President Ford–Henry Kissinger memcon (September 6, 1974)

by with Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger & Brent Scowcroft

MEMORANDUM

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

SECRET/NODIS/XGDS

MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION

PARTICIPANTS:

President Ford
Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
Lt. General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

DATE AND TIME:

Friday, September 6, 1974

PLACE:

The Oval Office

[After Schmidt meeting.]

Kissinger: It went brilliantly. He is committed now. With the two of you working together, the West, the alliance is going to be all right. Schmidt is a man of his word.

The President: I believe him. He is frank and understandable.

Kissinger: A miraculous change from Brandt and Scheel. I am really pleased with the relationship between you two. It will be the same as his with Giscard.

The President: Should I reaffirm it in a month or so by a phone call?

Kissinger: I would do it after the Martinque meeting, then periodically.

We now have superb structure -- Japan and now Germany. Your foreign policy is structurally in good shape except for the Middle East.

I would keep the French a half step behind the Germans.

The President: We have turned down a joint press conference?

Scowcroft: Yes.

Kissinger: You have these visits: Faisal. Golda. The Shah, between 15-20 May.

SECRET/NODIS/XGDS