Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-129

Nixon phone call with Lewis on People's Republic of China and Soviet Union

Tuesday, February 29, 1972 · 9:05 PM–9:08 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Lewis, Hobart D.Conversation020-129 on Tape 20 (tape position 04:22:22–04:25:05)StartTuesday, February 29, 1972 at 9:05 PMEndTuesday, February 29, 1972 at 9:08 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-129 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417192939 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis discuss the success and geopolitical implications of the President’s recent trip to the People's Republic of China. Lewis praises the media coverage of the visit, particularly the performances of the President and First Lady Pat Nixon, while both men emphasize the strategic impact of the trip on Soviet-American relations. They also touch upon upcoming Reader's Digest coverage by James Michener and dismiss critical newspaper reporting regarding the administration's policy on Taiwan.

Audio

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NARA Description

On February 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone from 9:05 pm to 9:08 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-129 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-129

Date: February 29, 1972

Time: 9:05 pm - 9:08 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Hobart D. Lewis.

     PRC trip
         -James Michener's effort
         -Television coverage
              -The President and Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
         -Possible effect on Soviet Union
              -The President’s talk with Lewis

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/30/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[020-129-w002]
[Duration: 12s]

       People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
              -Preparation
                     -President’s Florida trip on March 1, 1972
                     -Late night work

**********************************************************************

     People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
          -Chou En-lai
          -Taiwan, Republic of China [PRC]
               -Newspaper coverage
          -Readers Digest article
               -Michener
               -Preview by President's staff
          -Lewis’s health
          -Congratulations to the President and Mrs. Nixon
          -Length of preparation
          -Effect
               -World
               -Nation

                -Effect on Democrats

     The President’s schedule

     Greetings to unknown admiral

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

Hi, how are you?

Well, well, you're, you're, uh, you did a fine job.

You feel that way, do you?

Well, the television, of course, and everything, it sort of knocks out all the distinctions.

Oh, well, I thought the television worked.

I thought, you know, what you and Pat did on TV was sensational.

And the whole country, really, you know, electrified by it.

And what they don't realize, I'm sure, is the effect that they have in Moscow.

Oh, boy, it takes those bastards off.

That's where I think it all lies.

That's what it's all about, you know.

I know it is.

And you told me so six months ago, and...

So I really just think it's the greatest thing that can happen.

It's terrific.

This show and live was so damn tough.

I had to really keep up with it.

Yeah, he is tough.

Yeah, he's a very able, sophisticated, decent, but good guy.

Totally believe him.

He was right in mind.

Sure, right.

Well, you know, I think the way it worked out about Taiwan is just right.

We didn't do a thing on Taiwan that we weren't going to do otherwise.

That's right.

Absolutely.

I think the newspaper people are just trying to make points, you know.

They don't know enough about it.

Well, they're trying to find something to crap on.

Well, I'll let your people see what Mr. does before we finish, but I'm

No, no, he'll be fine.

I'm not worried a bit about it.

Right.

But he's fine.

Well, you're feeling well, are you?

I'm fine, and I'm certainly glad you're back, and I congratulate you and Pat on the job you did.

I think it's great.

It was, you know, such a long-range thing to do.

It's been two years in the making, hasn't it?

Almost three years.

Yeah, right.

Well, you know, quite a part of it.

It really changes the world.

Well, they'll find something, but it's pretty hard, isn't it?

Fine.

I will.

I haven't had it yet, but I will.

Right.

Good, Hope.

Good to talk to you.

Give my best to the Admiral.

Thank you.

Also recorded on February 29, 1972

020-125 8:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 8:49 pm to 8:52 pm.
020-126 8:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:52 pm and 8:57 pm.
020-127 8:57 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:57 pm and 9:05 pm.
020-128 8:57 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:57 pm and 9:05 pm.
020-130 9:08 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:08 pm and 9:13 pm.
020-131 9:13 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 9:13 pm to 9:17 pm.
020-132 9:17 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 9:17 pm to 9:19 pm.
020-133 9:19 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:19 pm and 11:59 pm.

All 50 conversations from February 29, 1972 →

Nixon & Kissinger on People's Republic of China and United Nations September 30, 1971 · 20 min
Nixon phone call with Kissinger on People's Republic of China and Vietnam War April 14, 1971 · 7 min
Nixon & Kissinger on People's Republic of China and Mao Zedong September 22, 1971 · 46 min
Nixon phone call with Cox on Spiro T. Agnew and Media coverage February 2, 1972 · 3 min
Nixon & Kissinger on Taiwan and Renunciation of force March 8, 1972 · 4 min
Nixon & Haig on United Nations and Taiwan October 18, 1971 · 26 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-129, February 29, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417192939). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-129 (accessed October 29, 2026).