Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 24 › Conversation 024-013
Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Vietnam War and Naval blockade
Monday, May 8, 1972 · 4:55 PM–4:57 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss final revisions to the speech announcing a naval blockade of North Vietnam. They debate specific phrasing regarding the cessation of hostilities to ensure continued U.S. reconnaissance capabilities. Additionally, they refine the language concerning political settlements to make the terms more palatable for international audiences while maintaining the administration’s core peace proposal.
- Vietnam War
- Naval blockade
- Speechwriting
- Peace negotiations
- Foreign policy
- Military reconnaissance
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone from 4:55 pm to 4:57 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-013 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 24-13
Date: May 8, 1972
Time: 4:55 pm - 4:57 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.
[See also Conversation No. 336-32]
Greetings
Vietnam
-Blockade
-The President's announcement
-Kissinger's changes
-Rose Mary Woods
-Nature
The President conferred with an unknown person at an unknown time.
[See Conversation No. 336-32]
[End of conferral]
Vietnam
-Blockade
-The President's announcement
-Kissinger’s review of text
-Changes
-Cessation of military action
-New peace offers
-Political settlement terms
-The President’s view
-Withdrawal of forces
-Foreign audiences
-Political settlementAlso recorded on May 8, 1972
- 336-031 4:50 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:50 pm to 4:55 pm.
- 336-032 4:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:55 pm and 4:57 pm.
- 024-014 4:57 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm.
- 024-015 4:57 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm.
- 336-033 4:57 PM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm.
- 336-034 4:57 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm.
- 336-035 4:57 PM · 17 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 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm.
- 336-036 4:57 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 024-013, May 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/024-013 (accessed October 9, 2026).