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Conversation 001-032

TapeTape 1StartWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 10:49 PMEndWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 10:50 PMTape start time01:10:56Tape end time01:12:36ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Nixon, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan);  Eisenhower, Julie NixonRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon, Ronald Ziegler, Pat Nixon, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower discuss the immediate press and public reaction to the President's televised address on Southeast Asia. Ziegler reports that the briefing conducted by Henry Kissinger was well-received, noting that the press appeared silenced and impressed by the President's consistency and the speech's emotional conclusion. Nixon emphasizes the importance of standing firm in his policy decisions and ensuring the defense of American servicemen remains a central theme.

Southeast Asia policyPresidential speechesWhite House press corpsHenry KissingerPublic opinionVietnam War
AudioNARA Description

On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone from 10:49 pm to 10:50 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-032 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 1-32

Date: April 7, 1971
Time: 10:49 pm - 10:50 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler; Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon and Julie Nixon
Eisenhower can be heard in the background.

     President’s previous speech on Southeast Asia
          -Reaction
                -Henry A. Kissinger
                -Ending of speech
                -Helen A. Thomas
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Well, how did your people...
I just got some of my family in here at the moment, but what about your people?
They hold themselves, or they're acting like a bunch of damn fools to you?
No, I think I sensed in the briefing that Henry gave after they had read the...
that uh the number of them of course were trying to get themselves back on track because a lot of them were pretty far out on the limb yeah but i think you can sense when something you know significant is happening there's a sort of a silence you sense in the room yeah and i think they they gathered the very clear significance of what tonight meant in other words your consistency and uh
fact that you were carrying through was something you firmly believed in and i think the ending must have shook him a little because they didn't expect that the ending was this person was great fantastic helen thomas helen thomas had missed part of the ending so i had it replayed for and she the reaction to that he had every every person in the country i'm sure just
You know, on the edge of their seat, just in silence, because it was a very, very effective moving thing.
Well, we'll see what happens tomorrow.
Just stand firm.
Yes, sir.
I think the reaction has to be good.
Give them a goddamn inch.
I think it has to be good.
We defended the American serviceman, too.
Yes, sir.
Right?
Okay, boy.
Very effective.
Yes, sir.
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