Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-017

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Vietnam War and Vietnamization

Wednesday, April 7, 1971 · 10:07 PM–10:16 PM ET · White House Telephone · 8 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation001-017 on Tape 1 (tape position 00:43:01–00:51:02)StartWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 10:07 PMEndWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 10:16 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 001-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the overwhelmingly positive public and political reception to the President’s recent televised speech regarding the ongoing conflict in Southeast Asia. Haldeman provided a detailed breakdown of supportive feedback from Cabinet members, labor union leaders, and conservative organizations, noting that Nixon's tone and extemporaneous remarks were particularly effective. The conversation served as a post-speech assessment to confirm that the administration's messaging on Vietnamization successfully resonated with the public and countered domestic critics.

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
Thank you, Senator Haldeman.
There you are.
Hello.
Hi.
Hi, Bob.
You know, Rogers is really ecstatic.
Is he?
He called me God.
I don't know.
He sort of surprised me.
He said, this is as great as a fun speech.
But it wasn't that, of course.
But it was a goddamn good speech.
It was... That thing is coming through, all the way through, in all of these things.
The calls... You've talked to him, and did you talk to the Vice President?
Yeah, I talked to him and Nate Carson.
Billy Graham?
And Graham.
I talked to those three because I felt I should.
Well, Henry was the first one to call you, and then the Attorney General, Hope Lewis, Dole.
I heard about all those, yes.
Rockefeller.
Rockefeller called.
Well, that went with him, but nevertheless.
We got a report from Reagan, and he made the point that although the factual, he said the factual material was very effective and effectively refuted the scare tactics of the other side, but the most moving portion was where he was obviously speaking from the heart.
and uh that he'll of course continue to speak out in favor of the policy johnny rhodes says you set the record straight laid to rest the false rumors don't think anyone who saw his speech could have any doubt as to his dedication to making vietnamization work weicher which is interesting said he made a very very effective presentation in my statement to the press i will emphasize the fact that the stepped withdrawal rate will go a long way to reducing american ground combat role by the end of this year
And he's found a way to go with his thing.
Congressman Forsyth said he's really staying with his plan.
Wonderful.
I had hoped he could have gone further, but I'm reaching for something where we're really going to be out sometime soon.
I know he has the courage to stay on his course.
The chart he showed was excellent.
But a lot of comment on the chart.
uh cliff hansen said the president despite constant criticism from those political enemies who distort the facts has held a true course in winding down american involvement indo-china again reported straightforwardly kept it keeps his promise but needs our support personal duty of every loyal american to refuse to allow criticism to go unchallenged senator scott uh
He says, I know he has a timetable and for obvious reasons he cannot tip his hand to the enemy, but the most important fact is we are getting out of the war.
We are bringing our people home.
We have cut the casualties significantly.
President Eisenhower said he would end the Korean War, and he did it.
President Nixon has said he would end our involvement in South Vietnam, and he is doing it.
I urge all Americans to lend their support to his goal to end the war.
Did you hear from any cabinet officers?
Yeah.
Which, besides Rogers?
But, uh...
As I told you, Attorney General is waiting to call him.
Romney, we took a message on.
That's right, I don't need to call him.
Said it was very clear and understandable that people are fed up with the war and they'll be disappointed the rate wasn't faster, but I personally agree with his policy and he will be down by next spring.
Hodgson, the real emotional charge conveyed feeling of steadiness.
Eastern press will blast him, but it'll die out.
He gave the impression that he was elected to bring steadiness and he will not react to moods.
And see, that's what's coming through.
Raj Martin says, super.
He will get a lot of flack, but he explained it so well that he'll shoot a hole in the congressional resolution for a 72 pullout.
He was unusually relaxed and confident.
He really got through to the people.
His leadership came through.
Blunt says, very clear and strong.
You couldn't miss the point.
The only ones who won't understand are the ones who don't want to understand.
Volpe says, more calm, rational, and cool manner than he's ever done on Vietnam.
He was so sincere.
The Kevin Taylor ending was just the right touch.
He nailed down very well.
Well, we won't give a full update.
And, uh... That's fine.
Okay, got a lot of, uh...
Damn good.
The union stuff is sensationally good.
I caught.
Is that George Meany?
No.
I don't have Meany.
Brennan?
We don't check anybody.
Wait a minute, let me... About who?
Well, just a second.
Let me find him.
Okay.
Peter Faso, president of Labor, I don't know which one, is international.
The whole country should stand behind the president.
He's the best position to know what to do.
Michael May, New York firefighters.
The president is doing the best anyone could possibly do.
I don't think the president should get out too fast.
We must not have sacrificed our people for nothing.
And John Greiner, the government employees, president, telepresident, he's with him all the way.
Frank Rafferty, Painters International, doesn't think the withdrawal should be any faster, supports the president, will issue a statement in the morning.
Support down the line.
Jesse Calhoun, President of Marine Engineers.
The President is doing exactly the right thing.
He'll support him and get the word to everyone he can.
Uh, Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Mattel.
Tom Boyle, chemical workers, wants to wait till he reads the papers tomorrow.
Yeah, that's right.
I'm up to it.
What about any other cabinet officers?
That's all we got.
The rest of the sons of bitches are sitting around waiting.
You haven't heard?
What about Connolly?
He would have called, I would think.
No, don't have.
That's right.
They may have.
The board is completely jammed, so they may have called Rose.
Some get through and some don't, and they may have gotten Rose.
That's right.
I don't mind.
I don't mind.
I just wanted to know.
I've got a bunch of the businessmen, if you want any of those.
Well, none of them are worth a shit.
I don't know.
Unless you think there's one that is.
If you have to, tell me one.
You really got to Mulcahy.
He says, I watched with a group of 20 people.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
The greatest speech by a president of the United States.
Absolutely superb.
Never has a president spoken so beautifully and sincerely.
Fantastic reaction from our entire group, ranged from 70 to 70 in age.
Tell the president he has my life and my fortune.
That's the best thing.
To hell with the other businessmen.
They won't do a goddamn thing either with their lives or their fortunes, except, you know, screw somebody else.
President Tuskegee thought it was very good.
Mayor of Patterson, New Jersey said it was extremely well done.
Use of charts most effective.
Most impressive aspect of all was President's sincerity.
He has never seen the President come across better on a person-to-person basis.
well it'll give the television people something to worry about robert terrell professor at indiana president obviously sincere gave a moving presentation that was artfully worded and convincing listen with a group of friends who are not at all friendly to the administration but they too were moved by the president's remarks especially the last few minutes when he spoke extemporaneous okay well that does it i think that's pretty good it's in any event uh we shook him up a little
I don't know what we did with the people.
Who knows?
But you know, the most important thing is don't ever tell anybody about what Cali did to the people.
Let everybody think that this did it.
If anything happens.
I know.
It may not.
I don't know.
We'll see.
It probably will level off.
I think it probably will level off at 52 or 53, and that's it.
You got the conservatives.
The Yafs thought it was great.
The Yafs?
Yeah.
Well, they should.
For Christ's sakes, I was sure everything was going to be fine.
The most impressive he's ever heard.
And the chairman of the American Conservative Union, Stanton Evans, said,
Oh, he's good.
He's in the active support of most American conservatives, and he would have liked to see some discussion of the strategic atmosphere.
Oh, shit.
I know that's what Buchanan wants to write.
He's going to give you strong editorial support.
Buchanan thought it was magnificent.
He was... Was he pleased?
Yeah, Ray Price said it was overall excellent, extremely powerful ending, delivery very persuasive, chart highly effective, tone right, presentation lucid, delivery superb.
Mark Good thought the off-the-cuff remarks at the end were sensational.
Good as no, but... Garmin, absolutely first-rate on all counts.
Substance and delivery, particularly the last few minutes, outstanding.
Yeah, that was Bosch's decision to suggest all that.
Well, good.
Dent made the same point.
Buchanan said, magnificent and very moving.
Yeah, good.
They all loved the last.
Yeah.
But that's the way, the last took me about eight hours to write.
Well, it was worth it.
Okay.
Fine, Bob.
I did it.
All right.

NARA Description

On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 10:07 pm to 10:16 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 1-17

Date: April 7, 1971
Time: 10:07 pm - 10:16 pm
Location: White House Telephone

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President.

     President's previous speech on Southeast Asia
           -Reactions to speech
                 -William P. Rogers
                 -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                 -William F. (“Billy”) Graham
                 -Henry A. Kissinger
                 -John N. Mitchell
                 -Hobart D. Lewis
                 -Robert J. Dole
                 -Nelson A. Rockefeller
                 -Ronald W. Reagan
                 -John J. Rhodes
                 -Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.
                 -Edwin B. Forsythe
                 -Clifford P. Hansen
                 -Hugh Scott
                 -George P. Romney
                 -James D. Hodgson
                 -Rogers C. B. Morton
                 -Winton M. (“Red”) Blount
                -John A. Volpe
                -Union leaders
                      -George Meany
                      -Peter J. Brennan
                      -Peter Fosco
                      -Michael J. May
                      -John F. Griner
                      -S. Frank Raferty
                      -Jessie M. Calhoon
                      -Textile workers leaders
                      -Charles W. Colson follow up
                      -C. L. Dennis
                      -Frank E. Fitzsimmons
                      -Thomas Boyle
                -John B. Connally
                -Business leaders
                -John A. Mulcahy
                -President of Tuskegee
                -Mayor of Paterson, New Jersey
                -Robert Turrell (sp?)
                -Public reaction
                      -Lt. William L. Calley, Jr. case
                -Conservatives
                      -Young Americans for Freedom [YAF]
                      -M. Stanton Evans, American Conservative Union
                -Patrick J. Buchanan
                -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
                -Mark I. Goode
                -Leonard Garment
                -Harry S. Dent
                -Buchanan

Also recorded on April 8, 1971

  • 001-013 9:49 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:49 pm and 9:52 pm.
  • 001-014 9:52 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 9:52 pm to 9:55 pm.
  • 001-015 9:56 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew talked on the telephone from 9:56 pm to 10:00 pm.
  • 001-016 10:00 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:00 pm and 10:07 pm.
  • 001-018 10:16 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:16 pm and 10:20 pm.
  • 001-019 10:20 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:20 pm.
  • 001-020 10:20 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:20 pm and 10:21 pm.
  • 001-021 10:21 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 10:21 pm to 10:27 pm.

All 67 conversations from April 8, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 001-017, April 8, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-017 (accessed October 9, 2026).