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Conversation 001-016

TapeTape 1StartWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 10:00 PMEndWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 10:07 PMTape start time00:37:30Tape end time00:43:01ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rogers, William P.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers discuss the positive reception of the President's recent televised speech regarding the war in Southeast Asia. Rogers reports that guests at the Luxembourg Embassy, including foreign dignitaries, were moved by the address, particularly the emotional anecdote about a young boy named Kevin. They also address the ongoing political challenges regarding the POW issue, with Nixon expressing defiance toward Congressional opposition and maintaining that his policy stance is essential to avoid granting a victory to the communists.

Southeast AsiaPOW issuePublic opinionPresidential speechesVietnam War
AudioNARA Description

On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:00 pm and 10:07 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 1-16

Date: April 7, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:00 pm and 10:07 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with William P. Rogers.

     Reception at Luxemburg Embassy
          -Foreign Minister

     President's previous speech on Southeast Asia
           -Melvin R. Laird reaction
           -Kevin Taylor
           -Reaction of Luxemburgers
           -Reaction of American people
           -President's other options
           -Rogers’ copy
           -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
           -Taylor
          -Congressional leaders
          -Laird’s opinion
          -Prisoners of War [POW] issue
                -President's policy
                -Taylor's father
          -President's speech
                -Delivery
          -President's meeting with Congressional leaders
                -[Thomas] Hale Boggs
                -Carl B. Albert
                -Hugh Scott
          -President's speech
          -Adele (Langston) Rogers’ reaction
          -David M. Abshire’s reaction
          -Public reaction
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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 secretary yeah there you are hello bill i understand you're having gay evening at the luxembourg young foreign minister is a hell of a nice fellow and he's here in this country say i just thought that was tremendous that's gotta be it's gotta have a great influence i probably won't bill you know you you know don't don't get your hopes up because you know
When I saw Mel, you know, sitting there and whining.
I couldn't care less about it.
That had to be a speech with tremendous impact.
Well, you know, I put a lot of effort and, frankly, as you know, a lot of emotion into it because I felt it very deeply.
And that damn kid, Kevin, you know, really, I've only told you,
When he saluted me, I mean, I couldn't make the next presentation.
You know, a little kid, four years old, saluting.
Well, I tell you, it was, I don't know how you could have done it any better.
I thought the substance was great, and I thought your delivery was absolute perfection.
I don't know how the hell you could have done it better.
We watched it.
We had the whole crowd.
At the Luxembourg Embassy?
Are you still there?
Yeah.
I made this date a long time.
I wouldn't have done it, but I asked him.
I know.
I know.
But the whole thing was, you know, everybody in the room was touched, including the people from Luxembourg, the foreigners.
Were they touched by it?
Yeah, very much so.
It was interesting that afterwards, everybody...
Well, you know, let me say this.
If it doesn't work, what the hell?
If the American people don't want it...
Let me say, if they don't, Bill, look, I'm prepared.
Nobody knows.
We'll turn it right awful fast and forget it all.
Yeah, but you can't do that.
This was just great.
I had 450 top business leaders over the Department of Data.
I spoke to them from 530 to 640.
You had the copy of that, did you?
Good.
Well, I didn't.
I didn't tell them.
But you knew it was.
Actually, it was a pretty well-written copy.
It took me two weeks to write that damn thing.
Good was good.
It was tight.
And the delivery was excellent.
In the last part, you know...
But it was your suggestion.
I told Bob Alden, I'll tell you that you suggested, and then...
But then I had to find out something to say that was different, and that's where the little thing about Kevin came in.
I remember that little boy.
Good.
He really shook me.
He really shook me, that kid did.
Yeah, I'm sure that some of these sophisticates will say it was corny.
Oh, bullshit.
Just like they said that the fun speech was a bull.
That speech, Mr. Fretton, has got to have a hell of an impact.
And as far as I'm concerned...
I couldn't care less about Congress, what the goddamn resolutions are.
Screw them.
No, I'm serious.
I don't agree with Mel.
I don't think it's going to be that kind of a problem.
Mel is so... Of course, he's been taking a hell of a beating, Bill.
He's down there all the time.
But if he's right, let's fold our tents and go creeping away and sneaking away like a bunch of goddamn cowards.
But I'm not ready to do it.
Well, you can't do that.
I'll tell you, I'll bet you that that...
Speech will just turn the tables.
I have no...
Speech?
You really think so?
Absolutely.
I really have no doubt about it.
In my opinion...
We will not have any serious problem now.
We'll have demonstrations and we'll have speeches.
But I'll be perfectly happy to...
But the main thing, Bill, is the prisoner thing.
They say prisoners versus withdrawal.
That's going to be the next big issue.
So we've got to find a good angle on that.
I just want to say... What I said about Kevin, I mean, his father, good God, he would never trade, you know, prisoners versus withdrawal because what the hell?
What does that do?
That gives victory for the communists.
I don't know how you could have said it better.
The whole thing was, the delivery was perfect.
I've never seen you deliver one better.
It wasn't, you know, I spent an hour with those goddamn leaders, you know.
They're nice, but, because Boggs wasn't there.
But nevertheless, we had Albert and Scott and all the rest.
Right.
And I spent an hour with him.
And, you know, I met with him, Bill, from 7 to 8 o'clock.
And I had to rush over, take a shower, get ready, go over and go on.
I don't know how the hell I did it.
Well, you can go to sleep, have a few drinks, go to sleep knowing it.
It was a tremendous, tremendous beach.
How did Adele think?
Is she there?
She felt the same way.
As I say, everybody in the room, Dave Abshard and his wife.
How did he feel?
The same way he felt.
It was tremendous.
Good.
Well, that's good.
I'm not saying that, you know.
I know that.
You wouldn't bullshit me.
I know that.
I understand, Bill.
If it isn't, Christ, if this doesn't make it, to hell with it.
That's right.
Then we'll do something else.
If this doesn't make it, the country doesn't deserve you.
That's right.
Well, it isn't.
Not me, but they don't deserve what they've got for themselves.
That's right.
Okay, get back and enjoy the caviar.
Okay, thank you.
Do my best for the ambassador.
I sure will.
Thank you.
Bye.
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