Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 20 › Conversation 020-117

Nixon phone call with MacGregor on People's Republic of China

Monday, February 28, 1972 · 2:48 PM–2:50 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); MacGregor, ClarkConversation020-117 on Tape 20 (tape position 03:44:54–03:47:31)StartMonday, February 28, 1972 at 2:48 PMEndMonday, February 28, 1972 at 2:50 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 020-117 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Clark MacGregor discuss the highly positive reception from congressional leaders, including Barry Goldwater and J. William Fulbright, regarding the President's recent diplomatic trip to the People's Republic of China. MacGregor emphasizes the Senate's pride in the upcoming visit of Majority Leader Mike Mansfield and Minority Leader Hugh Scott to China, noting it bolsters institutional morale. The conversation also touches upon managing Fulbright's specific concerns regarding Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, as well as the President’s need for rest following his intense workload during the trip.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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very good uh i have talked personally with
Such people have diverse views as Barry Goldwater and Bill Fulbright, and they each were most impressed with the meeting this morning, and they're most complimentary not only towards your conduct of the meeting, but towards every aspect of your trip.
But everyone is euphoric here, and of course the Senate is proud.
Yeah, that's leaders Manfield and Scott.
Isn't that a good thing, though?
Oh, Mr. President.
Incidentally, you know, I worked that out after a torturous negotiation, but I'm glad to know that.
No, the Senate is an institution, and each senator is proud of the fact that the first visitors after the president will be the majority and minority leaders of the Senate.
That's a very good thing to do, Mr. President.
Gee, that's big.
Not only within the Senate, but I think in the country.
But we couldn't tell them too much today.
I understand.
But that's why I tried to give them more color and that sort of thing.
But they like that too.
You don't know what the leaders are like and why we do this and that.
And we can't give them any more in the future because it's all done now.
Mr. President, Bill Fulbright was flattered by the few words that you expressed to him in the presence of the Secretary of State just before you left the Cabinet Room.
Yeah, Larry said we hoped he'd work with Bill about what we couldn't answer him that we couldn't.
Right.
But he was flattered that you took the time to give him that private message.
So even though with him it's more important than it is to press anybody else.
He's giving us a hard time on, as you know, on Radio Free Europe and Radio Libertarian.
We're trying to work that out now.
And I'm going to see Bill Fulbright again today.
On that subject, we surely will, sir.
But no, the meeting was good.
Well, Peter's meeting was excellent, Mr. President.
We're glad you were.
We're so pleased that you and Mrs. Nixon are home in good health and good spirits with such a fantastic accomplishment.
We're in good health and good spirits, but a little bit bushed.
I can believe it.
You didn't get much of any sleep.
It didn't sound like it.
You were up until 4 or 5 o'clock working night after night, yeah.
Oh, gosh.
Okay.
Well, I hope you'll get some rest.
All right.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On February 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone from 2:48 pm to 2:50 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-117 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 20-117

Date: February 29, 1972
Time: 2:48 pm - 2:50 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Clark MacGregor.

[See Conversation No. 322-5]

     Congressional leaders
         -MacGregor meeting with people such as Barry M. Goldwater. and J. William
               Fulbright
               -Reaction to leadership meeting
               -Reaction to the President’s recent trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
         -Michael J. Mansfield and Hugh Scott forthcoming trip to PRC
               -Senate reaction
               -The President’s negotiations
               -MacGregor view
         -Information disclosure
               -“Color”
               -Future possibilities
         -Fulbright
               -Meeting with President and Secretary of State William P. Rogers
                     -Reaction
               -Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty

     The President’s schedule
          -Thelma C. (“Pat’) Nixon
          -Workload

Also recorded on February 28, 1972

  • 020-115 2:42 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:42 pm and 2:48 pm.
  • 020-116 2:42 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:42 pm and 2:48 pm.

Cite this conversation

Conversation 020-117, February 28, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/020-117 (accessed October 2, 2026).