Conversation 023-127

TapeTape 23StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 9:25 PMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 9:31 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Dent, Harry S.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with advisor Harry Dent regarding ongoing North Vietnamese military offensives and their potential impact on his upcoming diplomatic trip to Moscow. They evaluated the political risks of visiting the Soviet Union while Soviet-supplied weaponry was being used against South Vietnamese forces, specifically considering the possibility of postponing the summit. The conversation also touched upon the status of current Democratic primary races and Nixon's efforts to maintain public support for a firm military response in Vietnam.

1972 Presidential ElectionVietnam WarMoscow SummitNorth Vietnamese OffensiveSoviet RelationsDemocratic Primaries

Audio

NARA Description

On May 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Harry S. Dent talked on the telephone from 9:25 pm to 9:31 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-127 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 23-127

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: 9:25-9:31 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Harry S. Dent.

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/21/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[023-127-w001]
[Duration: 2m 16s]

       1972 election
              -Primaries
                     -Latest word
                     -Returns
                             -Ohio
                                     -Time
                     -The President's schedule
                            -J. Edgar Hoover address
                                     -May 4, 1972
                     -A report to the President
              -Indiana
                     -Returns
                            -Time
                     -Hubert H. Humphrey
                            -President’s prediction of primary victory
              -Ohio
                     -George S. McGovern
                              -Chances
                              -Polls
               -California
                       -George S. McGovern
                       -Democrats in California
                              -Composed primarily of leftist Democrats
                              -Conservative Democrats
                              -Conflict between groups of Democrats
                       -Potential difficulty for Hubert H. Humphrey
                              -Support
               -Oregon
                       -Potential victory for George S. McGovern
                       -Support for George S. McGovern

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     Vietnam
          -North Vietnamese offensive
               -South Vietnamese losses
               -Bombing
                     -Number of sorties
                     -B-52 attacks
               -South Vietnam
                     -Abilities
                     -US support
                          -Public support for the President

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[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 03/22/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[023-127-w004]
[Duration: 14s]

[This portion of the tape is mostly tape noise with some muffled background conversation.]

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       Vietnam
             -North Vietnamese offensive
                    -The president's forthcoming trip to Moscow
                           -Timing

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[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 03/22/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[023-127-w005]
[Duration: 25s]

[This portion of the tape is mostly tape noise with some muffled background conversation.]

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       Vietnam
             -North Vietnamese offensive
                    -The President’s forthcoming trip to Moscow
                           -Difficulties
                                   -Soviet aid to North Vietnam

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[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 03/22/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[023-127-w006]
[Duration: 30s]

[This portion of the tape is mostly tape noise with some muffled background conversation.]

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       Vietnam
             -North Vietnamese offensive
                    -The President’s forthcoming trip to Moscow
                           -Possible postponement
                                  -Public perception

*****************************************************************

[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 03/22/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[023-127-w007]
[Duration: 20s]

[This portion of the tape is mostly tape noise with some muffled background conversation.]

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/21/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[023-127-w003]
[Duration: 35s]

       1972 election
              -Primaries
                     -Returns
                            -Time expected
                            -Report from Harry S. Dent

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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.

Hello?

Well, you know, you're hearing and you will hear some more about some tough battles in the South Vietnamese.

You know, they're going to lose some more towns.

We understand that.

But as you know, wars are not won or lost by battles.

They're won and lost by the end.

And we're bombing the hell out of them, I can tell you.

We had 1,200 sorties yesterday.

I just ordered some more B-52s out.

They were just scraping the bottom of the barrel of it.

Well, the point is that if the South Vietnamese really can't make it because of their inability on the ground, then we've done our best.

But we're going to do our goddamnedest to see that they do make it.

But I think people are for it.

What do you think, Terry?

They like a strong stand.

Is that it?

Let me ask you this.

Don't you think there's a real problem in going to Moscow as long as this thing's going on?

The difficulty is, though, that just putting it out, and I think they'll probably go, but just putting it out, if you've got Soviet tanks shelling the way, and I'm in Moscow tipping glasses with freshness, that's not very good, is it?

Well, if we take a hard, we could do it, of course.

We could put it out very hard.

Look, we're going to postpone this until they stop their invasion.

People might like that, too, huh?

Thank you.

you

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