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Conversation 014-115

TapeTape 14StartMonday, November 15, 1971 at 7:23 PMEndMonday, November 15, 1971 at 7:26 PMTape start time03:49:21Tape end time03:52:41ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White House operator;  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed the People's Republic of China’s inaugural speech at the United Nations and the State Department's recommendation for an immediate, aggressive rebuttal. Both men agreed that a hasty response would be counterproductive, with Nixon specifically expressing suspicion that the State Department was attempting to sabotage his upcoming trip to China. Consequently, they decided to ignore the immediate pressure to respond and instead planned to study the speech carefully before issuing a measured, dignified statement later in the week.

People's Republic of ChinaUnited NationsForeign PolicyState DepartmentNixon's China VisitDiplomacy
AudioNARA Description

On November 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:23 pm to 7:26 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 014-115 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 14-115

Date: November 15, 1971
Time: 7:23 pm - 7:26 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with the White House operator.

     Henry A. Kissinger

Kissinger talked with the President.

     United Nations [UN]
          -People's Republic of China [PRC] delegate's speech
               -William P. Rogers’ views
               -Possible response
                     -Timing
               -Content
               -State Department's response
                     -Motivation

     Kissinger's meeting with the Earl of Cromer [George R.S. Baring]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello?
Mr. President, Dr. Kissinger is calling you, sir.
Yeah, bye.
Here you are.
Hello?
Hi, Henry.
Mr. President, I just wanted to call you to tell you that the Chinese, having presented their credentials, made a speech at the UN today.
And from fragmentary news reports, it was a rather rough one, that they stated, faked out their program.
Now, Rod has called and immediately wanted to hit back tonight.
I think we shouldn't hit back tonight.
We should study the scene.
And I think our position ought to be, we haven't even got the text of the game.
Yeah.
Time enough is tomorrow, every three things, three, four days after.
Mm-hmm.
That makes sense.
Well, certainly, certainly I wouldn't say anything tonight.
In fact, if we can get through tomorrow without saying something, which is just as well, then we could make a dignified but strong statement on Wednesday, which we can then consider.
So there's a certain amount of glee that's been said about this, and I think we should tell everyone else to do so.
A glee, you say?
Why?
Well, it takes an oddly way to get it to stray, and that it's not being typical before.
No, that's right.
Are you surprised at the speech?
No, I think it's good.
I think they'll behave moderately.
Yeah.
Every time I've been there, I've heard Henry Hillbottom speak.
That's about what I expected.
God damn it, they've got to be the leaders of the communist world in any event.
That's their point.
So I think that there's going to be that.
The main thing is to get our announcement off at the proper time, and that's that.
But it would be ridiculous to respond to them immediately.
Who wants to do that?
Roger.
Roger wanted Bush to reply tonight.
I think we should say nothing tonight and probably not tomorrow.
I wouldn't say anything tomorrow.
Tom, I want to study it tomorrow.
Right.
Sure, I'll take some time to study it tomorrow.
Well, we can play it, you know.
We can see whether we have to, but...
like responding tonight is the most ridiculous.
Why?
What is the line they take that needs to be responded to?
Oh, that they will support the enslaved people.
It wouldn't get so much as no deal about the Arabs behind their backs.
They will support Vietnam.
All of this, they've said.
They've said this to me, too.
Oh, for Christ's sakes.
What's that?
You know what?
It almost seems, though, that in this case, the state may be wanting to blow the China trip.
That's what I think.
Don't you think so?
Well, neither does the Russian one, but nevertheless.
Okay.
Just cold turkey.
Fine.
It'll work out, too.
How are you going to run with Cromer?
Well, this is pretty much as those would say.
All right.
Good.
Fine.
Okay.
All right.
Don't worry about it.
Bye.
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