← 019-095019-097 →

Conversation 019-096

TapeTape 19StartWednesday, January 26, 1972 at 10:42 AMEndWednesday, January 26, 1972 at 10:43 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon directs Alexander Haig to have Ambassador J. William Middendorf II join his upcoming meeting with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands to minimize the time commitment required from the President. By including the Ambassador, Nixon seeks to characterize the visit as a social call and create a scheduling buffer that allows him to excuse himself afterward. This arrangement serves to streamline the President's schedule by avoiding a planned individual follow-up session with the Ambassador.

Presidential schedulingNetherlandsJ. William Middendorf IIAlexander HaigDiplomacy
AudioNARA Description

On January 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 10:42 am to 10:43 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-096 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 19-96

Date: January 26, 1972
Time: 10:42 am - 10:43 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 656-10E]

     The President's schedule
          -The Prime Minister of the Netherlands
               -J. William Middendorf, II
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah, look, have Mittendorf sit in with this Prime Minister.
Is there any reason he can't?
Otherwise, I've got to waste a half hour talking to him afterwards.
No, I think...
I mean, is there any reason?
not that i'm aware of sir yeah you know what i mean this guy really shouldn't be seeing even except he's a dutchman that's right jesus christ i mean it's a pure social call you know to crap around about some of the stuff of that but god damn it our ambassador sits in all right fine and it isn't the kind of private talk i usually have the ambassador sits in good and then i and then tell me i'm sorry but i'm tied up
Right afterwards, see?
Right.
See, because they have him on now for a half-hour meeting after the prime minister, and I just haven't got that much time to spend on Holland today.
Good, Mr. President.
Yeah, so, okay.
All right.
← 019-095019-097 →