The Consequences of Operation Lam Son 719 and the Search for a Settlement, April 8–October 6, 1971
175. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 121, Vietnam Subject Files, Viet (POW) Jan-Jun 71, Vol. II. Confidential. Sent for action. Astamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Holdridge forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger under an April 9 covering memorandum, recommending that he sign it. He noted that the Department of State had prepared the draft statement at his request.
176. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 154, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 9 Apr 71–30 Apr 71. Secret; Nodis. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” The memorandum summarizes telegram 4929 from Saigon, April 3, which was attached to an April 8 covering memorandum to Kissinger, in which Holdridge explained that he had summarized the telegram at Kissinger’s request and recommended that he send it to Nixon. (Ibid.)
177. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Bunker)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’s Files, Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Camp David, Vol. VII. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Smyser forwarded a draft of the message to Kissinger under an April 8 covering memorandum, recommending that he send it to Bunker. (Ibid., Box 153, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 11 Feb 71–28 Mar 71)
178. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the U.S. Army Chief of Staff (Westmoreland)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 9, Chronological File. No classification marking. All omissions are in the original. A typed note on the transcript indicates the conversation occurred in the afternoon.
179. Minutes of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H-112, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Nodis. All brackets are in the original.
180. Backchannel Message From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to the Ambassador to Vietnam (Bunker)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 869, For the President’s Files-Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Cables, 10/69–12/31/71. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. In an April 12 memorandum to Kissinger, Lord wrote the following: “I know I am preaching to the converted when I say now is the time for an all-out effort for a negotiated settlement in Indochina.” He recommended contacting Bunker to get his opinion on how to deal with Thieu. (Ibid., Box 853, For the President’s Files-Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Camp David, Vol. VII)
181. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 154, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 9 Apr 71–30 Apr 71. Top Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
182. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 82, Vietnam Subject Files, Vietnam Operations in Laos and Cambodia, Vol. V. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Fazio forwarded it to Kissinger under an April 14 covering memorandum, indicating that he modified the original report from the Situation Room by rounding out the statistics as Kissinger instructed.
183. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 154, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 9 Apr 71–30 Apr 71. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Smyser forwarded it to Kissinger under an April 16 covering memorandum, indicating that he had prepared it at Kissinger’s request.
184. Backchannel Message From the Ambassador to Vietnam (Bunker) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 85, Vietnam Subject Files, Special Operations March 70 on. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.
185. Conversation Among President Nixon, his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), and the White House Chief of Staff (Haldeman)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 481-7. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. The exchange is part of a larger conversation, 1-3:30 p.m. According to the Nixon tapes log, Butterfield was present during part of the conversation.
186. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security (Kissinger) and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 9, Chronological File. No classification marking. The time of the conversation is unknown. A note on the transcript indicates that Kissinger’s secretary typed it on May 7.
187. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 512, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. XII. Secret. Sent for information. According to the attached NSC correspondence profile, Kissinger sent it on April 21. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
188. Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 484-13. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. This exchange is part of a larger conversation, 12:50-1:43 p.m.
189. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 92, Vietnam Subject Files, Sir Robert Thompson (71). Secret. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Holdridge forwarded it to Kissinger under an April 23 covering memorandum, indicating that it was a revised text of an April 16 memorandum from Smyser to Kissinger, which Kissinger had asked be prepared for the President. (Ibid.)
190. Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 487-7. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. This exchange is part of a larger conversation, 11:56 a.m.-12:19 p.m.
191. Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 489-5. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. This exchange is part of a larger conversation, 11:46 a.m.-12:07 p.m.
192. Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H-112, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Nodis. In an April 26 briefing memorandum to Kissinger, Kennedy and Holdridge explained that an SRG meeting was being called to “keep up the momentum of the Vietnam Assessment.” (Ibid., Box H-57, SRG Meetings, Vietnam Assessment 4-27-71 (2 of 3)) In an April 28 memorandum for the record by Odeen, reporting on a meeting between Laird and his key Vietnam advisers, Nutter stated his opinion of the SRG meeting as “a pretty confused meeting. All sorts of extraneous topics were discussed and not much was accomplished.” (Washington National Records Center, OSD Files: FRC 330-76-197, Box 79, Viet 092, Jan-May)
193. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 121, Vietnam Subject Files, Viet (POW), Vol. II. Secret; Nodis; Paris Meetings. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Holdridge forwarded it to Kissinger under an April 28 covering memorandum, and Haig initialed it for Kissinger.
194. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and his Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 998, Haig Chronological Files, Haig Telcons 1971 (2 of 2). No classification marking. All omissions are in the original.
195. National Intelligence Estimate
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files: Job 79-R01012A, NIE 53-71, South Vietnam: Problems and Prospects 4/29/71. Secret; Sensitive. The Central Intelligence Agency and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and the NSA participated in the preparation of this estimate. It was submitted with the concurrence of all members of the USIB except the representatives of the AEC and FBI who abstained on the grounds that it was outside their jurisdiction.
196. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 154, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 1 May-31 May 71. Confidential. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
197. Conversation Among President Nixon, his Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig), and the White House Chief of Staff (Haldeman)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 493–10. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. This exchange is part of a larger conversation, 11 a.m.–12:10 p.m.
198. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 549, Country Files, Far East, Laos Vol. VII, Part 2. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Holdridge sent it to Haig under a May 5 covering memorandum, recommending that he sign it. He noted that it was a summary of the latest ERAWAN report. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
199. Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 154, Vietnam Country Files, Viet 1 May–31 May 71. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.” Holdridge forwarded it to Kissinger under a May 7 covering memorandum in which he noted that it was a response to Nixon’s query about reports on the DRV’s mood. Haig signed for Kissinger.
200. Conversation Between President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 496–9. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. This exchange is part of a larger conversation, 12:57–1:30 p.m. The Nixon tape log mistakenly dates this conversation May 19.
201. Conversation Among President Nixon, his Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger), and the White House Chief of Staff (Haldeman)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Tapes, Oval Office, Conversation 498–2. No classification marking. The editors transcribed the portions of the tape recording printed here specifically for this volume. This exchange is part of a larger conversation, 9:28–10:03 a.m.
202. Memorandum for the Record
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, 303/40 Committee Meetings. Secret; Eyes Only. Prepared by Jessup on October 22. Copies were sent to Mitchell, Packard, Johnson, Moorer, and Helms.
203. Memorandum From K. Wayne Smith of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–56, SRG Meeting, Vietnam Assessment 5-24-71, 1 of 2. Top Secret. Sent for urgent information. All brackets are in the original.
204. Minutes of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–112, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1971. Top Secret; Nodis. The meeting was held in the Situation Room of the White House. All brackets are in the original.