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Conversation 009-017

TapeTape 9StartWednesday, September 15, 1971 at 12:18 PMEndWednesday, September 15, 1971 at 12:20 PMTape start time00:32:33Tape end time00:34:00ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon directed Alexander Haig to demand an immediate report from the State Department regarding the legitimacy of current foreign leaders in countries receiving U.S. aid. Nixon expressed frustration with the State Department's interpretation of his request, clarifying that he wanted to specifically identify which leaders had participated in contested elections that met American standards. He ordered Haig to ensure the department delivered this prioritized list within 15 minutes.

State DepartmentForeign aidElectionsZambiaGovernment legitimacyExecutive oversight
AudioNARA Description

On September 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 12:18 pm to 12:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 009-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 9-17

Date: September 15, 1971
Time: 12:18 pm - 12:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 277-6]

     Foreign leaders
          -Report
                -State Department
                      -Zambia
          -Leaders
                -Elected in a contested elections
                      -US standards
                      -List
                            -Delivery time

                                 -State Department
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
General Hicks.
You are.
Al, the state people missed the point I was trying to make.
Oh, yes.
It isn't the democratic process.
Look, for God's sakes, Zambia and all those places have a democratic process.
Now, let me give you the question very specifically.
I want, first, who is the present head of government of the country?
Second, in his last election...
Did he have a contested election?
Right.
Which meets U.S. standards.
All right, now go over that list, tell them I want it in 15 minutes from state, and tell those assholes to get going on it.
I expect it in 15 minutes.
All right.
Go over it.
They know who the president of everyone in this country, and some of them, I know some of these countries, they didn't have an election last time.
They didn't have an election.
that's the last time they may have had it now the democratic process is something altogether different right i want to know how many of the present leaders of the countries now they've gotten we've given aid no but i want that too that's something else the one on aid that's a better question that'll come later but i want on this particular list that they already have of the ones that have become independent
and some of them we've given aid to and some we haven't.
But I want them to say, now look here, how many of these countries' present leaders in his last election had a contested election meeting American standards.
Right, sir.
All right.
Now tell them to get off their butts.
Yes, sir.
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