Office of the Historian

159. Notes of Telephone Conversation Between the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) and Secretary of Defense Laird1 2

Washington, November 17, 1969, 7 p.m.

Laird wanted to check a couple of items before the NSC meeting tomorrow. He thought the public affairs part of these discussions had been completely overlooked in the paper. He said biological research is something that can be supported but biological warfare cannot be supported by anyone. K asked if that wasn’t the purpose. Laird said as far as the paper is concerned, they would miss (?) the public affairs impact. K thought Laird should make that point at the meeting. K said that would be the thrust.

On Geneva protocol, Laird thought they could go along with that provided that there is the reservation on 14B (teargas). These are agents that we use right here. We should tie that reservation but support everything else. K said these papers are written so that everyone can say he has had a fair hearing. That would be K’s recommendation and where he hopes the President will come out.

[Omitted here is unrelated material.]

  1. Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box 361, Telephone Conversations, Chronological File, November 11–17, 1969. No classification marking.↩
  2. Kissinger and Laird had a brief discussion of CBW issues in anticipation of the NSC meeting the next day.↩