Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 32 › Conversation 032-061

Nixon phone call with Haig on Vietnam War and Henry Kissinger

Thursday, October 26, 1972 · 3:28 PM–3:29 PM ET · White House Telephone · 34 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation032-061 on Tape 32StartThursday, October 26, 1972 at 3:28 PMEndThursday, October 26, 1972 at 3:29 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 032-061 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Alexander Haig to relay a message to Henry Kissinger regarding the ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon emphasized the importance of demonstrating to the North Vietnamese negotiators that the upcoming 1972 U.S. presidential election would not influence the administration's stance on a settlement. Haig was directed to ensure Kissinger effectively communicated this commitment, using Nixon’s handwritten note as leverage to secure a favorable agreement.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, sir.

I wrote a handwritten note to Henry before he left, you know, that I specifically referred to the election thing.

Yes, that's right.

It would be very impressive, I think, if you could get it, bring it to Henry, and he should not show it to them.

I mean, he should not let them read it, but he should say, now, here's a handwritten note.

I want to tell you, gentlemen, in that note, the president specifically says, and he can paraphrase, the election is not to be a consideration.

Make the right kind of a piece.

Right, sir.

Would you do that?

Fine, will do.

NARA Description

On October 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 3:28 pm to 3:29 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-061 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 032-061

Date: October 26, 1972
Time: 3:28 pm - 3:29 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 375-24C]

        Vietnam
            -Henry A. Kissinger's briefing
                -The President's note
                    -Report to journalists
                    -Influence of 1972 election on settlement

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on October 26, 1972

032-057 2:50 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:50 pm to 2:51 pm.
375-019 2:50 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:50 pm to 2:51 pm.
032-058 3:13 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:13 pm.
032-059 3:13 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:13 pm and 3:28 pm.
032-060 3:13 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:13 pm and 3:28 pm.
375-020 3:13 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:13 pm.
375-021 3:15 PM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:15 pm to 4:00 pm.
375-022 4:00 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:15 pm.

All 47 conversations from October 26, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 032-061, October 26, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/032-061 (accessed October 24, 2026).