Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 037-074
Date: Friday, March 9, 1973 at 2:46 PM
Participants: Kissinger, Henry A.; Ziegler, Ronald L.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/037-074

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hello?
[0:01] This is your Mr. Ziegler.
[0:03] Ron?
[0:04] Go ahead.
[0:05] Ron, I'm with the President.
[0:06] We've just had word from the Chinese that they're releasing Downey on the 12th.
[0:11] Of what?
[0:13] Of March.
[0:13] Oh, that's fantastic.
[0:16] And we would like you to announce it this afternoon.
[0:19] I will.
[0:19] And they're also releasing the prisoners Flynn and Smith on the 15th.
[0:29] Oh, my God.
[0:31] When you announced the Downey thing, you ought to say that this was on the basis of a direct appeal by the Prime Minister, uh, due to the illness of his mother, President.
[0:58] Uh-huh.
[0:58] Okay.
[1:00] Yeah, suggest to the President, Henry, just listen to me for a moment, would you?
[1:07] He's due to do a photo opportunity at 3.30, and he'll be sitting out with Rogers, but that doesn't matter.
[1:15] He could say something about that at the photo opportunity.
[1:20] What do you think would be better?
[1:21] I don't know.
[1:21] I think you should announce it first, and then something more can be said.
[1:27] Okay, fine.
[1:28] I'll do it whatever way you want.
[1:29] I just wanted to give him that ability to say we have just heard or Dr. Kissinger just informed me.
[1:35] Okay, okay, okay.
[1:36] I just wanted to raise that.
[1:40] When you come back over, I'd like to put together the words with you.
[1:45] I'll wait for your call.
[1:46] Good.
[1:47] All right.