Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 35 › Conversation 035-141

Nixon phone call with Kennedy on Vietnam War and Henry Kissinger

Thursday, January 11, 1973 · 4:15 PM–4:17 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kennedy, Richard T. (Col.)Conversation035-141 on Tape 35StartThursday, January 11, 1973 at 4:15 PMEndThursday, January 11, 1973 at 4:17 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 035-141 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Col. Richard T. Kennedy to relay specific directives to Henry Kissinger regarding the pending Vietnam settlement agreement. Nixon mandated that any public announcement regarding the deal must be issued by Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler rather than Kissinger. Furthermore, he established a contingency plan where Alexander Haig would remain in Saigon to manage South Vietnamese President Thieu’s resistance, with instructions to delay any announcement if Thieu refused to agree to the terms.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
I've just been further thinking and I'm more convinced I just want you to know Henry so that he doesn't make any indications to them.
I would tell him that it's my thought that in any event the announcement on the 18th I think should be a
The more I think about it, it should be a Ziegler announcement.
He'd like that anyway.
Right.
A Ziegler announcement in any event, whatever happens.
The second point is, because basically I just can't take the risk of something falling between the lips, you know.
The second point, though, is that I want him clearly to understand.
If Pew balks, I do want Haig to stay over there.
Yes.
And through...
through Saturday so that we have no problem there.
And there would be no announcement on the 18th.
If Tew balks, we'll say nothing on the 18th so that we don't draw the sword on him and force him to respond.
Tell Henry that that's my conclusion now.
First, if Tew goes, the announcement will be a Ziegler announcement.
provided he can keep the initialing private.
Got it?
Yes, sir.
If two does not go, there would be no announcement, and Haig would not return until Sunday night or Saturday night.
Yes, sir.
Right.
All right.
All right, sir.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On January 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy talked on the telephone from 4:15 pm to 4:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 035-141 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 35-141

Date: January 11, 1973
Time: 4:15 pm - 4:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone
                                             -119-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 35-141 (cont’d)

The President talked with Col. Richard T. Kennedy.

[See Conversation No. 401-31/402-1C]

       Vietnam negotiations
            -Instructions for Henry A. Kissinger
                   -Announcement
                        -Timing
                               -January 18, 1973
                        -Ronald L. Ziegler’s role
            -Settlement agreement
                   -Nguyen Van Thieu’s rejection
                        -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.’s schedule
                               -January 13, 1973
                        -Effect on announcement
                               -Thieu response
                               -Message for Kissinger
                   -Thieu’s acceptance
                        -Effect on announcement
                               -Ziegler
                               -Signing by Kissinger
                                      -Privacy
                   -Thieu’s rejection
                        -Haig’s schedule

Also recorded on January 11, 1973

  • 401-030 3:20 PM · 13 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 3:20 pm and 3:24 pm.
  • 401-031 3:24 PM · 1 hr 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:24 pm to 4:35 pm.
  • 035-139 3:55 PM · 17 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 3:55 pm to 3:56 pm.
  • 035-140 3:57 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:57 pm and 4:15 pm.
  • 035-142 4:35 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:35 pm and 5:02 pm.
  • 402-001 4:35 PM · 41 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, William T. Kendall, White House operator, Manolo Sanchez, Claude S. Brinegar, Harry S. Dent, George P. Shultz, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:35 pm and 5:30 pm.
  • 035-143 5:02 PM · 41 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Christopher S. Bond talked on the telephone from 5:02 pm to 5:03 pm.
  • 035-144 5:03 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and 5:10 pm.

All 63 conversations from January 11, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 035-141, January 11, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/035-141 (accessed October 1, 2026).