We have found that our, uh, friend,
the, uh, Republican nominee, our California friend,
has been playing on this outskirts with our enemies and our friends, both,
our allies and the others.
One of his associates said to a businessman
that we're going to say to Hanoi, "I can make a better deal than he has
because, uh, I'm fresh and new,
and I don't have to demand as much as he does
in the light of past positions."
Mrs. Chennault is contacting, uh,
their ambassador from time to time.
Seems to be kind of the go-between.
The net of it was that, uh, if they just, uh, hold out
a little bit longer, that, uh, he is a lot more sympathetic,
and he can kinda-- they can do better business with him
than they can with their present president.
I rather doubt Nixon has done any of this.
But there's no question but what folks for him are doing it.
Mrs. Chennault never saw President Thiệu.
Nor did we take it seriously.
Because, hey, we go through the US Embassy, okay?
That's the official conduit.
And frankly, the reason the South Vietnamese did not send
a delegation to the Paris talks at that time was this.
We said to the US, "What's the strategy between allies?"
"We cannot go there and you guys just take over,
thinking that, 'This is what is the best for South Vietnamese.'"
"We need to be aligned."
We never got a good answer.
We know, eventually, that the US will pull out troops.
We realize that it is our duty
to shoulder the responsibility to fight the war.
But we need help.
The Americans proclaim it as "the Vietnamization."
It's a catchy phrase to explain everything,
but in my view, it's pretty offensive to the South Vietnamese.
of the "Vietnamization" of the war was not accurate.
The war started with us,
and we gradually scaled up
and matured through and in battles
that built up a force, relying more on ourselves.
Because American go in there, just like in the cowboy movie,
"Here is the cavalry. They are-- We're going to do the job for you."
"Hey, we will just bomb the living daylight out of it,
and we're done."
But they don't understand the country, the attitude,
even the disposition of enemy forces.
The Vietnamese generals understood that,
but they find that American really didn't want to listen.
But we realized the pressure in the US politics.
If he cancels his trip because of this…
We were not told.
Suddenly, you went on-- on your own, and, you know, "negotiated"
what you Americans think is best for South Vietnam.
It's a betrayal between allies.
"You have only one mission."
"Just one mission."
"At the end of negotiations,
the US must withdraw its troops, and Northern soldiers stay."
We had a difficult time,
especially after the series of Tết Offensive battles.
There were groups we had to meet with
in the Cambodian jungles during those years.
Remember Kent State?
Didn't that have a hell of an effect, the Kent State thing?
Sure did. Gave them second thoughts.
Even if we're from two different countries,
we can empathize with each other.
You brothers have regained the dignity of being a soldier,
not only as soldiers protecting your country,
but also as soldiers defending another country.
Your spirit is very noble and respectable, no matter the circumstances.
The thing, though, that, Henry, that to me is just unconscionable,
this is treasonable action on the part of the bastards that put it out!
Exactly.
Doesn't it involve secure information,
a lot of other things?
What kind of people would do such things?
The prime suspect, according to your friend Rostow you're quoting,
is a gentleman by the name of Ellsberg,
who is a left-winger that's now with the RAND Corporation,
who also has a set of these documents.
Subpoena them. Christ, get them.
We're up against an enemy, a conspiracy.
They're using any means.
We are going to use any means. Is that clear?