222. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Senator Robert P. Griffin 1
G: I wanted to give you an up-to-date reading as I saw it on our situation.2 We had a meeting with Clark McGregor and Timmons last night. I imagine you had a report on that and had Cooke and Stephens in to see if we can back them down. Couldn’t do anything. They are confident they have the vote today and I think they may. It looks like a Mexican stand-off with 48–48 with 2 undecided. They are Jordan of Idaho and Talmadge. Miller has an amendment to it and he will vote for it. So it’s that close. I don’t know what we can do about it. The only hope on this Cooke/Stephens thing which we vote on at 4:00 is that some Democrats may have a hard time getting a reading or will vote against but they will vote for Mansfield.
K: What effectively does Cooke/Stephens say again?
G: Designated (?) to terminate all forces in Indochina as soon as possible and not to exceed 9 months. All military forces and equipment from SVN. Cut off of funds after 9 months after enactment.
K: How different from McGovern/Hatfield?
G: After 60 days if President cannot get firm commitment of NV of release of Prisoners then he reports and it becomes inoperative. I am not for it and not suggesting anyone should be.
K: These things—I wish I could—I am always the SOB. I have never seen anything like this. Last chance of negotiation and sit in Hanoi. If it were next Jan. what the hell, we are in an election time but now I can’t tell you—I can’t go with it. If they do it, they do it.
[Page 745]G: We have 3 in a row and each one is worse. If the Cooke/Stephens loses then we have Mansfield. Then Pastore has with a “Sense of the Senate.”
K: I have seen it.
G: Withdraw by July 4, 1972. President urged to take steps to implement policies in Section A. Asks ______ to cooperate with the President and release all POWs of govt and forces allied with it. It does have the date of July 4. My guess is one will pass. We may not get to Pastore which is nothing but an expression.
K: So be it. I am violently opposed and these people are doing damage they don’t know. Everyone who has cooperated in this will regret it. They have stabbed us in the back at the last moment.
G: We have a policy luncheon with all the Republicans at 12:30. Do you want someone come up and make a pitch on this. We will.
K: Who? Me?
G: It’s a possibility. Maybe you want to send Rogers or Laird—I don’t think he’s the one. You might be. Check it out and see if someone shouldn’t come. Our biggest problem with our own side. It’s erosion.
K: I will talk here.3
- Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 10, Chronological File. No classification marking. The omission is in the original.↩
- Beginning in 1970, a series of Congressional amendments were sponsored that called, in some form, for the removal of U.S. forces from Southeast Asia and the stoppage of funding for the war: McGovern–Hatfield; Cooke–Stephens; and Cooper–Church. Between June 15 and June 22, Kissinger had several telephone conversations with Senators Pearson, Dole, Griffin, and Timmons on the Cooke–Stephens amendment. Transcripts of these conversations are ibid.↩
- At 7:04 p.m., Nixon and Kissinger spoke on the telephone and agreed that Ziegler should issue a statement that evening that “this amendment could seriously jeopardize our negotiating.” (Ibid.)↩