Nixon White House TapesTape 23 › Conversation 023-033

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Henry Kissinger and Government funding

Wednesday, April 19, 1972 · 1:48 PM–1:49 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation023-033 on Tape 23StartWednesday, April 19, 1972 at 1:48 PMEndWednesday, April 19, 1972 at 1:49 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 023-033 ↗

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the potential funding sources for translators used by Henry Kissinger, specifically questioning whether these individuals were paid through government funds or private foundations. Expressing concern over the optics and propriety of the arrangement, Nixon directed Haldeman to investigate any ties to the administration. The President emphasized that the White House should avoid any involvement that could be perceived as improper or vulnerable to criticism.

  • Henry Kissinger
  • Government funding
  • Translators
  • Private foundations
  • Administration ethics

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Mr. Haldeman, sir.
Oh, I was wondering about another subject.
You know, on those translators, are those paid for out of government funds directly or indirectly?
I don't believe so.
This is a private foundation, you mean?
I'll check it and see, but... Well... That's why I was asking the question of Henry, whether they are people or not.
Yeah, I'd find out.
Right.
I mean, if they are...
I think we shouldn't fool around with such a thing like that.
Absolutely.
Don't you agree?
I sure do.
And make a case out of it that we're playing a tough game.
Yeah.
I don't think they were because we had the one, well, we didn't have any with them.
As a matter of fact, but I don't know how they got the people.
That's the thing I've got to find out.
Right.
Right.
Okay.
We had any way we've got any tie-in to them?
Fine.
Fine.
Fine.
Okay, do you know about the other thing yet?
I'll know in just a few lines.

On April 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 1:48 pm to 1:49 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-033 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 23-33

Date: April 19, 1972
Time: 1:48-1:49 pm
Location: White House Telephone

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President.

[See also Conversation No. 331-26]

     Translators
           -Source of income
                -Private foundations
                      -Henry A. Kissinger
  • 331-026 1:48 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:48 pm to 1:49 pm.
  • 023-034 1:49 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:49 pm and 2:11 pm.
  • 331-027 1:49 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:49 pm and 2:11 pm.
  • 331-028 1:49 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:49 pm and 2:11 pm.
  • 331-029 1:49 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:49 pm and 2:11 pm.
  • 023-035 2:11 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 2:11 pm to 2:16 pm.
  • 331-030 2:11 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:11 pm to 2:16 pm.
  • 023-036 2:16 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:16 pm and 2:17 pm.

Conversation 023-033, April 19, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-033 (accessed September 18, 2026).