Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 24 › Conversation 024-028

Nixon phone call with Meany on Vietnam War and Naval blockade

Monday, May 8, 1972 · 10:47 PM–10:48 PM ET · White House Telephone · 41 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Meany, GeorgeConversation024-028 on Tape 24 (tape position 00:33:31–00:34:12)StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 10:47 PMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 10:48 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 024-028 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon reached out to AFL-CIO President George Meany to seek labor's endorsement for his recently announced decision to implement a naval blockade of North Vietnam. Nixon emphasized the necessity of the action to prevent foreign aggression, and Meany signaled his willingness to back the administration's policy. The brief exchange concluded with Meany promising to issue a supportive public statement the following morning.

Audio

Download MP3 · 1.0 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Hello?

Hello, Mr. President.

George, I just wanted to say that, you know, sometimes we have our differences, but I just want you to know that I took this decision because I knew we just couldn't do anything else.

And if you can support it, I'll appreciate it.

If you can't, I understand.

You know, by God, we just can't let these people run over us.

I think I can support it in some way.

I'll get something out in the morning.

I sure appreciate it.

And let me say that there'll be a time when we'll all be together again, I hope.

Okay, fine.

Thank you.

All right.

Good to talk to you, George.

All right.

NARA Description

On May 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and George Meany talked on the telephone from 10:47 pm to 10:48 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-028 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 24-28
Date: May 8, 1972
Time: 10:47 pm - 10:48 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George Meany.

[See also Conversation No. 336-69O]

     Vietnam
          -Blockade
               -The President's decision
                    -Reasons
                    -Meany's support
                          -Statement

Also recorded on May 9, 1972

024-026 10:42 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and [David] Kenneth Rush talked on the telephone from 10:42 pm to 10:45 pm.
024-027 10:45 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 pm and 10:47 pm.
024-029 10:49 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Tricia Nixon Cox, and Edward R. F. Cox talked on the telephone from 10:49 pm to 10:52 pm.
024-030 10:52 PM · 8 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
024-031 10:52 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
024-032 10:52 PM · 20 sec — the White House operator and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
024-033 10:52 PM · 4 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.
024-034 10:52 PM · 4 min — Charles W. Colson and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:52 pm and 11:22 pm.

All 96 conversations from May 9, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 024-028, May 9, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/024-028 (accessed October 9, 2026).