Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 32 › Conversation 032-099
Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Vietnam War and Media relations
Tuesday, October 31, 1972 · 6:59 PM–7:02 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss media coverage of the administration's stance on Vietnam peace negotiations, specifically emphasizing the President's commitment to avoiding being stampeded into a premature agreement. They note that the news networks have downplayed Hanoi’s recent statements regarding deadlines, while also expressing disappointment that Nelson Rockefeller’s recent efforts have not received significant television coverage. The discussion centers on shaping the administration's public narrative and monitoring the effectiveness of their messaging across major broadcast networks.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On October 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 6:59 pm to 7:02 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-099 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 032-099
Date: October 31, 1972
Time: 6:59 pm - 7:02 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/23/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[032-099-w001]
[Duration: 50s]
1972 Campaign
The President's schedule
-Announcement
-Release
-Three states
-Friday, November 3, 1972
-Value of state
-Wire stories
-Timing
-Poll standings
-Oklahoma
-Rhode Island
-The President's visit
******************************************************************************
1972 campaign
-The President's strategy
-Coverage
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
Vietnam
-Hanoi's statement on October 31, 1972 deadline
-Ziegler's response
-News reports
-Nelson A. Rockefeller statement
-Network coverage
-ABC
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 01/23/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[032-099-w002]
[Duration: 1m 23s]
1972 campaign
-Visits to states
-Comparison to McGovern
-Illinois
-Michigan
-Number of states
-North Carolina
-Oklahoma
-Rhode Island
-New Mexico
-Television spots
-Radio spots
-Chicago
Cancellation
-The President's campaign
-Finale
-Plans
-Chicago addition
******************************************************************************Also recorded on October 31, 1972
- 810-015 2:52 PM · 26 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:52 pm to 3:23 pm.
- 810-016 3:23 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:23 pm and 3:25 pm.
- 810-017 3:25 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:25 pm to 4:08 pm.
- 376-001 4:10 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 5:34 pm.
- 378-014 4:10 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:10 pm.
- 378-015 4:10 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:10 pm to 5:34 pm.
- 810-018 4:10 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House on an unknown date, sometime between 4:10 pm on October 31, 1972 and 3:01 pm on November 1, 1972.
- 032-098 5:59 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:59 pm and 6:59 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 032-099, October 31, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/032-099 (accessed October 23, 2026).