← 036-088036-090 →

Conversation 036-089

TapeTape 36StartTuesday, January 23, 1973 at 6:38 PMEndTuesday, January 23, 1973 at 6:40 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Kissinger, Henry A.;  Nixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated the final revisions and distribution protocol for the President's upcoming speech regarding the Vietnam peace settlement. The participants emphasized strict security for the announcement text, mandating that no media access or 'sneak previews' occur until after the President’s delivery. Nixon and Kissinger finalized specific phrasing edits to ensure the speech's tone and message were accurate before its release.

Vietnam WarParis Peace AccordsWhite House Press RelationsPresidential SpeechwritingForeign Policy
AudioNARA Description

On January 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:38 pm and 6:40 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-089 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 36-89

Date: January 23, 1973
Time: Unknown between 6:38 pm and 6:40 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No. 407-18B]

       Text of the President's announcement
             -Vietnam settlement
             -Copies to media
             -Changes

Henry A. Kissinger talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Text of the President's announcement
             -Changes

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Text of the President's announcement
             -Changes
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Ron.
Yes, sir.
They're two very, oh, you don't have the text, do you?
Yes, I do.
Now, let me understand what you're doing with it.
No, we're just... You understand now, this is not one time you give a sneak preview to anybody.
Absolutely not.
Is that clear?
It is to be given to them after I've delivered it.
Or did you have something else in mind?
Absolutely not.
After you deliver it.
After I deliver it, you can give them the text.
Yes, sir.
It will not be given before.
It will not be shown to anyone.
All right.
There are two changes that have to be made, and it will have to be rerun to do this.
We haven't run it yet, so we have no problem.
Henry's got it here.
He'll give you the changes.
All right.
Hello, Ron.
Hi, Henry.
Welcome back.
Thank you.
Do you have the text in front of you?
Yes, sir.
It says, by joined agreement... What page are you on, Henry?
Well, I have a copy that they sent to me, so I don't have your...
It's right after the president mentions the four conditions that have been met.
All right.
It says, the people of South Vietnam have been guaranteed.
It's the second page.
It says, by joined agreement of the parties to the settlement, the full text of the agreement...
yeah leave out of the parties to the settlement just say by joined agreement of the parties to the settlement out now it reads by joined agreement the full text of the agreement and the protocols to carry it out will be released tomorrow right and we take of the parties of this settlement of the parties of the settlement of the parties to the center to the settlement right okay that goes out right what else now
And the President will give you the other one.
All right.
The last line.
The last line in front of you.
Yes, sir.
Rather than that we, say let us.
Instead of that we, let us.
Yes, sir.
Let us consecrate.
Yes, sir.
Right.
And then rather than one, use the word achieved.
Achieved instead of one.
That's all.
That's the only change.
We have achieved a peace.
Right.
Thank you, sir.
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