Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 24 › Conversation 024-078

Nixon phone call with Griffin on Vietnam War and Blockade

Thursday, May 11, 1972 · 11:56 AM–11:57 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Griffin, Robert P.Conversation024-078 on Tape 24 (tape position 01:26:59–01:28:19)StartThursday, May 11, 1972 at 11:56 AMEndThursday, May 11, 1972 at 11:57 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 024-078 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Senator Robert P. Griffin to commend him for his public support of the administration's Vietnam blockade policy. The two discussed Griffin’s recent confrontational exchange with Senator Frank Church on the Senate floor regarding shifting Democratic positions on cease-fire proposals. Nixon reaffirmed his confidence that the blockade strategy would succeed and encouraged Griffin to maintain pressure on political opponents.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Senator Griffin, sir.
Hello.
Hello, Mr. President.
I want you to know I don't get to see the TV, as you know, but I'm usually busy, but I got the morning report and read it and Colson had been telling me about it.
You just did a superb job, and I hope it helps you and doesn't hurt you.
It's the right thing, I can assure you, and this is going to work out.
You just keep your faith.
Okay, Mr. President.
Well, anyway, we're with you, regardless of what happens.
It's going to work out.
That's the main thing.
All that matters is whether it works, and it's going to work.
That's absolutely right.
Anything else we can do, we'll be in there.
I appreciate it.
and keep their feet to the fire.
We gave Frank Church a pretty hard time on the floor the other day.
He probably don't have time to read all these things.
But, you know, that son of a gun, the morning after you gave your speech, he was on television, the Today Show, saying that he thought the enemy ought to accept your offer.
Yeah, I know.
I heard about that.
Then in the afternoon, he comes in with a counteroffer and...
undercuts out the ceasefire well for christ's sake so he wants the killing to go on yeah good that's it don't get rid of that okay really nailed him real good good that's the stuff thanks

NARA Description

On May 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Robert P. Griffin talked on the telephone from 11:56 am to 11:57 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-078 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 24-78

Date: May 11, 1972
Time: 11:56 am - 11:57 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Robert P. Griffin.

[See also Conversation No. 338-41D]

     Vietnam
          -Blockade
               -Griffin's statement
                     -White House news summary report
                            -Charles W. Colson
                     -The President’s view
                     -Support for the President
               -Success
                     -The President’s view
               -Frank F. Church
                     -Encounter on Senate floor
                     -Television statement
                            -Changes in position
                                 -Opposition to cease-fire
                            -Republican views
                     -The President’s view

Also recorded on May 11, 1972

  • 024-074 11:34 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 11:34 am to 11:35 am.
  • 338-039 11:34 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:34 am and 11:35 am.
  • 338-040 11:35 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:35 am and 11:43 am.
  • 024-075 11:43 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:43 am and 11:49 am.
  • 338-041 11:43 AM · 51 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, Hugh Scott, Robert P. Griffin, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:43 am to 12:40 pm.
  • 024-076 11:49 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 11:49 am to 11:51 am.
  • 024-077 11:51 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 11:56 am.
  • 338-042 12:04 PM · 30 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:04 pm and 12:51 pm.

All 35 conversations from May 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 024-078, May 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/024-078 (accessed October 9, 2026).