Office of the Historian

280. Transcript of Telephone Conversation Between Secretary of State Kissinger and President Nixon1

Washington, October 26, 1973, 11:58 a.m.

N: Hello Henry.

K: Mr. President.

N: What, ah, how are things going. Still the same?

K: Still about the same. Some back and forth on whether the Soviets and Americans can be in the observer force. We have taken the position that on the whole we prefer the observers be obtained as the same type of people as the military force. But if the Secretary-General requests Americans and Soviets we will accept. The Soviets have sent in 70 people they call observers.2 We are saying they can send anyone they want but they have no status as far as we are concerned, except for what the Secretary-General recognizes. You had another message from Sadat about the 3rd Army.3 A lot of technical stuff and needn’t be brought to your attention. We should get the Egyptians to check this with the UN. We will pass it on to the Israelis.

N: I want it passed to the Israelis . . . strongly. Let’s keep our side of the bargain.

[Page 757]

K: When we can determine that the Israelis are doing something wrong we are leaning on them very hard.

N: I understand.

K: The Egyptians have made a proposal and they have sent this message about a comprehensive proposal on my visit.4 And we have sent a warm message to Sadat from you saying you have instructed me to take a constructive and positive attitude.5

N: Good, good. How about the reviews? . . . still getting positive reviews?

K: Oh, yes. The Post was supportive of you on the editorial page, I haven’t read the other. On the whole the news play was very positive.

N: Good, Henry.

K: Right, Mr. President.

  1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, Kissinger Telephone Conversations, Transcripts (Telcons), Chronological File, Box 23. No classification marking.↩
  2. See footnote 2, Document 277.↩
  3. See footnote 2, Document 279.↩
  4. In Sadat’s message, he promised that in preparation for Kissinger’s visit to Cairo, the Egyptians were working out “comprehensive proposals” for a final peace settlement.↩
  5. Document 279.↩