Memo from Henry Kissinger to President Nixon

National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger sent this memo about “My Meeting July 19 with the North Vietnamese” to President Richard Nixon. He describes his secret discussions with Le Duc Tho and Xuan Thuy, the first meeting since Nixon’s decision to intensify bombing of North Vietnam. Kissinger describes that he offered a temporary ceasefire while negotiations proceeded, but that North Vietnam declined. But he sensed they were ready to either make major progress toward a settlement, or to keep talks going until further battles and American politics played out. They agreed to meet again in August.