Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–10, Documents on American Republics, 1969–1972

53. Memorandum From President Nixon to Secretary of the Treasury Connally¹ ²

Washington, June 6, 1972

I have some other random thoughts that might be of use to you on your trip. None of them are particularly important, but they may give you some items that would be useful in your meetings with the local press, in the conversations you have with the various leaders, and in toasts and other statements you may be called upon to make.

I have visited all the countries that you will be visiting on this trip. You probably have in your file a record of my visits and of the state visits that have been made while I have been President by the heads of government or state of the countries you will be going to. In any event, here is a brief run-down which you may find useful.

I was in Colombia in 1958 and I received the Colombian President on a state visit in 1969.

I was in Brazil twice as Vice President, again in 1967 as a private citizen, and Médici paid a state visit here earlier this year.

I visited Bolivia as Vice President in 1958.

I visited Peru as Vice President in 1958 and then on a private visit in 1967. We gave a luncheon for the wife of the President of Peru at the White House after Pat had visited Peru immediately after the earthquake.

I visited Argentina in 1958 and again as a private citizen in 1967.

I visited New Zealand in 1953. It was the first foreign country I visited after becoming Vice President. At least two New Zealand Prime Ministers have visited Washington since I became President.

I visited Australia in 1953 and again on a private visit in 1967. Two Australian Prime Ministers have come to Washington since I have been President. Incidentally, while you are in Australia if you can work it into your schedule you should call on former Prime Minister Robert Menzies. He has been quite ill and it may be that he will be unable to see you, but he is a great friend of the United States and one of the top world leaders I have ever met.

You are aware of the number of visits I have made to Vietnam. In 1953 I was in both Saigon and Hanoi—before the country was partitioned. In 1956 I visited Saigon again. While I was out of office I was there at least 6 times and have been there once since becoming President.

I was in Kuala Lumpur in 1953 and then again in 1967 as a private citizen, and have seen the Prime Minister in Washington.

I visited Singapore in 1953 and again in 1967 when I first met Lee Kuan Yew. He has been in Washington on two occasions since I came into office and I would consider him among the top half-dozen world leaders with a profound understanding of international affairs.

I visited Cambodia in 1953 and attended a performance at the Kennedy Center for the Royal Cambodian dancers when they were in Washington. You might mention there how much I regret that you will be unable to go to Angkor Wat, and that I trust the North Vietnamese will be driven from that area so that thousands of tourists will not be denied the privilege I had in 1953 of seeing this wonder of the world.

I visited Iran in 1953 when I first met the Shah, and again in 1967 as a private citizen. As you know, he was here on a state visit to Washington and I was there just a week ago after my Moscow trip.

I was in India in 1953 and again in 1967 as a private citizen, and in 1969 on a round the world trip.

I was in Pakistan in 1953 and in 1956. I also was in Pakistan on two occasions while I was out of office as a private citizen and visited Pakistan on my round the world trip in 1969 as President.

I have been received by the present Pope on three different occasions.

In each country that you visit you will probably be asked whether you are carrying a personal message from the President to the head of government or head of state. You should answer in the affirmative in each case. I have never followed the practice of writing letters that are hand-delivered because this really has very little meaning. But you can say that you had a long discussion with me before you left and that I have asked you to take up several matters of mutual interest with the head of government or head of state and also to brief them on my recent trip to the Soviet Union, and to get their views on international problems generally. I think it is well to always emphasize the last point because it builds them up to let them feel that we are interested in their views as well as passing on our views to them.

A general theme for your trip might be along the following lines: as you know, I have made several speeches to the effect that there are five major economic and political power centers in the world today—the United States, Western Europe, the Soviet Union, the People’s Republic of China, and Japan. Some may interpret this as meaning that those are the only countries I thought that mattered. That is only true insofar as their present industrial and potential military capacity is concerned. On the other hand, over half the people in the world and over half of the world’s resources are not in these five major power centers. The so-called third world which except for Italy will cover all the countries you are visiting will prove to be decisive down the road as they develop their resources and play the role on the world stage of which they are capable. You can say I am sending you on this trip because of my own longtime interest in these vitally important countries in the third world and my recognition of the fact that when we are talking to our adversaries, the Chinese and the Russians, we are not forgetting our allies and friends in the third world area.

I am sure you will have a great trip. The picture and story made front page in the Times and Post this morning.

1. Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 954, VIP Visits, Connally Trip 6–7/72. No classification marking. Nixon informed Kissinger in a May 19 memorandum that “The Connally trip is vitally important, not only from the standpoint of our personal relationship, but also in terms, I believe, of the good it can do in the foreign policy area. What I have in mind is that he should go first-class with a Presidential-type aircraft to four countries in Latin America—Peru, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia.” Nixon concluded, “Don’t consult a lot of people in State about this thing. Just give me your own recommendation later today.” (Ibid., Box 341, Subject Files, HAK/President Memos, 1971–)
2. President Nixon instructed Secretary Connally to inform Latin American heads of state with whom he would meet during his upcoming trip the President had a long-standing interest in Third World countries.