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Conversation 002-025

TapeTape 2StartWednesday, April 21, 1971 at 4:59 PMEndWednesday, April 21, 1971 at 5:02 PMTape start time00:36:12Tape end time00:38:10ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Saxbe, William B.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon calls Senator William B. Saxbe to express appreciation for Saxbe's recent televised comments regarding his ten-day fact-finding mission to Southeast Asia. The discussion centers on the complex situation in Laos, with Nixon emphasizing the presence of North Vietnamese and Chinese troops and highlighting the historical context established by W. Averell Harriman. Nixon directs Saxbe to provide a comprehensive debriefing to Henry Kissinger regarding his observations and the performance of Ambassador G. McMurtrie Godley.

LaosSoutheast AsiaHenry KissingerG. McMurtrie GodleyW. Averell HarrimanVietnam WarForeign policy
AudioNARA Description

On April 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William B. Saxbe talked on the telephone from 4:59 pm to 5:02 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 002-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 2-25

Date: April 21, 1971
Time: 4:59 pm - 5:02 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William B. Saxbe.

[See Conversation No. 485-4B]

     Saxbe's appearance on television

     Saxbe's visit to Southeast Asia
          -Laos
                -Report to Henry A. Kissinger
          -Kissinger
          -G. McMurtrie Godley
          -W[illiam] Averell Harriman
                -Origins of Laotian policy
          -North Vietnamese, People’s Republic of China [PRC] troops
          -Administration's policy
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Hello.
hello bill yes sir just wanted to thank you for your i didn't get to see it but i just looking at my news summary and i saw you your your comments on the morning show and i'm grateful i hope you don't catch too much hell for it i'm i won't no i think that i followed you while you were out there how long you were gone about how long 10 days 10 days it's it's it's really worthwhile you know you give you an insight on what's going on especially because nobody can believe that
I have asked, and I would appreciate it if you would do this, you know, and I know you get that thing, but if you could give a full report to Henry Kissinger on it.
I would be happy to.
And then after you finish, I'd like to get a little feel of it myself.
One of the difficulties that I had talking about last is that it,
I'm sure you're familiar with it.
What's going on there is just very unusual.
Yes, of course.
We know.
You don't even talk about it on the phone.
A lot of it's classified, and I was limited on what I could say, but I think this godly is doing about all he can do.
He's a good man.
He's a good man, and a decent man, too, you know.
He's a decent man, and he's thrust into an unusual position for a different man.
You want to remember, too, that, Bill, that Laos is something that Harriman set up back in 1962, that this has been going on, that we made the first disclosure of it last year in March, and that we're doing everything we can to wind the damn thing down.
If there weren't 50,000 North Vietnamese in there, there'd be no problem.
And don't forget about 14,000 Chinese.
Yeah, yeah, up there in that road thing, that's the kind of thing I'd like to get a little fill in.
Well, I'll have Henry give you a call, and if you'd fill him in, I'd appreciate it.
I'd be happy to.
Fine, fine.
And get a little rest.
Thank you.
Bye.
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