Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume II, Organization and Management of U.S. Foreign Policy, 1969–1972

168. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to Secretary of State Rogers¹

Washington, January 14, 1972.

The President has directed that henceforth meetings with representatives of the Soviet Embassy in Washington on any topic and with representatives of foreign governments on the Middle East situation be cleared with him.

In conjunction with these clearances, the President wishes to have a memorandum outlining the objective of the meeting and the manner in which it will be conducted. Following the meeting, the President wishes to have a written memorandum for the record covering the contents of the discussion.

Henry A. Kissinger

1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL US–USSR. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Copies were sent to Haldeman and Mitchell. Written by hand at the top of the memorandum is: “At the Secretary’s request, this was shown only to him.” Stamped beneath is: “Retained in S/S–I due to extreme or continued sensitivity. No Distribution without S/S concurrence on a need-to-know.”