On January 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 11:20 pm to 11:35 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 036-101 of the White House Tapes.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
Hello.
Yes, sir.
I thought you'd be amused to hear that the judgment of Julie and Trish and Pat and Eddie, they were here.
They had watched CBS, and they said they had never seen Eric Severide, Marvin Kalb, and Dan Ryder.
They were just green and sick.
It was a bad night for Eric.
Well, they were all just sick about the fact.
They weren't happy about it, that the peace had come.
They just were pissing on it all over.
and i i got articles and i said god damn it let's get i mean ream them a bit on this because that's the trouble we really don't have the operation to do it i mean sure we do well no i mean we can't get it through though because people won't listen to us but uh sure they will they're and they're set we're on exactly the right that that we've got riding on from the and they they were afraid of it they knew it then because they kept saying well we don't have the
the stuff you know so we can't comment on it all this stuff but there we we can tear them up and the that that's the legacy of ted agnew from from way back from des moines really that the instant commentary thing they can they they help us on that stuff you think so yeah but that the speech
Really, I don't think could have been better.
And it was right not to go to the Congress, Bob.
Yes, sir.
I knew it from the moment when I briefed Mansfield and the others.
Because they couldn't swallow it.
They were awestruck.
Yeah.
Unbelievable.
They would have sat there in their goddamn hands.
Yeah.
This was the right place, and you could talk to the POW wives, you could talk to South Vietnam.
I couldn't have done that in Congress.
No, that's right.
This was the right speech, it was the right place.
You didn't want applause.
It was, in a sense, it was so masterfully underplayed in the way that, you know, I mean, you dropped this huge bomb in your first sentence.
Right.
And there it was, and it just sits there, and I think it just, you know, it's kind of like a thunderclap, but it was great.
the in the reaction stuff it's fascinating the thing that that uh you're getting very big play on is is the president johnson statement which which the vilification you mean no just just the the how what a good thing it was that that the human part of it yeah in the that i talked to him the caring words about lyndon johnson you know that it mattered yeah and uh that you cared what he thought and and uh all that
Dick Wilson, got some of these commentaries here, but give a few of them to me if you like.
Dick says this was the president at his best.
He was clear, concise, and convincing.
He answered the questions raised on the difference between now and May and January.
I particularly liked his Johnson reference and his assurance to the POW families.
He confirmed very subtly why the bombing was necessary, and even Javits recognizes that now.
As Chuck probably told you, Javits came on saying the bombing was what did it.
His judgment has been good.
It's now vindicated.
His opponents, particularly McGovern, were wrong.
And people will now realize that what I wrote on this and what the president said was right.
Which is, you know, the... With Dick on television?
No, this is a, you know, phone... Oh, yeah, yeah.
Oh, I see.
Touching base phone reaction thing.
Yeah.
And... We've got some of our people back then.
We're picking that up.
That's great for Nolan.
I'd like to get that one out.
Right.
Emmett Dedman says, as a former POW who was in prison by the communists, I can tell you that the 60-day return of POWs and troop withdrawals were the most dramatic things I've ever heard.
And you're going to get a lot of that.
Brady Black at the Cincinnati Inquirer, wonderful news, great message, hope it'll lead to a generation of peace.
His steadfastness paid off.
Good.
He's no particular strong fellow.
That's right.
Here's C.A.
Scott, the publisher of the Atlanta Daily World, the black newspaper in Atlanta, says it was a great speech.
Peace-loving people everywhere will be grateful to announce my presidency and all parties concerned agree to peace.
The terms reveal that the president's patience, courage, and persistence has produced the honorable peace he sought.
We're proud to be among those who have supported the president's refusal to surrender and thereby make possible another war.
Great.
And...
The other black newspaper, the Chicago Daily Defender, Louis Martin, says, This is the greatest speech we've ever heard Nixon make.
Everyone's thoroughly relieved the great tragedy is lifted.
We thought it was significant that he paid tribute to Lyndon Johnson.
The peace agreement transcends all party loyalties, and all Americans are greatly relieved.
Look forward to a new era.
Well, so maybe CBS isn't really the... Hell no.
Tom Vail, it was magnificent.
It was a brilliant job, and the plane dealer is going to say so editorially tomorrow.
I can't imagine how a president could have done a better job.
He stood up to Congress, he stood up to the radical fringe, and he really put down jerks like Senator Saxby, who shot off their mouths for quick popularity at home.
for old Tom.
Here's Mike O'Neill in New York Daily News.
It was a great speech and exactly to the point.
I thought his explanation of why he's not reported to the people on the situation was extremely valid.
He touched all of the bases and he's neutralized those bastards who have been criticizing him.
I noticed there was no mention of Laos or Cambodia, but I presume the details will be forthcoming tomorrow.
It was a hell of a speech.
Isn't that good?
They're all, well, that's good then.
It must have been a good speech.
And Jim Kilpatrick, I'm so happy it's over.
I'm going to be restrained tonight because I want to hear the full details tomorrow.
But he's certainly neutralized the knee-jerk libs.
It seems he's gotten what he said he was going to get.
And so you're getting this thing of the bounce back on the other people.
And you'll see this in the coverage.
Sure.
Then Louis Gazzo, the editor of the Seattle PI.
The tribute to LBJ was beautifully done, touching and convincing.
Relay my tremendous congratulations to the president.
I hope the reason for secrecy during the past five weeks will be convincing to the editors because it ought to take the monkey off the president's back.
I thought that section was well written.
Frank Rizzo says it was a great speech.
Fantastic.
He proved he was right.
An excellent statement on President Johnson.
and uh see johnson bob we got to realize has got some friends that don't want to say it of course now they'll come out he's dead that's right here's the mike revisto the the sons of italy peace with honor all the conditions nixon wanted were met very good on his own silence and that a couple comments there's another one of the sons of italy the good that he didn't do this before the inauguration the statement on johnson was marvelous
Paul Miller, the announcement was handled very well.
People have waited long for this.
The president has been great in his patience, strength, and accomplishment.
Bill White, the speech was strong but properly reserved, is William S. White.
I appreciated his generosity to President Johnson.
I noted his belief the president, too, can carry on and the apparent fact we've won the right to help.
He explained well why he has been so quiet lately.
Dan Shriver, the president was at his magnificent best.
He, in a few words, illustrated what he meant by peace with honor.
I particularly liked his talk to POW families and his respect for President Johnson.
Yeah, that Johnson thing, I think, was a... See, that...
Sure, we'd have gone before the Congress, but it wasn't something that, it wasn't the right thing, Bob.
Vito Marzullo, you know, our chairman in Chicago, said, everything's wonderful.
I think you made a big hit nationwide.
Was particularly impressed with the way he praised President Johnson.
I admire him a great deal for his fine remarks.
And Angelo Candelori, one of our Italian guys at the Fermi Foundation, it's probably going to be the most memorable moment of the year.
We're coming out of proud people rather than what happened to the French.
What's the family foundation?
Fermi.
Louis Fermi Foundation.
He says, rather than bailing out like many people said we should, he was glad the president mentioned his own silence and emphasized there's certain things the government can say and certain things they can't say.
He approves of the president bombing in order to achieve the peace.
He's one of the few.
Yeah, but it's a good point.
Aiken.
Says, I'm feeling better physically and mentally than I have for years.
I think the agreement was the best possible we could get, and I don't think it could have been reached six months ago.
Now if Russia and China only cooperate with us, we could restore peace throughout the area there and give them more prosperity than they've ever had.
President Nixon and the country must be congratulated.
And Stennis, it was a great statement.
I'm very pleased indeed.
I'm very proud.
I want to commend the president for toughing it out.
He was the man who did it.
He made the difference.
He carried the load.
The points mentioned were well covered and satisfactory.
I see a potential trouble spot with northern troops in South Vietnam.
Tell the president I would support aid to South Vietnam and I would support a future policy for the entire Pacific Asia area where there could be soft spots unless there's a strong hand at the helm.
And this is the mayor of Spokane, Washington.
One thing I was going to suggest, just a small thing, but I think that when I walk into that leaders meeting, I have one of our
guys or like errands or something, they ought to applaud a little and come in.
They really have got to do it so that that is, you know, it'll force Mansfield and those assholes to do something.
Absolutely.
They will.
Then we'll make sure.
David Rogers, mayor of Spokane, said the substance of the president's message that the war is over will have tremendous effect on the families in the Spokane area.
The mayor has overwhelming thoughts for the POW people, especially at this time.
Felt the shortness of the president's message was good.
He gave the news and got the message across.
Especially appropriate to hammer home the fact that ending the war is only the first step.
Also very appropriate to emphasize the need for other world powers to do their part in maintaining a permanent ceasefire.
Finally, the mayor is very glad the president's announcement came after his election and inaugural, so there's no political connotation, and ensuring the president will go down in history as a great man.
Senator Robert Byrd says, five American presidents have felt it vital to go into Southeast Asia.
Richard Nixon deserves the credit for bringing this long, miserable struggle to an end.
I thank God our POWs can be united soon.
I'm also pleased the president's plan offers an ally we did not choose to forsake a chance.
That's good.
Hope he says that.
Yeah.
Senator Bennett, the president has now delivered on his promise to the American people.
His achievement will be judged in the years to come as one of the greatest accomplishments of our time.
Now that the long settlement has come, I hope the political pressures on the president will cease.
Richard Nixon deserves the full respect of a grateful nation.
And we got checking some of the gals around the country, you know, our women leader types.
Rhoda Stewart of Vice President BorgWarner said, thought the president was more confident and assured than she had ever seen him.
The speech was excellent.
She was extremely pleased with the message.
Another woman at IBM, this is the greatest speech the president's ever made.
And, you know, Les Aaron said, a terrific victory not only for the president, but the whole nation.
Shows the product of guts and determination and staying on course.
And he couldn't go to bed without the president knowing that.
Harry Bird says, this is a night that I and all Americans have been waiting for.
My first thoughts go out to the families of the POWs.
The president and his assistant, Dr. Kissinger, deserve special commendation for the patience and diligence with which they handled a very difficult and delicate matter.
It's
you're getting that that kind of thing and that's i think you're gonna send it by senator baker says the best most forceful presentation i've seen in the 20 years i've known him there's you're going to get that kind of bounce off of it and that when you get that kind of reaction from the people you're going to also get that we can gin up some but you're going to get a hell of a lot more than we gin up in the in the
adverse reaction to the networks for for you know not showing some enthusiasm yeah i suppose you will but it's uh if you're you are i think just totally right on on the thing and not going up to the hill yes it turned out right it was yeah it was a temptation but it was good to resist it and there was a
There would have been a drama to that in a way, but there was a hell of a drama to this.
What it boils down to is you don't need to dramatize something that's... Like China.
Like China.
Another thing we've got to remember, God damn it, I did this alone.
I didn't do it with the Congress.
They didn't, to their great discredit, I mean, you know, except for our friends, they didn't help a hell of a lot.
That's right.
I think it was done right, and boy, the short speech was good.
It was less than 10 minutes.
I thought it was less than 10.
Ron told me it was 11 and a half minutes, but I was wrong.
It was 9.25.
That's what I thought.
9 minutes and 25 seconds from the time you said good evening.
okay well we'll see what happens tomorrow we'll get a good bounce we're going to be inevitably just inundated with because there's enormous press interest in the uh specifics we're going to be loaded with with a lot of facts for for a day or two
on this thing now.
I mean, you know, as when we put the agreement out, analyzing all... Well, Henry can let them swizzle around about the agreement.
They'll wallow around in that.
People ain't going to care a goddamn thing about that.
No, Henry's going to handle that brilliantly.
That's right.
And I'm going to get him down to the Congress Friday and let him give them a wallop, too.
That's why this thing has come out exactly right.
See, he'll go down to the Congress and let them, and they'll ask needling questions.
He'll kill them.
Yeah, he really will.
You mean these two big meetings?
No, no.
Yes.
In the two chambers.
Yes.
I said you should do two things.
Go down there and do one in the House and one in the Senate.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's Bill, I won't like it, Bill Rogers, but God damn it, Bill doesn't know enough about this to do this briefing.
Henry's the one that should do it.
He knows about it.
Well, hell yes.
He deserves the credit.
These aren't committee briefings.
This isn't a thing where you're going to Bill's domain.
You're going on the floor.
That's right.
Good.
So it'll be a different kind of thing.
And that in itself will be one hell of a thing.
Right.
And coming Friday, we'll need it about then.
Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Very good.