Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-114

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Otis Chandler and Press relations

Friday, April 16, 1971 · 11:05 PM–11:09 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation001-114 on Tape 1 (tape position 03:50:08–03:52:45)StartFriday, April 16, 1971 at 11:05 PMEndFriday, April 16, 1971 at 11:09 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 001-114 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Henry Kissinger to contact Otis Chandler to praise the quality of Chandler’s questions during a recent interview with newspaper editors. The discussion highlighted the administration’s strategy of cultivating positive relations with influential media figures following a session where topics like Asian policy, China, and environmental issues were addressed. Kissinger agreed to place the call immediately, noting the importance of the gesture in managing the press.

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Position in tape: 03:50:08 – 03:52:45

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Henry, I think a very good touch would be for you to get Otis Chandler on the phone and tell him that you thought his questions were very perceptive and sensitive.
The president thought that, that you just chatted with me about youth and the rest.
I'll do that.
Do a little crap right now, you know.
I'll do that.
He'll love it.
He was all right.
He was good, you know.
He smiled.
He's really... A decent man, really.
That's right.
I wonder very well.
I'll get the White House.
No, just call the White House and tell them he's at the showroom, and for them to get him for you, and tell them you're calling for the president.
They'll get him.
But I'll do it this minute.
Actually, you know, this little performance night, it wasn't much, but basically...
These editors, they had to hear, I mean, I couldn't give them the thing they wanted to hear, recognize Red China, admit them to the United Nations, give them a deadline with regard to this and that.
You notice what I said about residual forces, that we're not going to have a residual, I was very subtle about that, I said, not like Korea, but we're going to keep a residual force as long as it's necessary to see Vietnam can defend itself.
I will test now after I've finished with you.
Uh, talked to Adlai Stephenson, Jr. Did you?
Yeah, and he said, you know, on foreign policy...
I defended him, you know.
I beg your pardon?
Tonight I defended him.
I said it was a terrible thing that they bugged him, you know, during the convention.
You won hands down on foreign policy tonight.
He did?
Yeah.
And I didn't ask him what he thought because I didn't want to embarrass him.
That's good.
Well, you call Otis Chandler and say that the president thought his questions were excellent.
You tell him you thought his questions were excellent.
You just talk to the president.
He thought he really zeroed in on what really people were worried about, which is really true, Henry.
They're worried about kids.
You know, and what I said about kids, you and I know that they're not worth a damn.
But on the other hand, I did say that, look, if we bring peace and if we clean up the environment and the rest,
The kids may think maybe the system ain't all that bad, huh?
Well, you weren't saying anything, Mr. President, that this isn't true.
Whatever one thinks of some of the reactions, you defined the problem.
I think you should call him immediately, okay?
I'll call him this minute, Mr. President.
Yes, please.
Julie, please.
Thank you, sir.

NARA Description

On April 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 11:05 pm to 11:09 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-114 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 1-114

Date: April 16, 1971
Time: 11:05 pm - 11:09 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Kissinger's possible conversation with Otis Chandler
          -Chandler's questions at editors' interview with President
          -Chandler

     President's interview with newspaper editors
           -Administration's policies in Asia
                 -People's Republic of China [PRC]
                       -United Nations [UN]
                 -Vietnam
                       -Residual forces
                            -Korea
           -Kissinger's conversation with Adlai E. Stevenson, Jr.
                 -Wiretapping
                 -Reaction
           -Chandler
                 -Questions at editors' meeting
           -Young people
                 -Environment
           -Chandler

Also recorded on April 17, 1971

  • 001-109 10:56 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:56 pm and 11:01 pm.
  • 001-110 10:56 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:56 pm and 11:01 pm.
  • 001-112 11:01 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone from 11:01 pm to 11:03 pm.
  • 001-113 11:04 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:04 pm.
  • 001-115 11:09 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:09 pm.
  • 001-116 11:10 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at 11:10 pm.
  • 001-117 11:10 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:10 pm and 11:22 pm.
  • 001-118 11:10 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:10 pm and 11:22 pm.

All 49 conversations from April 17, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 001-114, April 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-114 (accessed October 12, 2026).