File scanned from the National Security Adviser's Memoranda of Conversation Collection at the Gerald R Ford Presidential Library MEMORANDUM THE WHITE HOUSE DECLASSIFIED WASHINGTON E O 12158 Sec 3 1 SECRET NODIS XGDS f't8 f 3 t J l f A S JJ- - loµv 9 a I B y Datt 'fl' 1 DD MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION PARTICIPANTS President Ford Henry A Kissinger Secretary of State Brent Scowcroft Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs DATE AND TIME Monday - March 15 1976 9 23 - 10 06 a m PLACE The Oval Office The President What do you think about sending Nixon's report back to him after we have seen it Kissinger I don't think we should give it wide distribution It sounds like a good idea to me I don 1 t think anyone but us and maybe George needs to see it The President Let• s think about it Kissinger Rogers has agreed to the economic job So I would move Habib to the Sisco job Then for the Assistant's jobs we could move up the deputy in Latin America For Asia either Sneider or Newsom Newsom is quiet and no world-beater but Sneider' s problem is he is out for himself The President I don 1t know either of them Scowcroft I prefer Newsom Kissinger We also need someone at Moscow We could use Toon though he is known as anti-Soviet Bruce is a possibility or Davis The President Bruce is great but it is a tough job SECRET NODIS XGDS CLASSIFIED BY Henry A Kissinger EXEMPT FROM GENERAL DECLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 11652 EXEMPTION CATEGORY 5 b 1 3 -- -- ------- ---1 AUTOJ IATICALLY DEC'VSS 1 FIET' 0' l _E to det S IBGRE I' NODIS XGDS -2- Kissinger We don 1 t have to decide it now The President Sadat's speech played well This should have some effect on the C-130' s for Egypt He is really being tough Kissinger It is possible we could have a war over Lebanon Partly because the Israelis might want to crack the Syrians And the Syrians may want to put troops along the southern frontier to help the PLO army It would be a peaceful move but I'm sure the Israelis would move I have warned Dinitz and told Asad I think it would provoke an Israeli reaction But if the PLO is there that could provoke a war too The President How about a UN presence along the border Kissinger That is a possibility -- I may have to go out there if it really gets bad I think sooner or later we have tq crack the Cubans I talked to Yamani last Friday and even the Iranians are worried about the Cubans getting into the Middle East countries I think we have to humiliate them If they move into Namibia or Rhodesia I would be in favor of clobbering them That would create a furor and we might have to come out for black rule But I think we might have to demand they get out of Africa The President What if they don't Kissinger I think we could blockade But I think we need a WSAG and maybe an NSC But I don't think we have to identify where they might move -- just examine contingencies for wherever they might act The President I am for that Can we do it right away Kissinger I am giving a speech in Dallas I thought I would talk about the need for a high defense budget point out the slackening relevance of strategic forces and that the present force structure relates to decisions of 10 years ago No one has taken on my Boston speech except it was political They even aren't talking abcut detente anymore The President I didn't see Jackson but he didn't sound so strong Kissinger I went to a dinner Saturday with Democratic liberals They attacked Jackson and congratulated me on my speech If Jackson is to the right of you I think you are in great shape a ECaET NODIS XGDS SfilOR FT NODIS XG DS The President -3- I think it will be Humphrey and Garter Kissinger I like Humphrey and it would be a good campaign but I think he would be an easy mark £or you too I am in a fight with Levi I think I cannot stand by while Halperin tries me in the press There is no inconsistency between me and Nixon except on an inconsequential point Hoover made clear in a memcon that Haperin was a security risk Edward Bennett Williams recomm ends I ask the court for relief from these attacks by enjoining against talking to the press and ask £or dismissal and so on In making a petition I could make the point there are no inconsistencies Levi says I have the case won and I just have to sit and take it I think I might pull the case away from Justice It will cause a bit of a stink The President Does Levi know this Kissinger He doesn't believe Pll go through with it But I am being tried in the press and when I win two years from now I will already be convicted Ed just doesn't want to make waves He thinks I have it won·and he is right on the legal points SEC li T NODIS XGDS - ' - - •-h- •·--•- ' ' '