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Conversation 019-073

TapeTape 19StartTuesday, January 25, 1972 at 8:55 PMEndTuesday, January 25, 1972 at 10:03 PMParticipantsKissinger, Henry A.;  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Henry Kissinger and Ronald Ziegler discussed public reaction to President Nixon's recent Vietnam speech, specifically focusing on a favorable account from an Indiana academic. Ziegler shared how the speech successfully shifted the perspective of a former skeptic, while Kissinger questioned the necessity of his upcoming press briefing in light of the positive momentum. Ultimately, Ziegler insisted that the briefing remain on the schedule to maintain the administration's communication strategy.

Vietnam WarPublic RelationsPress BriefingNixon SpeechPublic Opinion
AudioNARA Description

On January 25, 1972, Henry A. Kissinger and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:55 pm and 10:03 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-073 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 19-73

Date: January 25, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:55 pm and 10:03 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Henry A. Kissinger talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     Reaction to the President's previous speech on Vietnam
          -Ziegler's conversation with Ralph Marini of St. Joseph’s College, Indiana
                -The President's efforts
                -Marini’s voting record
                      -John F. Kennedy
                -Calls to White House
                      -Lt. William L. Calley, Jr.
          -Kissinger's briefing, January 26, 1972
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

He said, I want you to know that I'm in tears.
three former students of mine came back and called me.
He said, one, he said, I was... You didn't know the guy?
No, no, no.
I just happened to pick up the phone.
And he said, one of the people, he said, I was one of the people who, who over the last few months has in some degree distrusted, you know, what the administration was doing.
He said, and I also am a person who
When the president was elected, he felt that he could be one of the greatest presidents he had.
And I don't confess to that.
He said, I think that, he said, I don't give a damn about the elections.
He said, I voted for, he said, I voted for the president.
He said, before that, I voted for Kim.
But he said, the president is a sincere man.
And he said, I want you to tell him that.
He said, everything he is doing is right.
He said, I was one of those people who was a backbiter over the past months.
He said, but I didn't have the information that the president had.
That's, you think, the typical reaction?
He said, I hope everything works out the way he wants it to.
He said, I'm not in the habit of calling the White House.
He said, I've called the White House on two occasions.
He said, once was on the Cali trial, and he said, once is tonight.
He said, I've traveled all over the world, and he said, one of the greatest things is that I can pick up the telephone and get to the White House in 30 seconds.
You know, his voice was choked with tears.
But this is a teacher at St. Joseph College in Indiana who was really moved by it.
But the reaction is very different.
Ron, I'm wondering, with the reaction this good, why I should do another briefing tomorrow.
What do you mean?
Oh, absolutely, you've got to.
Well, let's talk about it in the morning.
No, there's no question about it.
You've got to.
We're committed to it.
Okay, well, I'll talk to the president.
Yeah, well, you've got to do the briefing tomorrow.
Okay.
I will do it.
Yeah, okay.
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