Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-158
Nixon, Kissinger & Moorer on Operational Security and Vietnam War
Thursday, May 4, 1972 · 3:55 PM–5:15 PM ET · White House Telephone · 51 sec
AI Summary
Henry Kissinger contacts Admiral Thomas H. Moorer to coordinate a high-priority, clandestine meeting with President Nixon. Kissinger instructs Moorer to expedite the departure of a visiting Taiwanese admiral to ensure immediate availability for the President. The conversation emphasizes strict operational security, specifically warning Moorer not to disclose his movements to anyone.
Audio
NARA Description
On May 4, 1972, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-158 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 23-158
Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:55 and 5:15 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the White House operator.
[See also Conversation No. 334-44G]
Request for a call to Thomas H. Moorer
Kissinger conferred with the President at an unknown time.
[See Conversation No. 334-44G]
[End of conferral]
Kissinger talked with Moorer.
Moorer's meeting with Kissinger
-Confidentiality
-Moorer's meeting with unknown Taiwan, Republic of China admiralTranscript (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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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Also recorded on May 4, 1972
- 023-153 3:04 PM · 8 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-154 3:04 PM · 31 sec — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-155 3:04 PM · 2 min — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-156 3:04 PM · 18 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-159 3:55 PM · 11 sec — Alexander P. Butterfield, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-160 3:55 PM · 11 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-161 3:55 PM · 7 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-162 3:55 PM · 41 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, and Muriel Hartley talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:25 pm.
Related conversations
- Nixon & Haldeman on Document handling and White House procedures June 28, 1972 · 3 min
- Nixon phone call with Reagan on UN vote on China and Taiwan October 26, 1971 · 12 min
- Nixon phone call with Ziegler on China-US relations and Taiwan February 28, 1972 · 3 min
- Nixon, Haldeman & Kissinger on Foreign aid and United Nations October 30, 1971 · 1 hr 2 min
- Nixon, Kissinger & Colson on People's Republic of China October 11, 1971 · 49 min
- Nixon & Haig on Ceasefire and Henry Kissinger June 20, 1972 · 2 min
Cite this conversation
Conversation 023-158, May 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417193601). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-158 (accessed November 7, 2026).