Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XVI, Soviet Union, August 1974–December 1976

295. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and the Soviet Ambassador (Dobrynin)¹

Washington, November 3, 1976, 4:30 p.m.

D: I just wanted to say to you that I am going to miss you—in the future I mean.²

K: I will miss you too. If it is possible to have a Marxist friend . . .

D: No problem. It was so narrow.

K: If we had obtained a SALT agreement we would have won.

D: That is my impression. I think it would have changed the outcome.

K: I will stand outside the government for what I have stood for inside. You can be sure of that.

D: I know. Perhaps we can sit down quietly some time and talk.

K: I would like that. I owe you an apology. Believe me I did not know what they were doing. It was inexcusable.

D: It is O.K.

K: O.K., Anatol, thank you.

1. Source: Department of State, Electronic Reading Room, Kissinger Telephone Conversation Transcripts. No classification marking.
2. On November 2, Jimmy Carter narrowly defeated Gerald Ford (50.1–48 percent of the popular vote; 297–240 electoral votes) in the Presidential election.