Kissinger Henry. White House Years

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helprelievepostoperativediscomfort.Ashelayinbedwithneedlesprotruding,

nomedicine,notevenChinese,couldrelievetheagonyhefeltatbeingsonear,

yetmissingatremendousscoop.



MycolleaguesandIflewbacktoPakistanonJuly11inaspiritofhigh

excitementandloadeddownbyonelastroundofChinesedishesdelivered

aboardtheplane,thelatestEnglish versionofMao’sworks,andphotoalbumsof

ourvisitpreparedduringthenight.



LordandIdraftedareporttothePresident;itsconclusionssummedupour

perhapsexcessivelyexaltedandnotoverlyhumbleframeofmind:



WehavelaidthegroundworkforyouandMaototurnapageinhistory.Butweshould

havenoillusionsaboutthefuture.Profounddifferencesandyearsofisolationyawnbetween

usandtheChinese.TheywillbetoughbeforeandduringthesummitonthequestionofTaiwan

andothermajorissues.Andtheywillproveimplacablefoesifourrelationsturnsour.My

assessmentofthesepeopleisthattheyaredeeplyideological,closetofanaticintheintensity

oftheirbeliefs.Atthesametimetheydisplayaninwardsecuritythatallowsthem,withinthe

frameworkoftheirprinciples,tobemeticulousandreliableindealingwithothers.



Furthermore,theprocesswehavenowstartedwillsendenormousshockwavesaround

theworld…



However,wewerewellawareoftheseriskswhenweembarkedonthiscourse.We

wereawaretoothatthealternativewasunacceptable—continuedisolationfromone‐quarter

oftheworld’smosttalentedpeopleandacountryrichinpastachievementsandfuture

potential.



Andeventheriskscanbemanagedandturnedtoouradvantageifwemaintainsteady

nervesandpursueourpoliciesresponsibly.WiththeSovietUnionwewillhavetomakeclear

thecontinuedprioritiesweattachtoourconcretenegotiationswiththem.Justaswewillnot

colludewiththemagainstChina,sowehavenointentionofcolludingwithChinaagainstthem.

Ifcarefullymanaged,ournewChinapolicycouldhavealongertermbeneficialimpacton

Moscow.



WithJapanourtaskwillbetomakeclearthatwearenotshiftingourallegianceinAsia

fromhertoChina.OnTaiwanwecanhopeforlittlemorethandamagelimitationbyreaffirming

ourdiplomaticrelations…



ForAsiaandfortheworldweneedtodemonstratethatweareenlargingthescopeof

ourdiplomacyinawaythat,farfromharmingtheinterestofothercountries,shouldinstead

provehelpfultothem.



Ourdealings,bothwiththeChineseandothers,willrequirereliability,precision,finesse.

Ifwecanmasterthisprocess,wewillhavemadearevolution.



<<Contents>>

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****



TheAnnouncementThatShooktheWorld



hereturnflighttoPakistanseemedmuchshorterthanthejourneytoPeking.

Wewereallelated;yetanothergroupofbarbarianshadsuccumbedtosubtle

Chineseflatteryandahospitalityallthemoreinsinuatingforappearingsomatter‐

of‐fact.WeallagreedwithChouEn‐laithattheannounceme ntnowfirmly

scheduledforthefollowingThursdayat10:30p.m.Washingtontimewould

“shaketheworld.”Howwemanagedto maintainsecurityonlandinginPakistan,

envelopedaswewerebyMao’scollectedworksandChinesephotoalbums,I

cannotnowimagine.Perhapssecurityworksbestwithundertakingsnoonethinks

possible.

T



WearrivedinIslamabadatthemilitarysideofChaklalaairportabout3:00

intheafternoonofJuly11.SultanKhan,helpfulandunobtrusiveasever,was

theretogreetus.WedroveacircuitousroutetotheMurreeRoadandthence

backtoIslamabadasthoughreturningfromthehillstation.Ipaida briefcourtesy

callonYahyaKhan,whowasboyishlyecstaticabouthavingpulledoffthiscoup.I

thankedhimforhiseffortsandforthespiritwithwhichhehadcarriedthemout.

FivemonthslaterYahyawasousted.Iwasnottoseehimagain. Afterward,I

madesureofmeetingasmanyUSEmbassyofficialsasIcould,includingmyescort

officer,whoinviolationofallStateDepartmentprocedureshadlosttouchwith

meandhadnotyetfiguredoutjustwhathadhappened.By6:00p.m. wewere

backinourownplaneheadingWesttoParisviaTehran.IarrivedatLeBourget

longaftermidnight,endingadaythathadbegunwithameetingwithChouEn‐lai

eighteenhoursearlier.



AllattentioninParisfocusedonVietnam.TheVietConghadjustpublished

theirannualpeaceprogram,againineffectcallingfortheoverthrowoftheSouth

Vietnamesegovernment.AndtheyearlyritualofCongressionalandmedia

pressureonustoshow flexibilitywasgearingup.Iwaspursuedbyjournalistsall

overParis,nottodeterminethecauseofmyPakistanistomachachebuttosee

whetherImightmeetwithLeDuc Tho,whowasknowntobeinParis.Asitturned

out,wedidmeet.DavidBruce,headofourParisdelegation,cametotheEmbassy

throughthefrontdoorwherethepresswasstakedout;ostensiblyheandIwere

toreviewVietnamstrategy.(BrucewasawareofbothmyChinatripandmy

secretVietnamnegot iations.)Iescapedthroughareargatebyoneofthe

proceduressoexuberantlyandefficientlyworkedoutbyGeneralWalters

(describedinChapterXII).MysecretmeetingwiththeNorthVietnameselasted

threehours;itturnedouttobethemosthopefulIhadhad.Forsomeintoxicating

weekswethoughtthatwemighthavesimultaneousbreakthroughstowardpeace

inVietnamandtowardChina;WinstonLordandIonthewaybackfromseeingLe

DucThohadsufficienthubristospeculateonwhichwouldbeconsidered

historicallythemoresignificantachievement.Aftersneakingbackintothe

Embassybythereardoor,ImetbrieflywithreportersasIbadeBrucefarewell.



ThateveningIdinedinarestaurantwithmyfriendMargaretOsmer,an

attractiveandintelligenttelevisionjour nalist.AvacationingAmericanwoman

caughtupinthespiritofthetimecameupandchidedmeinaloudvoice:Itwasa

disgraceformetobeinarestaurantwithayoungladywhenIshouldbeworking 

forpeace.IwaspickedupattherestaurantbyAmbassadorArthurWatson,who

tookmetomyplane;thehourofdeparturehadbeensetsothatIwouldreach

SanClementeearlyinthemorning.



IarrivedatElToroMarineCorpsAirStation,California,at7:00a.m.on

Tuesday,July13.Mytriparoundtheworldhadlastedtwelvedays.AlHaig,who

hadheldthefortheroicallyandefficientlyinmyabsence,greetedmeandrode

backinthehelicopterwithmetoSanClemente.RichardNixonwasimpatiently

waitingatthehelipad.HehadlearnedofthesuccessofmytripwhenIcabledthe

agreedcodewordonthewaytoTehran.Thewordwas“Eureka.”Thishadsent

himintosuchtransportsthatcontrarytoouroriginalunderstandinghehad

requestedanimmediatereportbycable.Isentthatfromtheplaneandhe

responded,thankingmeprofuselyandtryinghishandatajokebyinformingmeI

wouldgetadayoffuponmyreturn.HealsorequestedthatIfirstgivehima full

privatebriefingafterwhicha“sanitized”accountshouldgotohis“guest”—Haig’s

codenamefortheSecretaryofState,whowasstayingatSanClemente.We

receivedagreatdealofcreditafterwardforourskillinkeepingtheinformation 

secret;asIreviewtheexchanges,Iamboundtothankourpuregoodfortuneand

theextraordinarydiscretionoftheCIA,whichwashandlingtheexchanges.



Ispentfrom7:20to9:30a.m.withthePresident,givinghimadetailed

accountofeventsandmylongwrittenreport.Webothrecognize dthatwehad

openedupnewopportunitiesforourdiplomacy.Inevitably,therewouldbe

repercussionswiththeSovietUnion;wethoughtthatovertimetheywouldbe

beneficial.TheimpactonthewarinVietnamcouldbeprofound.WhenIleft,

Chouhadwishedmewellinournegotiations.ThoughIdoubtedthattheChinese

leaderscouldorwoulddomuchtohelpdirectly,mytripwouldbeamajordefeat

forHanoi.ItwouldtaketheVietCong’sdeceptive“SevenPoints”offthefront

pages,foritundercutHanoi’scampaigntoexhaustuspsychologically and

undermineourpublicsupport.TheAmericanpeoplewouldseethattheir

governmentwascapableofboldmovesforpeace.Thiswouldencourageallthose

aroundtheworldwhosesecurityandprogressdependedonaconfidentand

resoluteAmerica.WewouldfaceinevitableproblemsinJapanandTaiwan.

SoonerorlatertheywouldhavecomeuponusasPeking’sdiplomaticoffensive

developed.Thetripenabledustodominateeventsratherthanawaitthem

passively.



WetalkedabouttheseimplicationsinNixon’smodeststudyintheaerieof

hisresidenceinSanClemente,lookingout acrossthePacific.Itwastemptingto

imaginethefarshoreofChina,thousandsofmilesdistant.



Haldemanjoinedusaround9:30a.m.andthediscussiontookapractical

turn.Hewantedtoknowaboutthesizeofthepresscontingenttoaccompanythe

President.HewasdisdainfulwhenhelearnedthatIhadnotsettledthis,

incredulouswhenIinformedhimthatIhadestimatedthetotalpartytoChouEn‐

laitobearoundfifty;theSecretServicecomplementwouldbelargerthanthat,

nottospeakofthepresscontingent.Haldemansawnosenseinmakinghistoryif

televisionwasnottheretobroadcastit.Thisledtoalengthyback‐and‐forth

betweenNixonandHaldemanastohowtogetmaximumpress,andaboveall

television,coverage,whilestillretainingsomecontroloverwhocouldgo.Itwas

oneofNixon’sunshakableconceitsthatsomehowhecouldblackmailthepress

intoamorebenignviewofhimbyrewardingwithspecialattentionthosewho,as

hesawit,treatedhimfairly.Needlesstosay,heneveraccomplishedthis;neither

henorHaldemanachievedavetooverwhomthemediachosetosendwithNixon

toPeking.



MoreseriouswasthequestionofhowthePresidentwouldpresentthe

jointannouncement.Allcanonsofpublicrelationslorecounseledoneofthose

dramatic,emotionalspeechesthatpunctuatedtheNixonPresidency.ButI

stronglyopposedthis.Wewereattheverybeginningofanewrelationship;the

moreweembellisheditthemorewewouldencumberthedelicatediplomacy

thatwouldhavetogiveitsubstance.Wewouldhavetoplacatetroubled

adversaries;wewouldbeobligedtoreassure uneasyfriends.Thetimewould

comeforalltheseenterprises,butatthisearlystageweshouldneitherpromise

norqualify.Nixonshouldlettheannouncement, howeverbriefandstilted,speak

foritself.Nixonagreedwithsomereluctance,Haldemanwithgravedoubt.Within

adayNixonenteredintothespiritoftheoccasionandgrewincreasingly

enthusiasticaboutthepotentialimpactofaterse,enigmaticpresentation.Lord

andIpreparedashortsetofaccompanyingremarks(therewentmypromised

dayoff).Twoandahalfyearsofplanning,effort,andanticipationwereboiled

downintofourhundredwords.



TherewassomeuneasinessabouthowtoannouncethePresident’s

appearance.Iftelevisiontimewasrequestedtherewascertaintobespeculation

thatthesubjectwasVietnam;theresultingdisappointment,soHaldemanfeared,

mightvitiatetheimpactoftheannouncement.Hethereforefavoredexplicitly

statingthatthePresidentwishedtoaddressthenationonasubjectnotrelatedto

Vietnam.Iarguedagainstthis.Thespeculationsuchanannouncementwould

generatewoulddefeatitspurpose.IwasconvincedthatthePresidentwouldnot

havetoapologizewhenhewasfinished.



FinallyRogersjoinedus.Igavehimthe“sanit ized”versionofmytripthat

Nixonhadsuggested.Wediscussedhisroleintheunfoldingevents.Notifying

foreigngovernmentswouldbetheStateDepartment’sduty.Rogersablytook

charge.Ascenariowasdeveloped;hewouldbeginwithJapanaboutanhour

beforethePresidentialspeech.



Thenextforty‐eighthourspassedamidstanxietyastowhetherwecould

keepthesecretandinthedecompression thatfollowsgreatexertion.Thro ughout

mypubliclifemyownemotionsweresomewhatoutofphasewithmy

surroundings.Mymomentofelationoccurredwhenitwasclearthatsuccessin

someeffortwasprobable;thiswasusuallydays,sometimesweeks,beforethe

publicandevensomecolleagueslearnedofit.BythetimeoffullpublicimpactI

waspreoccupiedindealingwiththenextphase.Therearenoplateausinforeign

policy:everyachievementispurchasedbynewtravail;everyadvancemustbe

consolidatedbyadditionaleffort.SoitwasinSanClementeinthosetense,yet

calm,twodaysbeforethePresident’sspeech.Mycolleagueswerepreoccupied

withaperformanceinatelevisionstudioforty‐eighthoursaway.Ihadthe

letdownofjetlagandgrowingconcernoverhowtomanagewhatwehad

broughtintobeing.



OntheafternoonofJuly15Nixoneasedhisowntensionbyoneofthose

performancesattheedgeofaprecipicewithwhichhelikedtodemonstratehis

virtuosityand,asabonus,tormenthisassociates.LearningthatIwashaving

lunchwiththe(London)SundayTimesjournalistHenryBrandonandhischarming

wife,Muffle,Nixoninvitedthembothtohisresidence.Showingthemtherooms

andwalkingthroughthegardens,hekeptdroppingcryptichints,whileIwas

squirmingabouttheriskofcompromisingoursecretatthelastminute.Nixon

spokemusinglyaboutChinaonthefarshoreofthePacificbeforeus,aboutthe

needforanewrelat ionshipandhisdesiretotakeatripthroughAsia.Luckily,he

spokesoellipticallythatBrandongotthepointonlyinretrospect;hesurely

strainedmyownemotionalequilibrium.



At2:45p.m.Pacificdaylighttime(5:45p.m.Easterndaylighttime)onJuly

15,theWesternWhiteHousemadeacrypticanno uncementthatthePresident

wouldmakea“majorstatement”onalltelevisionandradionetworksfivehours

later.TheAssociatedPresscarriedabulletinabouttwentyminutesafterward:

“PresidentNixo nismakinga‘majorstatement’onallnationwidetelevisionand

radionetworksat10:30p.m.tonight[EDT]onasecretsubjecttheWesternWhite

Houserefusedtodiscussinadvance.”



At5:45p.m.PacifictimeIdepartedwiththePresidentbyhelicopterforLos

Angeles.AtNBCtelevisionstudiosinBurbankNixonappearedbeforenationwide

camerasandmicrophonesanddeliveredabrief,seven‐minutespeech:



GoodEvening:Ihaverequestedthistelevisiontimetonighttoannounceamajor

developmentinoureffortstobuildalastingpeaceintheworld.



AsIhavepointedoutonanumberofoccasionsoverthepastthreeyears,therecanbe

nostableandenduringpeacewithouttheparticipationofthePeople’sRepublicofChinaandits

750millionpeople.ThatiswhyIhaveundertakeninitiativesinseveralareastoopenthedoor

formorenormalrelationsbetweenourtwocountries.



Inpursuanceofthatgoal,IsentDr.Kissinger,myAssistantforNationalSecurityAffairs,

toPekingduringhisrecentworldtourforthepurposeofhavingtalkswithPremierChouEn‐lai.



TheannouncementIshallnowreadisbeingissuedsimultaneouslyinPekingandinthe

UnitedStates:



PremierChouEn‐laiandDr.HenryKissinger,PresidentNixon’sAssistantfor

NationalSecurityAffairs,heldtalksinPekingfromJuly9to11,1971.Knowingof

PresidentNixon’sexpresseddesiretovisitthePeople’sRepublicofChina,PremierChou

En‐lai,onbehalfoftheGovernmentofthePeople’sRepublicofChina,hasextendedan

invitationtoPresidentNixontovisitChinaatanappropriatedatebeforeMay1972.

PresidentNixonhasacceptedtheinvitationwithpleasure.



ThemeetingbetweentheleadersofChinaandtheUnitedStatesistoseekthe

normalizationofrelationsbetweenthetwocountriesandalsotoexchangeviewson

questionsofconcerntothetwosides.



Inanticipationoftheinevitablespeculationwhichwillfollowthisannouncement,Iwant

toputourpolicyintheclearestpossiblecontext.



OuractioninseekinganewrelationshipwiththePeople’sRepublicofChinawillnotbe

attheexpenseofouroldfriends.Itisnotdirectedagainstanyothernation.Weseekfriendly

relationswithallnations.Anynationcanbeourfriendwithoutbeinganyothernation’senemy.



Ihavetakenthisactionbecauseofmyprofoundconvictionthatallnationswillgain

fromareductionoftensionsandabetterrelationshipbetweentheUnitedStatesandthe

People’sRepublicofChina.



ItisinthisspiritthatIwillundertakewhatIdeeplyhopewillbecomeajourneyfor

peace,peacenotjustforourgenerationbutforfuturegenerationsonthisearthweshare

together.Thankyouandgoodnight.



AsNixonlefttheBurbankstudios,asmallbutvocalgroupgreetedhimwith

chantsof“GetoutofVietnam.”



Aboutforty‐fiveminutesearlier,ColonelRichardT.Kennedy,managingmy

officeinWashington,hadhandedtheunfortunateVorontsovacopyofNixon’s

speechaccompaniedbyanoteremindingtheSovietsof“thesequenceofevents

whichhasprecededtheJuly15announcement”—anonetoosubtlereferenceto

thewaytheSovietshadtoyedwithusoverthesummit.Itreaffirmedour

willingnesstoplacerelationswiththeSovietUniononanewbasis.Itwarnedof

“seriousresults”shouldourhopesbedisappointed.Alltheassurancesinthe

speechandthenotecouldnotsugarcoatthefactthatthebargaining positions

betweenWashingtonandMoscowhadchanged.



NixonandhisseniorstaffthenwenttoPerino’sRestaurantinLosAngeles,

whereNixonreveledinanunchallengeabletriumph.Hemovedslowlytoour

tableinaboothinacorner,savoringthecongratulationsofsomedinersand

invitingthegoodwishesofotherswhohadnotyetheardthenews.We

celebratedwithadinnerofcrablegsandabottleofChateauLafite‐Rothschild

1961.Aswelefthelingeredonceagaininthefoyer,stoppingotherguestsby

introducingmeasthemanwhohadtraveledtoPeking,tothepuzzlementof

severalwhohadnotbeengluedtothetelevisionset.Itwasatouchingoccasion.

Nixonwasnotboastful;heactedalmostasifhecouldnotquitebelievewhathe

hadjustannounced.Therewasamutualshyness;Nixonwasalwaysillatease

withstrangers,andtheotherguestswerenotcomfortableinapproachinga

President.InhishourofachievementRichardNixonwasoddlyvulnerable,waiting

expectantlyforrecognitionwithoutquitebeing abletobridgethegulfbywhich

hehadisolatedhimselffromhisfellowmen.InthissensethesceneatPerino’s

symbolizedthetriumphandtragedyofRichardNixon.



Severaldaysofexcitement—andabsurdity—followed.Congratulations

pouredinfromallovertheglobe.Themediawerenearlyunanimousintheir

praise.Thereweresomechur lishcomments,notonlyfromconservativesbut,

interestingly,fromafewAmericanlibera lcriticswhofearedthatwewere

needlesslyantagonizingtheSovietUnion.Buttheseweresubmergedinanevent

thatcaughttheworld’simagination.Wedidnotlackadvice;someurgedthatthe

PresidentvisitPekingandMoscowonthesametrip;everygrouphaditsownpet

projectforNixontocarryout(endingtheVietnamwar,expandingtrade,andso

on).Butthiswasagoodproblemtohave; wehadnotpreviouslybeen

overwhelmedbyvolunteersofferingtosupportourpolicy.



OurCabinet’sTaiwanwanderlustwasimmediatelyreplacedbyanearly

unquenchableyearningofseniorofficialstovisitPekingonsuddenlyessential

business.SenatorsandCongressmendelugeduswithsuggestionsthattheytravel

totheMainlandandrequeststhatIusemynewcontactstoarrange

appointmentswithChouEn‐lai.Eventheagentofanightclubsingermanagedto

getthroughtoofferhisclient’s servicesforatourofChina’snightspots.When

toldtherewerenonightclubsinChina,hegrumbledincredulouslyandwroteitoff

asanimplausibleexcuseforWhiteHouseuppityness.



Haldemanwaspressuredbyhischieftotreattheeventasanunrivaled

opportunityto“sell”Nixon,embellishingthedramaintoanepicpoem.Thuswas

bornthelargelyapocryphalsagaoftheLincolnSittingRoomsessionsamong

NixonandmeandRogers.Iwasgivendetailedadvicetobriefthepressonthe

resemblancebetweenChouEn‐laiandNixon.Heroiceffortswererequiredto

convincetheWhiteHousestaff,browbeatenbyHaldeman,thathistoryhappens,

itisnotinvented,andthatthistime,anyway,Presidentialrestraintwasthebest

publicrelationspolicy.



Nixonwasatfirstuneasythatthepraisecamesolavishlyfromtheliberal

circleshedespisedandwasmoregrudgingfromtheconservativeswhohadhis

emotionalallegiance.Butafterafewdaysandsomeeffortsatexplanationeven

conservativesbegantorecognizethepotential.Theprincipalsournotecame

fromJapan,whosePrimeMinisterEisakuSatohadbeenastaunchfriendofthe

UnitedStates.Itwasparticularlypainfultoembarrassamanwhohaddoneso

muchtocementthefriendshipbetweenourtwocountries.TheChina

announcementbecameknowninJapanasthefirst“Nixonshock,”tobefollowed

amonthlaterbythesecondshockoftheemergencyeconomicprogramthat

imposedwage‐pricecontrolsathomeandtradeandcurrencyrestrictions abroad.



ArminMeyer,ourableAmbassadorinJapanatthattime,wasoneofthe

mostembarrassed.Heheardtheannouncement overArmedForcesRadiowhile

gettingahaircutandfirstthoughtthatNixon’sreferenceto“China” wasaslipof

thetongue.Accordingtohismemoirs,

Meyer’sinitialreactionwasbitternessat

thisinsensitivity,areactionthathesayswassharedbymanyotherAmericansand

JapaneseinTokyo.However,“afterdaysandweeksofreflection,”Meyerreached

theconclusionthat“thePresidentandhisAssistantforNationalSecurityAffairs

couldnothavehandleditinanintrinsicallydifferentmannerifits

accomplishmentwastobeassured.”Meyeradvancedanumberofreasons:that

theJapanesewerechronicallyunabletomaintainconfidentiality;thatotherallied

countries(Taiwan,Korea,SouthEastAsianallies,NATO)hadagreaterorequal

claimtoadvanceconsultation(nottomentiontheSoviets);thatJapanesepolicy

wasnotundercutbyoursbutonlydeprivedofitsdesiredopportunitytostay

aheadofusonaroadithadstartedtravelinglongbeforewedid—forasearlyas

January22,1971,Satohadpubliclyofferedtoincreasetradeandpresscontacts

withPekingandtoinitiatetalks onthegovernmentallevel.



Ibelieveinretrospectthatwecouldhavechosena moresensitivemethod

ofinformingtheJapaneseeventhoughMeyer’sconsiderationsprecludedearlier

consultation.Itwouldhavesurelybeenmorecourteousandthoughtful,for

example,tosendoneofmyassociatesfromthePekingtriptoTokyotobriefSato

afewhoursbefore theofficialannouncement.Thiswouldhavecombinedsecrecy

withademonstrationofspecialconsiderationforagoodanddecentfriend.Inthe

pressureofeventsthethoughtoccurredtonoone;itwasaseriouserrorin

manners.Theaccusationof“mistreatingourallies”waspickedupbymanycritics

whosedevotiontoourmilitaryalliancesandconservativeallieshadpreviously

beenwellhidden.ButevenwiththeperspectiveofnearlyadecadeIdonotknow

howthefundamentalsecrecycouldhavebeenavoided.Thedelicacyoftheevent

andtheuniquenessoftheopportunitymadeitessentialthattheUnitedStatesbe

incontrolofthecontextofitspresentation.



InhisspeechthePresidentwasabletostressthatourpolicywasnot

directedagainstanyothernationandwouldnotbeattheexpenseofourold

friends.Clichésthoughthesemaybe,oneneedonlyimaginetheconfusionif

unfocusedspeculationhadruledtheday.Hadthetripbeenannouncedin

advance,itwouldhavetriggeredweeksof speculationtowhichwecouldnot

respond.Opponentswouldhavehadanopportunitytoraisesinisterimplications

thatnoreassuranceswouldentirelydispel—especiallysincewedidnotreally

controltheagendaofthetalks.Evenostensiblesupporterscouldembarrassusby

puttingforwardthetraditionalagendaweweredeterminedtotranscend.And

somecountrieswiththebestclaimtobeingconsultedalsohadthehighest

incentivetosabotagethetrip.Tomaintainourcontroloverthepresentationof

theeventwassynonymouswithmaintainingcontroloverourpolicyandits

consequences.AsthePresident’sForeignPolicyReportofFebruary9,1972,

conceded,wepaidapriceforsecrecy,butthepricewas“unavoidable”andthe

reasonsforit“overriding.”

