Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-037
Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Vietnam War and Public Relations
Wednesday, April 7, 1971 · 11:13 PM–11:14 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the political reception of the President's recent televised speech regarding the war in Southeast Asia. While they shared a supportive cable from Ambassador Ellsworth Bunker, Nixon expressed frustration over the perceived silence or hesitation from various administration officials and political allies. They reviewed feedback from key figures including Ronald Reagan, who praised the address, and Nelson Rockefeller, whom they analyzed as a self-interested political actor.
- Vietnam War
- Public Relations
- Presidential Speech
- Political Allies
- Henry Kissinger
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 11:13 pm to 11:14 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-037 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 1-37
Date: April 7, 1971
Time: 11:13 pm - 11:14 pm
Location: White House Telephone
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the President.
Reaction to President's speech on Southeast Asia
-Ellsworth Bunker
-Clark MacGregor
-White House staff "doves"
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Robert H. Finch
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Ronald W. ReaganAlso recorded on April 8, 1971
- 001-036 11:12 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone at 11:12 pm.
- 001-038 11:14 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
- 001-039 11:14 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
- 001-040 11:14 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
- 001-041 11:14 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
- 001-042 11:14 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
- 001-043 11:14 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Freeman F. Gosden, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
- 001-044 11:14 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 001-037, 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/001-037 (accessed October 9, 2026).