Nixon White House TapesTape 24 › Conversation 024-046

Nixon phone call with Buchanan on Vietnam War and Naval blockade

Tuesday, May 9, 1972 · 11:40 AM–11:41 AM ET · White House Telephone ·30 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Buchanan, Patrick J.Conversation024-046 onTape 24 (tape position 01:04:11–01:04:40)StartTuesday, May 9, 1972 at 11:40 AMEndTuesday, May 9, 1972 at 11:41 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 024-046 ↗

President Nixon and Patrick Buchanan discuss the importance of maintaining public and political support for the newly announced blockade of North Vietnam. Nixon expresses concern about appearing weak and stresses the necessity of mobilizing pro-war "hawks" to sustain momentum during the projected months-long operation. Buchanan confirms that key allies remain fully supportive of the administration's strategic posture.

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Yes, sir.
Well, if you can get your hawks going now, Buchanan, you really have had it.
That's right.
I'd be a weak sister.
Yeah.
I've talked to a few of them, sir.
They're 100% behind you on this thing.
Good, good.
We've got a bit of a long haul ahead of us, I think.
Oh, sure.
It's going to take months, but it might not, you know.
But the main thing is it'll do it.
Right.
Just guess, and that's what we want to do.
Right.
Keep the heat on them.
Yes, sir.

On May 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan talked on the telephone from 11:40 am to 11:41 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-046 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 24-46

Date: May 9, 1972
Time: 11:40 am - 11:41 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Patrick J. Buchanan.

[See also Conversation No. 338-17B]

     Vietnam
          -Blockade
               -Support
                    -Hawks
               -Impact

                      -Duration
  • 024-043 11:32 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:32 am.
  • 024-044 11:32 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:32 am and 11:35 am.
  • 338-015 11:32 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 11:32 am.
  • 338-016 11:32 AM · 13 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 11:32 am and 11:35 am.
  • 024-045 11:35 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Mitchell, and Alexander P. Butterfield talked on the telephone from 11:35 am to 11:39 am.
  • 338-017 11:35 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John N. Mitchell, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Patrick J. Buchanan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:35 am to 11:42 am.
  • 024-047 11:41 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:41 am and 11:50 am.
  • 338-018 11:42 AM · 40 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 11:42 am and 11:50 am.

Conversation 024-046, 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/024-046 (accessed September 18, 2026).