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

[Omitted here is discussion unrelated to the Jordan crisis.]

P: Still no word on the hostages?

K: Beirut representatives said would be released for 7 prisoners in Europe plus body plus 2 Israelis. We are trying to confirm that report. If it is true it will be a special achievement. We started off with 300 Israelis. Also what they interpret as dual citizens. Hold those against 2 Algerians. Israelis will let them go. We will know later this afternoon. Bern group is meeting now. More this afternoon. Fedayeen feel hard pressed.

P: Our moves certainly well covered. [talking about military moves.]2 Press picks up all the ship movements which is just fine. [less than 1 line not declassified]

K: The Guam . . . The Kennedy has 4 destroyers with it. Also ASW planes moved in … Soviet note to us was very soft and much weaker than anything they said to us on missile violations.3

P: On the what?

K: Missile violations of the ceasefire. [less than 1 line not declassified] that the Arabs thinks we are getting ready to intervene which is exactly what we want.

P: What is critical is the hostages they hold.

K: The last 2 weeks have shown. When we moved the 6th fleet, within 24 hours they screwed down demands. Every time we started reinforcing.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Box 30, Chronological Files. No classification marking. The President was in Camp David, Maryland, and Kissinger was in Washington. (Ibid., White House Central Files, President’s Daily Diary)
  2. Brackets are in the original.
  3. See Document 266.