Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 22 › Conversation 022-153

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Vietnam and Alexander Haig

Sunday, April 16, 1972 · 2:35 PM–2:36 PM ET · White House Telephone · 44 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation022-153 on Tape 22 (tape position 05:54:12–05:54:56)StartSunday, April 16, 1972 at 2:35 PMEndSunday, April 16, 1972 at 2:36 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 022-153 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger spoke briefly to coordinate a follow-up briefing regarding recent reports from Alexander Haig. Kissinger, who was attending a personal engagement, provided a preliminary update on the situation in Vietnam. The President deferred a detailed discussion until Kissinger returned home, prioritizing a formal report over an immediate phone conversation.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Hello.
Hello.
Mr. President.
You are out to lunch, aren't you?
I'm at that lunch for the christening, but I can talk where I am.
Oh, no, no, no.
Well, I don't need to, no.
No, no, but I can talk from here.
Yeah.
When will you finish and so forth?
Maybe in about half an hour, 45 minutes.
No, but I mean, let me see.
I don't want you to make any special...
Were you coming back here anyway, or where were you going?
Going home?
I was going home, yes.
Fine.
Well, I see no reason to, no need to, then.
I'll give you... We had the first reports from Hague, Mr. President.
Yeah.
Well, why don't you just wait until you get back, and at your convenience, you give them to me, okay?
Because I'm in no hurry.
Right, Mr. President.

NARA Description

On April 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 2:35 pm to 2:36 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 022-153 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 22-153

Date: April 16, 1972
Time: 2:35 pm - 2:36 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Kissinger’s location

     Kissinger’s schedule

     Vietnam
          -Report from Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

     Return call

Also recorded on April 16, 1972

  • 022-152 2:25 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 2:25 pm to 2:29 pm.
  • 022-154 2:36 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:36 pm and 3:19 pm.
  • 022-155 3:19 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 3:19 pm to 3:27 pm.
  • 022-156 3:27 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 3:39 pm.
  • 022-157 3:29 PM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John V. Brennan talked on the telephone from 3:29 pm to 3:30 pm.
  • 022-158 3:33 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:33 pm.
  • 022-159 3:35 PM · 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 3:35 pm to 3:54 pm.
  • 022-160 3:57 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 3:57 pm to 4:09 pm.

All 45 conversations from April 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 022-153, April 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/022-153 (accessed October 12, 2026).