A Decent Interval

Having established a framework for an armistice and the departure of American troops from Vietnam, President Nixon and National Security Adviser Henry A. Kissinger discussed the future trajectory of the war. Most importantly, they wanted to secure a “decent interval” between the removal of those troops, Nixon’s reelection in 1972, and the expected fall of Saigon. At this point in the conversation, Kissinger had just told Nixon they had a 50/50 chance of reaching a settlement with North Vietnam.