25. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin)1
K: Are you going to drive?2
D: Yes. We intend to leave around 5:00. We have just finished lunch with the Minister. We had lunch quietly.
K: If you feed him the way you feed me, he won’t be in any condition to do anything but sleep. There were two points the President wanted me to make. First, when we talk about SALT what we mean by “Limited” is something that covers the items on the last proposal. We considered the first “comprehensive” and the last two limited. He didn’t mean ABM alone would be acceptable for example. Second point, which he made to the Foreign Minister and wanted to make sure I made to you, relying on the excellence of your communications. He would like to aim for an announcement of the major topic3 toward the end of next week, the 29th or 30th.
D: All right. I will mention that.
K: If you could do that. My understanding is that in the private talks he did mention the points you thought he should about our channel.
D: He did not tell me everything. There wasn’t a chance. He just began.
K: These were the two items the President wanted me to mention to you.
D: You will be there tomorrow?
K: Yes, and I am staying overnight in New York; I’m not going back with the President.
D: But it’s always difficult to find you there.
K: Not if you go to the right places.
D: I guess it’s just differences of taste.
K: The White House operators always know where to find me.
D: That’s dangerous for you?
K: No, not at all. I am always available. I am glad you are keeping up with all my activities in your usual efficient manner.
[Page 106]D: I have to know where to find you in case. I have heard that tomorrow’s speech will be a major one on our relations. Is that true?
K: It will contain some significant references, but I told you the spirit in which they will be made. It will be somewhat less polemical than previous speeches.