
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Peace agreement
-Power-sharing with North Vietnam
-Municipal government
-Peace agreement
-North Vietnam acceptance
-Incentives
-Stick and carrot
-Certainty
-US intentions
-Miscalculations
-Statements by press, US Congress
-Possible miscalculations
-Leadership
-Lee’s assessment
-Disconnection
-Exposure
-Kissinger
-President’s assessment
-Contrasted with Le Duc Tho
-President’s conversation with Prisoners of War
[POWs]
-Experience in prison
-Kissinger’s experience
-Dinners
-Cambodia
-North Vietnam aims
-Compared to South Vietnam
-Risks
-Strategy
-Military troops
-Khmer Rouge
-Likelihood
US foreign policy
-US Congress
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-Intellectual class
-Weakness
-Neo-isolationism
-Withdrawal from Europe, Asia
-Korea, Vietnam
-Outcome
-Non-communist state
-Compared to Great Britain
-Heath, Douglas-Home, Carrington
-Intellectual class
-Compared to France
-Pompidou
-Compared to Germany
-US leadership
-Need for strength
-Support of Congress, public
-Framework
-Attitudes about global role
-World War I
-Great Britain, France
-Kaiser Wilhem II
-World War II
-France, Great Britain
-Japan, Germany
-Great Britain, France
-Reluctance
-US rise to power
-Intentionality
-Mao Tse-tung [?]
-Effect on policy
-Vietnam War
-Conduct
-US entry
-Gradual escalation
-President’s doubts
-Completion
-Honor
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-US Senate proposal
-POWs, withdrawal
-Effect on US reputation
-Trust, respect
-Cost
-Effect on US role in world affairs
-Isolationism compared to participation
-President’s previous conversation with Lee in Singapore
-Soviet Union, PRC
-Superpower status
-Relations with US
-Desirability
-Relations with Soviet Union, PRC
-Opportunity
-Strategy
-Compared to confrontation, uneasy negotiations
-US position
-Strength, trustworthiness, respect
-Nixon Doctrine
-Interpretation
-State Department
-Mansfield
-Vietnam involvement contrasted with self-reliance
-Asia, Latin America
-Nuclear deterent
-Isolationism
-Press coverage
-Public opinion
-Faculty of Ivy League universities
-Editorial staff of New York Times, Washington Post, Time,
Newsweek
-Leadership at television [TV] networks
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC], National
Broadcasting Company [NBC], Columbia Broadcasting
System [CBS]
-White House Press Corps
-Magnitude of problem
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-President, Kissinger
-Agreement
-Leadership
-Kissinger’s assessment
-Europe
-Monetary policy
-Balance of payments
-Currency parity
-Timetable
-End of President’s term
-Scope of planning
-Vietnam
-Effect on public opinion
-Vietnam
-Opponents of President’s policy
-George S. McGovern
-Resilience
-Relations with Communist powers
-Weakness
-Effect on global stability
Japan
-President’s previous meeting with Lee
-Location
-Ambitions
-Compared with Germany
-United Nations [UN] Security Council
-Role in world affairs
-Vietnam peace talks
-Desires
-Kissinger’s preference
-Western alliance
-Western alliance
-Monetary and economic interests
-US relations with Europe
-Monetary and trade policy
-Inclusion of Japan
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-Economy
-Size
-Military capability
-Hypothetical nuclear capability
-Possibility of offensive weapons
-Independence of Japan foreign policy
-Global stability
-Economy
-Trade relations with Western Europe, US
-Report from institute in Brussels
-Trade with Southeast Asia
-Percent
-Growth
-Imports
-Raw materials
-Exports
-Manufacturing
-Trade with US compared to Western Europe
-Opportunity
-Possibility for peace, prosperity
-Tariffs
-Possible effect
-Need for inclusion
-Role in Western security
-Trade surplus
-Western Europe
-Kakeui Tanaka
-Domestic market
-US
-President’s previous meeting with bipartisan Congressional leaders
US trade legislation
-Trade imbalance with Japan
Singapore
-Exports to US
-Textiles, shoes
-Difficulties for US
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-Colonial legacy
-Great Britain
-Exports
-Shoes, textiles
-Dependence
-Problems
-Europe, US
-Computers
-Japan markets
-Imports
-Performance
-Response to challenges
Indonesia
-Lee’s forthcoming visit
-Importance
-Leadership
-Jakarta
-Decentralization
-Military generals
-Inclusion
-Technocrats
-Civilians
-Compared with Thailand
-Ruling military generals
-Relationship between power and wealth
-Islamic tradition
-Exception
-Dr. [Unintelligible name]
-Corruption
-Mohammed Hatta’s remarks
-Culture
-Effect on development
-Seminar at Southeast Asia Institute
-Role of corruption
-Rationalization
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Meeting agenda
PRC
-Lee’s vantage point
-US policy
-Lee’s assessment
-Boundary
-Chou En-lai, Mao Tse-tung
-Longevity
-Possible effect on foreign relations
-Trade relations
-Technology
-Soviet Union
-Boeings from US
-Great Britain
-Boeing
-Diversification
-Japan
-Common market
-Soviet Union
-Second-strike capability
-Compared to US
-Conscience
-Military
-Second-strike capability
-Ground forces
-India
-Population
-Relations with Soviet Union
-Military aid
-Relations with Pakistan
-Southeast Asia
-Vietnam settlement
-Role of North Vietnam
-Japan
-Peaceful direction
-Respect
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-Fear
-US, Hawaii
-Objection to capitalist system
-Conscience
-Historical relations with Mexico
-Texas annexation
-Spanish-American War
-Twentieth-century foreign policy
-World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
-Territorial expansion
-Perception of threat
-PRC’s propaganda
-Relations compared to Europe, Soviet Union
-US role in Japan, Taiwan
-Future prospects
-Japan, PRC
-Succession
-Consolidation
-Trade relations
-Technology
-Dependence on US
-Compared with balance between US, Western
Europe, Japan
-Supply
-Current leadership
-Lessons
-Soviet Union
Golf
-Lee’s handicap
-Compared to President’s handicap
-Course around official residence
-Benefits
-Physical exertion
-Trees, fresh air
-“Antidote to the Committee Room”
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Presidential golf balls
-Compared to Lee’s free advice
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 11:13 am.
Golf balls
-Donald McI. Kendall
-Wilson brand
Request for box of golf balls
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 12:18 pm.
Golf balls
-Waterholes
Forthcoming State Dinner
-Irish opera singer, Mary Costa
-Prettiness
Presentation of Presidential gifts
-Golf balls
The President et al. left at 12:18 pm.