38. Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Scowcroft) to President Nixon1
Secretary Kissinger asked that I pass on to you this report of his meeting with President Sadat:
“Sadat and I continued our talks for four hours tonight2 in the same cordial and constructive spirit. We worked out in great detail a position for the Israeli-Syrian talks which is extremely reasonable. If Israel rejects it, I may have to ask you for and am counting on your all out support in influencing the Israelis.
“Sadat again said that he looks forward to your visit, which we went on to discuss at length. He wants you to make your first stop in Cairo and to spend two and a half days in Egypt. He hopes to take you with him on a special train from Cairo to Alexandria through the thickly-populated Delta region. He estimates at least eight million people will line the route. Sadat proposes that your trip start around May 30 so that you are in Egypt at about the time the oil ministers are meeting June 1 to consider the embargo.
“In sum the talks here reconfirmed Sadat’s willingness to play a responsible and forthcoming role at this delicate stage of the Middle East talks. His high esteem for you and your approach to these problems was apparent throughout our discussions.
“I leave for Jerusalem in the morning and will report on my first round of talks with the Israelis tomorrow night.”
- Source: Ford Library, National Security Adviser, Kissinger-Scowcroft West Wing Office Files, Box 12, Egypt CO, April 24–May 15, 1974. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. A stamped notation at the top of the page reads, “The President has seen.”↩
- The conversation between Sadat and Kissinger took place on May 1 in Alexandria, Egypt. (Memorandum of conversation; National Archives, RG 59, Records of Henry Kissinger, 1973–77, Box 1, Folder 10)↩