Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XL, Germany and Berlin, 1969–1972

324. Memorandum for the President’s File¹

San Clemente, August 27, 1971, 9:30 a.m. PDT.

SUBJECT

• The President’s Meeting with Ambassador Kenneth Rush

OTHER PARTICIPANTS

• Dr. Henry A. Kissinger

Ambassador Rush—U.S. Ambassador in Bonn and chief U.S. negotiator in the Berlin talks—had returned to Washington for consultations on the Berlin draft which had been agreed upon among the four-power Ambassadors on August 18. The President invited Ambassador Rush to San Clemente to review the draft with him and to congratulate him for his skillful performance in the negotiations.

After a brief photo opportunity, the President opened the conversation by paying tribute to the Ambassador’s key role in producing the agreement, about which Dr. Kissinger had kept him fully informed. As the Ambassador knew, he had taken a strong personal interest in the Berlin negotiations and had followed him closely. He knew that Ambassador Rush had done a masterful job on a complicated issue in a complicated situation. He had a look at the final draft and considered it a satisfactory agreement. This was a superlative performance and a great contribution.

Ambassador Rush thanked the President warmly for his generous remarks and replied that in his view the Berlin accord was a good one and that it was a great personal achievement for the President. The Ambassador referred specifically to the President’s speech in Berlin in 1969² and to his active involvement in the negotiations. On numerous occasions, White House initiatives had broken deadlocks and made progress possible.

The President asked for the Ambassador’s more specific assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the Berlin agreement. The Ambassador stated his view that it turned out far better than he had expected was possible. There were a number of imperfections and compromises, but the Soviets had made important concessions and had agreed to genuine practical improvements. Chancellor Brandt had applauded it in a letter to the President.³ A great deal of course depended on the course of the negotiations between the two Germanies on filling out the details. The President agreed.

The President and the Ambassador then briefly discussed the possible impact of this Berlin settlement on the range of European security issues. They agreed that a Berlin solution would mitigate one chronic source of tensions in Central Europe and was thus a contribution to a realistic approach toward détente.

On this note, the meeting ended, and Ambassador Rush departed for the San Clemente Inn for a press briefing.⁴

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Memoranda for the President, Beginning August 22, 1971. Confidential. No drafting information appears on the memorandum. According to the President’s Daily Diary, Nixon met Rush and Kissinger at 9:41 a.m. in his office at the Western White House; at 9:45, the three men went to the office patio for a brief photo opportunity before going to La Casa Pacifica to resume the meeting, which evidently ended at 10:31 when Nixon and Kissinger (but not Rush) walked to the swimming pool area. (Ibid., White House Central Files)
2. See Document 17.
3. See Document 313.
4. In a press conference at 10:42 a.m. (PDT), Rush emphasized that Nixon, in spite of other responsibilities, had been personally involved on Berlin, and was largely responsible for “a successful outcome of the negotiations.” After commending the “unparalleled example” of Allied cooperation, the Ambassador also praised the “excellent cooperation and excellent support that has come from Secretary Rogers and the State Department.” “They have been a source of real strength,” he continued, “and I am very grateful to them.” Rush concluded that the agreement “will be of great benefit to the West Berliners and will make a major contribution in improving relations between Russia and the other four powers and in opening the door for further important advances in the field of relieving tension in Europe.” Transcripts of the press conference, and the background briefing afterwards, are in the National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Kissinger Office Files, Box 57, Country Files, Europe, Berlin and European Security, Vol. II [2 of 2].