Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume VII, Vietnam, July 1970–January 1972
The Aftermath of the Cambodian Incursion, July 21–October 7, 1970: Document List
Document 1: Editorial Note
Document 2: Memorandum for the President’s File by the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Washington, July 22, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 189, Paris Talks/Meetings, Paris Talks, July 1, 1970–September 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. Holdridge, Haig, and Kissinger drafted the memorandum on August 19. Kissinger did not initial the memorandum and there is no indication that Nixon saw it. A typed note at the end of the memorandum reads, “This account was derived primarily from the talking paper prepared for the breakfast and is not a verbatim account of the actual discussion.” An undated memorandum from Kissinger to the President, briefing him for the meeting, is ibid., White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 81, Memoranda for the President, Beginning July 19, 1970.
Document 3: National Security Study Memorandum 96
Washington, July 23, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–51, SRG Meeting, Laos (NSSM 96), January 15, 1971. Top Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Document 4: Memorandum of Conversation
Washington, July 23, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 547, Country Files, Far East, Laos, 1 April 1970–11 August 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. The meeting was held in Kissinger’s office. Holdridge forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger under an August 5 covering memorandum and Kissinger approved it on August 10.
Document 5: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, July 27, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 510, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. IX. Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information. Drafted by Smyser, who forwarded it to Kissinger under a July 23 covering memorandum.
Document 6: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, July 29, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 749, Presidential Correspondence, 1969–1974, Cambodia, Prime Minister, Lon Nol (1970). Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.
Document 7: Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group
Washington, August 4, 1970, 5:10–6:45 p.m.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals, 1969–1970. Top Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House.
Document 8: Memorandum From President Nixon to Secretary of State Rogers
Washington, August 5, 1970.
Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27–14 ASIA SE. Secret; Sensitive.
Document 9: Special National Intelligence Estimate
Washington, August 6, 1970.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, NIC Files: Job 79–R01012A, Box 390, SNIE 57–70, Outlook for Cambodia. Secret; Spoke. The CIA and the intelligence organizations of the Departments of State and Defense, and the NSA, participated in the preparation of this estimate. All members of the USIB concurred in the estimate except the representatives of the AEC and FBI who abstained on the grounds that it was outside their jurisdiction.
Document 10: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, August 6, 1970.
Source: Central Intelligence Agency, Executive Registry Subject Files: Job 80–B01086A, Box 3, PFIAB and Annual Reports. Top Secret; Byeman. Drafted on August 7 by [name not declassified], Director of the Office of National Intelligence Programs Evaluation, Central Intelligence Agency. Copies were sent to Helms and Karamessines.
Document 11: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 7, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 148, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam 1 Aug 70. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. According to a routing slip, Nixon saw the memorandum on August 11. This memorandum is based on a memorandum from Smyser to Kissinger, July 31. Holdridge forwarded a revised version to Kissinger under an August 5 covering memorandum. (Ibid., Box 189, Paris Talks/Meetings, Paris Talks, 1 July 70–Sep 70)
Document 12: Editorial Note
Document 13: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 7, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 559, Country Files, Far East, Air Act in SEA, Vol. I, 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for action.
Document 14: Memorandum for the Record
Washington, August 7, 1970.
Source: Department of State, INR/IL Historical Files, 40 Committee Meetings. Secret; Eyes Only. Drafted by Jessup on August 10.
Document 15: Diary Entry by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Moorer)
Washington, August 8, 1970.
Source: National Archives, RG 218, Records of the Chairman, Moorer Diary, July 1970–July 1974. Top Secret.
Document 16: Memorandum From the President’s Deputy Assistant for National Security Affairs (Haig) to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Washington, August 9, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 95, Vietnam Subject Files, Vietnam Troop Replacement, 1970. No classification marking.
Document 17: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 10, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–218, NSDMs, NSDM 80. Secret. Sent for action. According to an attached routing slip, Lynn sent the memorandum to Kissinger on August 7.
Document 18: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 10, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 510, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. IX. Secret. Sent for information. At the top of the memorandum, the President wrote, “Excellent report.”
Document 19: National Security Decision Memorandum 78
Washington, August 11, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 363, Subject Files, NSDMs 51–96. Secret. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Document 20: National Security Decision Memorandum 77
Washington, August 12, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 363, Subject Files, NSDMs 51–96. Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Document 21: National Security Decision Memorandum 79
Washington, August 13, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Subject Files, Box 363, NSDMs 51–96. Secret; Sensitive. A copy was sent to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Document 22: Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group
Washington, August 13, 1970, 11:05 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals, 1969–1970. Top Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House.
Document 23: National Security Decision Memorandum 80
Washington, August 13, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 363, Subject Files, NSDMs 51–96. Secret; Exdis. Copies were sent to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Chairman of the JCS, and the Director of Central Intelligence.
Document 24: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 17, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 588, Cambodia Operation 1970, Cambodia–Clandestine Psychological Campaign on Cambodia. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Kissinger initialed his comment, “Communicate to Helms.” In a September 2 memorandum to Helms, Kissinger noted that the President commented favorably on the campaign and urged him to continue it. (Ibid.)
Document 25: National Security Study Memorandum 99
Washington, August 17, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 365, Subject Files, NSSMs 43–103. Top Secret. Copies were sent to the Chairman of the JCS, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development.
Document 26: Letter from President Nixon to Cambodian Prime Minister Lon Nol
Washington, August 20, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 749, Presidential Correspondence, 1969–1974, Cambodia, Prime Minister, Lon Nol, 1970. No classification marking. Kissinger forwarded the letter to the President under an August 19 covering memorandum. The text of the letter was sent in telegram 133014 to Phnom Penh, August 15. (Ibid., RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 15–1 US/NIXON)
Document 27: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 22, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 148, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam 1 Aug 70. Secret. Sent for information. Holdridge forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger under an August 19 covering memorandum. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
Document 28: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 24, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 148, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam 1 Aug 70. Top Secret. Sent for information. Holdridge forwarded this memorandum to Kissinger under an August 17 covering memorandum, recommending that he sign it. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
Document 29: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, August 27, 1970.
Source: Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Kissinger Papers, Box TS–2, Chronological File, August 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. Lord drafted the memorandum on August 25. Printed from a copy with an indication that Kissinger signed the original.
Document 30: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 1, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 511, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. X. Top Secret; Sensitive. The President wrote at the top of the memorandum: “Haig—Keep on top of this—It has highest priority.” According to a handwritten note on another copy of the memorandum, Kennedy took the memorandum and its attachments to San Clemente. (Ibid.)
Document 31: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 1, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’s Files—Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol V. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. Sent for action. The President wrote, “OK,” at the top of the memorandum.
Document 32: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 3, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, White House Special Files, President’s Office Files, Box 82, Memoranda for the President, Beginning August 30, 1970. Secret.
Document 33: Memorandum From Secretary of Defense Laird to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Washington, September 3, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 149, Vietnam Country Files, Vietnam, 1 September 1970. Confidential. Holdrige forwarded the memorandum to Kissinger under a September 10 covering memorandum, commenting that Laird considered “GVN strength and action to be more important factors than enemy efforts” and that “Viet Cong activity can cause a lot of fluctuation in the statistics over any given period.”
Document 34: Memorandum of Conversation
Paris, September 7, 1970, 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’s Files—Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David Vol. V. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only. The meeting took place at the North Vietnamese Residence, 11 Rue Darthe, Paris.
Document 35: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 7, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’s Files—Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Sensitive, Camp David, Vol. V. Top Secret; Sensitive; Eyes Only. Sent for information.
Document 36: Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Washington Special Actions Group
Washington, September 10, 1970, 4:05–4:40 p.m.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–114, WSAG Meetings Minutes, Originals, 1969–1970. Top Secret; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House. A typed note indicates this is Part II of the summary and minutes; Part I is the record of the WSAG discussion of the Middle East, which immediately preceded the discussion of Cambodia.
Document 37: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 12, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 124, Vietnam Subject Files, President’s Vietnam Speech 10/6/70, Drafts and Game Plan. Top Secret; Nodis; Cherokee. Sent for information.
Document 38: Memorandum for Record Prepared by the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Knowles)
Washington, September 12, 1970.
Source: National Archives, RG-218, Records of the Chairman, Moorer Diary, July 1970–July 1974. Top Secret.
Document 39: Memorandum From K. Wayne Smith of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Washington, September 14, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–47, SRG Meeting, Cambodia (NSSM 99). Top Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information.
Document 40: Summary of Conclusions of a Meeting of the Senior Review Group
Washington, September 15, 1970, 4:12–5 p.m.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, NSC Institutional Files (H-Files), Box H–111, SRG Minutes, Originals, 1970. Top Secret; Sensitive; Nodis. The meeting took place in the Situation Room of the White House.
Document 41: Editorial Note
Document 42: Memorandum From John H. Holdridge of the National Security Council Staff to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger)
Washington, September 21, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 511, Country Files, Far East, Cambodia, Vol. X, September 1–October 31, 1970. Secret; Sensitive. Sent for information. The memorandum was initialed by Kissinger.
Document 43: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 22, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 189, Paris Talks/Meetings, Paris Talks, 1 July 70–Sep 70. Secret; Nodis; Paris Meetings. Sent for information. Holdridge forwarded this memorandum to Kissinger under a September 18 covering memorandum and recommended that he sign it. A stamped notation on the memorandum reads, “The President has seen.”
Document 44: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 24, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 119, Vietnam Subject Files, Viet-Cherokee-9/70. Secret; Sensitive; Cherokee. Sent for information. The President initialed the memorandum.
Document 45: Memorandum From the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Kissinger) to President Nixon
Washington, September 28, 1970.
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 853, For the President’s Files—Lord, Vietnam Negotiations, Camp David, Vol. VI. Top Secret; Sensitive; Exclusively Eyes Only.