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Conversation 036-058

TapeTape 36StartMonday, January 22, 1973 at 7:29 PMEndMonday, January 22, 1973 at 7:31 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed the difficulty of controlling the narrative regarding the Vietnam peace settlement due to extensive media coverage and public comments from South Vietnamese Foreign Minister Tran Van Lam. Ziegler explained that press plants with The Washington Post and CBS were complicated by the Foreign Minister’s optimistic but unauthorized interviews. The two concluded the call with arrangements for Ziegler to deliver a prepared statement regarding the death of former President Lyndon B. Johnson to the Lincoln Room.

Vietnam Peace SettlementPress relationsTran Van LamLyndon B. JohnsonWhite House communications
AudioNARA Description

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 7:29 pm to 7:31 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-058 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 36-58 (cont’d)

                                                                    Conversation No. 36-58

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: 7:29 pm - 7:31 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Vietnam settlement announcement
            -Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
            -Washington Post
            -Kenneth W. Clawson
            -Tran Van Lam
                  -Television [TV] appearance
                        -Comments

       Lyndon B. Johnson’s death
            -The President’s statement
Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Yeah.
Yes, sir.
Were you able to get that story out with the Post and CBS that Friday is the day?
We made an effort.
It was very difficult for it to take with CBS because they had a very extensive interview with Tram Van Lam, who had his mouth open all the way from Saigon on the airplane.
But Ken attempted to
the plant with the post, and he doesn't know if it took.
It was impossible for it to take with CBS because the South Vietnamese foreign minister is just talking everywhere he turns.
What's he saying?
Well, he's just talking about initialing and in the next day or two and should be wrapped up and the whole thing.
It's not, you know, it's part of the overall speculation, basically.
He's not talking negatively?
No, he's talking very positively.
As a matter of fact, he was on an interview with the fact that he intended, the questioner asked him if he could sign a document with the
Viet Cong mentioned in the document, he said, no, but there are ways to work that out by having separate documents and could work it out to make everyone happy, he said.
So he's talking very positively and a lot.
I see.
The post thing may take.
We did it in a way that we think it will take.
But we have all of this other type of thing.
Mr. President, the statement just came in on LBJ, and I'd like to bring that right over.
All right.
You bring it over to the Lincoln Room.
Yes, sir.
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