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Conversation 032-027

TapeTape 32StartTuesday, October 24, 1972 at 7:31 PMEndTuesday, October 24, 1972 at 7:33 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AudioNARA Description

On October 24, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 7:31 pm to 7:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 32-27

Date: October 24, 1972
Time: 7:31 pm - 7:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

        Vietnam
            -Settlement
                 -The President’s work with Haig
                 -Henry A. Kissinger
                      -Trip to Hanoi
                           -The President’s view
                               -Impact
                                    -Domestic front
                               -Conditions
                                    -1972 election
            -Settlement
                 -Instructions for Clark MacGregor
                      -Response to Washington Star article
                           -Bombing
                      -Hardline
                           -Coalition government
                 -Kissinger
                      -Trip to Hanoi
                      -Meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                      -Trip to Hanoi
                           -The President’s orders
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yes, sir.
I've been thinking about this proposition, and the more I think about it is that you and I have got to work on this together.
We've got to
Henry off the Hanoi thing.
If they want to break, they can break, but we cannot have him go to Hanoi.
That's my view.
That will have a devastating effect, not only in South Vietnamese, but a devastating effect here at home.
I think so.
And we'll just say, all right, I'm sorry, he can't go.
We'll go right after election.
He can't go now.
If it's a winner and we've got an agreement, it's fine.
No, but we're not going to go to Hanoi hat in hand.
The second point is, would you call McGregor and tell him to take a very hard line
I noticed that the Star had something that I ordered.
It turned down to the bombing and the rest, which I didn't like.
But, you know, it was inevitable it came up.
But he's picked a hard line with regard to, I already told him, no coalition government.
And the only reason we're doing this is because negotiations are in progress.
But you see what I mean is right now, take a tough lie, not a soft lie.
Absolutely.
Why don't you do that?
Absolutely.
But when Henry gets back, and we'll talk in the morning, in the coolness of the morning, but there's no Hanoi trip under any circumstances at all.
It can't be done.
Well, I think it's a great security.
He had a luncheon today with his son of a bitch, and we got a proposal.
Yeah, sure.
They say, well, if he'd go to Hanoi.
That just plays right into Henry's hands.
Now, Henry's just panting to an annoy.
He's not going to go.
And I'm going to have to tell him and break him on it because he must not go.
That could be very devastating to us at home.
That's right.
Okay.
Good.
Thank you.
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