Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970–October 1971

76. Transcript of a Telephone Conversation Between President Nixon and the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)¹

Washington, December 24, 1970, 4:50 p.m.

K: I wanted to tell you I had a long talk on the phone with Dobrynin² and hung out the prospects for SALT and Berlin and the Middle East. I said that if Presidential candidates started receiving treatment not accorded others in Moscow we would look very unsympathetically on it. He said the Senator had already asked and I said he had better not come back with statements he can use in a partisan way because it will jeopardize everything.

P: You think he’s going to go?

K: He thinks not, but I think so. Then I talked that snake Lake³ to complete the circle.

P: But the way you left it he said that he had asked and he didn’t know whether it had been approved?

K: Right. I said we don’t mind his going to Moscow, but just the people he’s going to see.

P: That’s okay. Then he’ll owe us one.

K: That’s right. And I’ve held out enough goodies. They will probably see him, but they may not tell him much.

[Omitted here is a brief exchange on Stewart Alsop, columnist for Newsweek magazine.]

P: Okay Henry, take a couple of hours off.

K: Thank you. Merry Christmas.

P: Same to you.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 8, Chronological File. No classification marking.
2. See Document 75.
3. W. Anthony Lake, Kissinger’s former special assistant. Lake had resigned on April 29, the day before the President announced his decision to invade Cambodia; he subsequently accepted a position on Muskie’s staff. Kissinger called Lake at 4:30 p.m. on December 24. According to the transcript, neither man mentioned Muskie’s plan to visit the Soviet Union. “I have high personal regard for Muskie and for you,” Kissinger told Lake. “And the only other thing I have to say is to wish you well, and Merry Christmas.” (National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Henry Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts, Box 8, Chronological File)