President Nixon: Yeah?
White House Operator: [National Security Adviser] Dr. [Henry A.] Kissinger∇ calling you, sir.
President Nixon: Yeah.
Operator: There you are.
President Nixon: Hello.
Henry A. Kissinger: Mr. President.
President Nixon: Yeah, hi.
Kissinger: I just reached [former National Security Adviser Walt W.] Rostow∇.
President Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: And he's now willing to support a statement.1
President Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: And we talked in general about what it might contain.
President Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: And he and [former U.S. Delegate to the Paris Peace Talks William J.] Jordan are going to draft it tonight.
President Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: I have also talked to [former White House Aide Bryce] Harlow and . . .
President Nixon: [White House Political Operative Charles W. --œChuck--] Colson∇, yeah.
Kissinger: Colson. And I have my doubts about a presidential statement by [former President Lyndon B.] Johnson, because you might be better off fighting this one alone without having him as an ally. But what I thought, Mr. President, if you agree, is that we might talk it over at our staff meeting tomorrow.
President Nixon: All right, fine.
Kissinger: And then make a recommendation to you. In the meantime, they're drafting the LBJ statement anyway, so nothing is being held up.
President Nixon: All right, fine. Yeah, they can't reach him tonight, I understand.
Kissinger: That's right.
President Nixon: That's fine.
Kissinger: But they will have a draft statement for him in the morning.
President Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: And we will then be able also to make a recommendation to you.
President Nixon: Yeah.
Kissinger: And if you want it, they'll make it.
President Nixon: All right, fine, fine.
Kissinger: So [unclear].
President Nixon: That's fine. Let me know in the morning.
Kissinger: [Unclear.]
President Nixon: OK, Henry. Thank you.
1 Nixon wanted former President Lyndon B. Johnson to make a public statement against the leak of the Pentagon Papers∇. (↑)