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Conversation 253-016

TapeTape 253StartWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 3:12 PMEndWednesday, May 26, 1971 at 3:15 PMTape start time00:59:00Tape end time01:02:12ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Price, Raymond K., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon met with speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to coordinate preparations for an upcoming West Point commencement address. The President expressed specific concerns regarding how the speech should frame Vietnam policy and distance his administration's position from existing, unsatisfactory drafts. Nixon directed Price to meet with him shortly thereafter to ensure the speech draft better aligned with his personal perspective and strategic vision.

West Point commencement speechVietnam policyPresidential speechwritingRaymond K. Price Jr.Administration messaging
AudioNARA Description

On May 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:12 pm to 3:15 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 253-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 253-16

Date: May 26, 1971
Time: 3:12 pm - 3:15 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Raymond K. Price, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 3-134]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Did you, did Andrews work on the West Point?
Is he there?
Yeah.
I did some work on it last night.
I had sort of a new idea.
And I was wondering, let's see,
I'm over in about 20 minutes.
You come in so that you can sort of get the feel of how I think about it.
And here's, let me tell you my concern.
My concern as a person, not with regard to what is written in the book, but my concern is that what is written in terms of everything else is almost totally
and the next in command policy in Vietnam, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Now, I'm not gonna run away from it.
I will, of course, pay attention to what I think.
I think that Pete should be rather different to that presented at this time.
Again, this has begun to be, in fact, my whole idea, and Pete Peterson, who I love, he had a problem with this,
I just, you know, coming in, his whole theory about it is, you know, they're on the line, you know, they're not going to do anything, you know, it's just, you know, they're not going to do anything, you know, it's just, you know, they're not going to do anything, you know, it's just, you know, they're not going to do anything.
All right, that'll do it.
EOB.
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