Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-085
Nixon phone call with Eisenhower on Vietnam War and People's Republic of China
Wednesday, April 14, 1971 · 7:45 PM–7:54 PM ET · White House Telephone · 9 min
AI Summary
President Nixon held a wide-ranging, informal discussion with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and David Eisenhower regarding the public and political reception of his recent foreign policy initiatives. The conversation covered domestic reactions to his April 7 Vietnam address, including polling data and editorial commentary, as well as the administration's efforts toward outreach with the People's Republic of China. Additionally, the participants engaged in a lighthearted dialogue concerning professional baseball, specifically discussing Carl Yastrzemski’s career and the President’s receipt of an MVP award.
- Vietnam War
- People's Republic of China
- Public opinion polls
- Major League Baseball
- Carl Yastrzemski
- Presidential communications
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone from 7:45 pm to 7:54 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-085 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 1-85
Date: April 14, 1971
Time: 7:45 pm - 7:54 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Julie Nixon Eisenhower and David Eisenhower.
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/20/2017. 8m
42s segment cleared for release. 18s remaining closed as 001-085-w001.]
[Personal Returnable]
[001-085-w001]
[Duration: 8m 42s]
The President’s Vietnam speech, April 7, 1971
-James J. Kilpatrick, Jr. editorial in Virginia Beach Star Ledger
-[First Name Unknown] Thomas
-Reaction
-Comparison to Inaugural address
-Political expediency
-Polls
-David Eisenhower
-Approval
-Disapproval
-War
-Laos
Carl L. Yastrzemski
-MVP Award given to the President
-Back
-Dr. W. Kenneth Riland
-Batting average
The President talked with David Eisenhower at an unknown time between 7:45 and 7:54 P.M.
The President’s conversation with Carl L. Yastrzemski
-Former meeting with David Eisenhower
-All Stars game
-Anti-drug speeches at high school
-Back
-Dr. W. Kenneth Riland
Carl L. Yastrzemski
-Baseball skills
-Potential batting average
-Salary
-David Eisenhower’s opinion
-Comparison to Alex Johnson
-Home run hits
-Family
-Support for the President
-Washington Post coverage
-MVP Award given to the President
-Denny D. Mclain
-Boston Red Sox
-Washington Senators
Baseball
-Boston Red Sox
-Washington Senators
-Denny D. Mclain
-Dick Bosman
Carl L. Yastrzemski
-The President’s opinion
The President’s Vietnam speech, April 7, 1971
-Polls
-Approval
-Opinion of Vietnam War
The President’s People’s Republic of China [PRC] initiative
-Press reaction
-Ping Pong team
-American reaction
-Communism
-Chinese isolationism
-Taiwan
-United Nations
-Russian opinion
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[001-085-w001]
[Duration: 18s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************Also recorded on April 15, 1971
- 001-081 7:27 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone from 7:27 pm to 7:40 pm.
- 001-082 7:40 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 7:40 pm to 7:41 pm.
- 001-083 7:41 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:41 pm to 7:42 pm.
- 001-084 7:42 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:42 pm and 7:45 pm.
- 001-086 7:54 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 7:54 pm to 7:55 pm.
- 001-087 7:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter M. Flanigan talked on the telephone from 7:55 pm to 7:57 pm.
- 001-088 7:58 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:58 pm.
- 001-089 7:58 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 7:58 pm to 8:03 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 001-085, April 15, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-085 (accessed October 12, 2026).