Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 004-096
Date: Wednesday, June 9, 1971 at 3:07 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/004-096

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:01] Hello.
[0:02] Yes, sir.
[0:02] Hi, Ron.
[0:03] I was noting in the news summary that Howard Smith put out a report with regard to the casualties last week, and indicating that the administration was putting them out two days early because they were so low.
[0:21] Right.
[0:22] What's the background of that?
[0:25] Were you asked to confirm it?
[0:27] No, sir.
[0:27] I wasn't asked about it at all.
[0:29] I think probably someone leaked it.
[0:32] We did not issue it formally.
[0:34] Well, then it'll still be issued formally, huh?
[0:37] Yes, sir.
[0:38] It wasn't carried by the other networks, huh?
[0:40] No.
[0:41] I could call Howard and talk to him.
[0:43] No, no, no.
[0:45] But the background is we did not release it formally.
[0:49] Yeah, yeah.
[0:51] Well,
[0:52] Don't rub around too much.
[0:53] He put out 20, didn't he?
[0:56] 19 was his figure.
[0:58] I believe, as I recall, he referred...
[1:00] The figure is 19, but the news summary said what?
[1:03] Under 20.
[1:04] The news summary said...
[1:05] It said under 20, right.
[1:06] Yeah.
[1:09] But it will be formally announced, the casualty list will be formally announced.
[1:14] I want it to get a damned adequate ride when it is announced.
[1:18] It'll be well known.
[1:19] If it is asked about it, just say it.
[1:21] I'll just say we'll announce it on Thursday.
[1:23] Well, we do not have the final figure.
[1:25] Right.
[1:25] The final figure is not known until Thursday.
[1:29] All right, fine.
[1:30] It'll be put out then.
[1:32] Okay.
[1:33] Will you handle it that way?
[1:33] Yes, sir.
[1:34] As I've told everybody around, I told Laird and others, I wanted to be sure that this is properly played because it's a very significant number.
[1:44] Well, it's the lowest since 1965.
[1:46] Yes, and
[1:47] and it's the first below 20.
[1:49] That's the important thing, getting down to the... And bears out the fact that after Laos, they came down, as we said they would, and so forth and so on.
[1:58] Of course, they've been coming down anyway, but this is a way that dramatizes it far more.
[2:05] Okay.
[2:05] Okay, I took Clifford on a little bit today.
[2:08] Oh, you did, yeah.
[2:09] In response to the... Yeah.
[2:12] Some further questions on...
[2:14] On the POWs, I indicated that those who are making statements without concrete evidence are raising false hopes, and perhaps for domestic political objectives.
[2:26] Yeah, that's good.
[2:28] That's what's moving.
[2:28] Well done.
[2:30] Okay.