Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 036-053
Date: Monday, January 22, 1973 at 6:19 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/036-053

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] General Haig on the line?
[0:03] Yeah.
[0:07] Yes, sir.
[0:09] Johnson died.
[0:11] Now, the point, I have two points.
[0:14] One, I wondered what your situation was tonight.
[0:18] I'm available, sir.
[0:20] Ray Price now has, we've taken the NSC draft and he's put it into understanding, translated it into English.
[0:29] Yes, sir.
[0:29] So, at least, you know, our kind of English.
[0:33] And I was wondering if it's around 8 o'clock.
[0:40] you could come over and meet with Ray, and I'll be back over here then.
[0:44] I've got to go over to the house now and make a call or two to Ms. Johnson.
[0:49] The news of his being dead is not out yet because she wants to put it out, see?
[0:55] I see.
[0:56] A few minutes ago.
[0:57] Right.
[0:59] The second point is that we wanted...
[1:06] if Henry wanted a delicate, I mean, a skill, if he really, if you really think he ought to have our standpoint and the South Vietnamese standpoint the extra day, he could easily tell the North Vietnamese, you know, that, you know what I mean?
[1:23] Right, exactly.
[1:23] You see my point?
[1:24] Yes, yes.
[1:26] So, but he's got to use his judgment on this.
[1:30] The point is to announce this
[1:32] to make the announcement whenever it's in the best interest of all concerned.
[1:36] That's right.
[1:36] If slipping it a day will help with the South Vietnamese, we have a perfect excuse with the North on it, see?
[1:44] That's right.
[1:44] I do not want to make the announcement the day right after Johnson died, you know what I mean, while we're in mourning.
[1:50] How does that sound to you?
[1:51] That sounds fine, and then Henry can make a decision based on that.
[1:54] He can make the decision, understand.
[1:56] I'm ready to go tomorrow night at 10 o'clock.
[1:58] Right.
[1:58] Incidentally, we were considering the possibility because many here strongly wanted me to go down and do it at the Congress, you know, stick it to those people.
[2:07] But I was leaning slightly against it anyway.
[2:09] But this, of course, besides that, I can't go to the Congress and have them cheering.
[2:13] Absolutely.
[2:14] So I think it's better to be done in the office anyway.
[2:17] How do you feel?
[2:18] I feel the same way, sir.
[2:20] I think a simple matter of fact and let it seep in.
[2:25] Okay, then Ray will be available at 8 o'clock.
[2:28] Does that give you time to get dinner and everything?
[2:30] Yes, sir.