Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 23 › Conversation 023-158
Nixon, Kissinger & Moorer on Operational Security and Vietnam War
Thursday, May 4, 1972 · 3:55 PM–5:15 PM ET · White House Telephone · 51 sec
AI Summary
Henry Kissinger contacts Admiral Thomas H. Moorer to coordinate a high-priority, clandestine meeting with President Nixon. Kissinger instructs Moorer to expedite the departure of a visiting Taiwanese admiral to ensure immediate availability for the President. The conversation emphasizes strict operational security, specifically warning Moorer not to disclose his movements to anyone.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On May 4, 1972, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Adm. Thomas H. Moorer talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 023-158 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 23-158
Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:55 and 5:15 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
Henry A. Kissinger talked with the White House operator.
[See also Conversation No. 334-44G]
Request for a call to Thomas H. Moorer
Kissinger conferred with the President at an unknown time.
[See Conversation No. 334-44G]
[End of conferral]
Kissinger talked with Moorer.
Moorer's meeting with Kissinger
-Confidentiality
-Moorer's meeting with unknown Taiwan, Republic of China admiralAlso recorded on May 4, 1972
- 023-153 3:04 PM · 8 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-154 3:04 PM · 31 sec — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-155 3:04 PM · 2 min — the White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-156 3:04 PM · 18 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:04 pm and 3:44 pm.
- 023-159 3:55 PM · 11 sec — Alexander P. Butterfield, Henry A. Kissinger, President Richard M. Nixon, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-160 3:55 PM · 11 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-161 3:55 PM · 7 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:15 pm.
- 023-162 3:55 PM · 41 sec — Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House operator, and Muriel Hartley talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 5:25 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 023-158, May 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/023-158 (accessed October 24, 2026).