Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 33 › Conversation 033-004

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Vietnam War and George McGovern

Saturday, November 4, 1972 · 8:40 AM–8:45 AM ET · White House Telephone · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation033-004 on Tape 33StartSaturday, November 4, 1972 at 8:40 AMEndSaturday, November 4, 1972 at 8:45 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 033-004 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417194239 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the administration's public relations strategy regarding Vietnam peace negotiations and George McGovern's accusations of deception. Nixon emphasizes the need for Secretary of State William Rogers and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird to aggressively rebut McGovern's claims, while maintaining a firm posture against being rushed into an unsound agreement. They also evaluate the efficacy of the President's recent media coverage, concluding that television remains a more effective medium for their messaging than the press.

Audio

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NARA Description

On November 4, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:40 am to 8:45 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 033-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 33-4

Date: November 4, 1972
Time: 8:40 am-8:45 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 389-2]

       Henry A. Kissinger

       Ziegler’s location

       1972 election
            -Vietnam War
                   -George S. McGovern's charges
                        -Deception
                                            -9-

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

                                                             Conversation No. 33-114 (cont’d)

                      -Nguyen Van Thieu's delays
                      -The President’s position
                      -Kissinger's rebuttal
                              -Washington Post quotation
                                    -Foreign students
                                    -Confidence
                      -Rebuttal
                              -William P. Rogers
                              -Melvin R. Laird
                              -Necessity
                              -The President's foreign policy speech
                              -Patience
                              -Begging for peace
                              -Hanoi propaganda
                              -Cease-fire provisions
                                    -Enforcement
                              -Elections
                      -Kissinger's responses
                              -Restraint
           -The President's trip
                -President's posture
                      -November 3, 1972
                      -Press and media coverage
                              -New York Times, Washington Post
                              -Television
                              -Vietnam
                              -Wires, radio
                -Press coverage
                      -Robert B. Semple, Jr.
                              -View of crowds
                              -New job [at New York Times]
                              -Chicago
                      -Adequacy

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.
What is your feeling this morning on the Kissinger thing?
Are you going to talk?
Yes, sir.
I'm in the office.
I think it came out just about as we expected and discussed.
McGovern is charging deception, of course, and the two is holding the thing.
You're postured that you're not going to be stampeded by the thing.
I don't know what Henry can add, Mr. President.
He was quoted this morning in the Washington Post.
Henry?
No, it was fine.
It was perfect.
He didn't have a news conference.
No, no.
He talked to some foreign students.
He projected the feeling of confidence and so forth, picking up on what you did.
So I think that really helps to serve the thing, too.
I think very definitely McGovern should be cracked and cracked hard.
by Secretary Rogers.
Rogers and Laird.
Right.
Absolutely.
Because, you know, this man went on television last night and said we were deceiving, you know, the American people and the world on an important matter such as peace.
And I think this is where the line that you use in your foreign policy speech is a line that can be used so effectively that we can't wish for peace.
You know, it's something that has to be achieved through patience.
Also, we can't beg for peace, as he proposed.
And I think the other line, that we won't be stampeded or rushed into an agreement by the propaganda— Also, you make the point that we have agreed on three fundamental things, but we've got to nail them down to be sure that they're sound.
That's all I'm saying.
That's right.
We don't want to cease fire unless it's policed.
See, that's what this is all about.
We don't want elections unless they're proper.
I think, all right, well, anyway, keep Henry cool on it.
Yeah.
All right.
I don't think there's any reason for him to go out and have a big thing.
That would be very defensive.
I think so, too.
Right.
Right.
And I think the posture that you're projecting, as you did yesterday, well, it—
Maybe.
The only problem is I was looking at least as far as the Times and the Post.
They don't give it much of a play.
But that's immaterial because it's an excellent play on television.
What I meant is the posture on Vietnam.
Did it get a play on television, too?
Oh, yes, it did.
Right.
Well, that's the important thing.
And on the wires and the radio and all across the country.
Well, I was thinking, I don't know what the sample must have some purpose to it.
that there were modest, highly partisan crowds.
Did you see that?
Yes, I did.
Was he there?
Yes, but you have to keep in mind that Bob's a good guy, but he's going up there to that new job.
Is he?
What's the new job?
Assistant national editor.
Oh, boy.
So he's just got to butter up to them, huh?
Well, he must be a little sheepish about such stuff.
I'd underline that.
and then show him the Chicago thing.
Would you do that?
Yes, I will.
I mean, just to needle him just a little.
Generally speaking, the coverage was adequate, though, wasn't it?
Yes, I thought very good.
Okay, fine.
I thought very good.
Bye.
Okay, sir.

Also recorded on November 4, 1972

  • 033-003 8:30 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 8:40 am.
  • 389-001 8:30 AM · 9 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 8:30 am and 8:40 am.
  • 389-002 8:40 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:40 am to 8:45 am.
  • 033-005 8:45 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at 8:45 am.
  • 033-006 8:45 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:45 am and 8:52 am.
  • 389-003 8:45 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 8:45 am.
  • 389-004 8:45 AM · 10 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 8:45 am and 8:52 am.
  • 033-007 8:52 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 8:52 am to 9:00 am.

All 57 conversations from November 4, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 033-004, November 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417194239). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/033-004 (accessed November 5, 2026).