Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 31 › Conversation 031-041

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Vietnam War and Peace negotiations

Friday, October 13, 1972 · 7:14 PM–7:17 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation031-041 on Tape 31StartFriday, October 13, 1972 at 7:14 PMEndFriday, October 13, 1972 at 7:17 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 031-041 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss concerns over a news leak regarding sensitive Vietnam peace negotiations, specifically a report by Marvin Kalb that accurately detailed a potential standstill ceasefire and the necessity of President Nguyen Van Thieu's approval. Both men suspect Secretary of State William P. Rogers or his aide William H. Sullivan of leaking the information to ensure their involvement in the process. The conversation concludes with Kissinger updating the President on his work with Robert McNamara and confirming his readiness to execute upcoming diplomatic communications.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello, Mr. President.
How'd your day go?
Well, it's pretty... Did you see McNamara?
Yes, and he's getting some staff work done.
Good, good.
Right.
Every bloody thing we told Ratas this morning is on Marvin Kalb this evening.
I can't believe it.
Yeah.
Like what?
You mean like... Well, we've agreed on a standstill ceasefire.
Which means, in effect, that each party controls its own area, and that in turn, so all that's left now is to get you's approval.
You think Rogers or Sullivan?
I think Rogers.
I couldn't believe he'd do it.
Normally not, but I guess he's just determined not to be the guy that was left out this time.
It doesn't make any difference, Mr. President.
Cobb has been wrong so often, Henry.
I mean, there's so much speculation that no one believes it anyway.
Yeah.
But you rather think this came from them, huh, Henry?
No question.
It's too accurate.
It makes no difference.
So, Mr. President, there are six other stories kicking around.
Wow.
And I've got McNamara working on the economic...
If there's anything else you can think of in terms of...
getting too prepared for this.
Why, let's think of it, you know, I— Well, we're working on a game plan tonight.
Right.
And anything you need me for, I mean, if a message needs to go in advance or anything, why, you know, I'm ready.
Right, Mr. President.
Right.
In the meantime, you get some rest.
Right.

NARA Description

On October 13, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:14 pm to 7:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 031-041 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 31-41

Date: October 13, 1972
Time: 7:14 pm - 7:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Henry A Kissinger.

        Kissinger's schedule
            -Meeting with Robert S. McNamara

        Vietnam negotiations
            -Briefing of William P. Rogers
                -Information in Marvin L. Kalb's broadcast
                     -Possible settlement
                          -Ceasefire
                          -Nguyen Van Thieu’s approval
                     -Possible leak
                          -Rogers, William H. Sullivan
                               -Kissinger’s view
                               -The President’s view
            -Kissinger's activities
                -McNamara
                -Thieu's role in possible settlement
                     -Possible message from the President

Also recorded on October 13, 1972

  • 797-032 6:11 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:11 pm to 6:15 pm.
  • 797-033 6:15 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:15 pm to 6:22 pm.
  • 797-035 6:22 PM · 12 sec — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:22 pm to 6:25 pm.
  • 031-038 6:45 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:45 pm and 7:07 pm.
  • 031-039 7:07 PM · 58 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 7:07 pm to 7:08 pm.
  • 031-040 7:08 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone from 7:08 pm to 7:14 pm.
  • 031-042 7:17 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:17 pm and 7:24 pm.
  • 031-043 7:24 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 7:24 pm to 7:28 pm.

All 50 conversations from October 13, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 031-041, October 13, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/031-041 (accessed October 10, 2026).