Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 39 › Conversation 039-107

Nixon phone call with Haig on Vietnam and Paris Peace Talks

Wednesday, June 6, 1973 · 1:38 PM–1:40 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min

ParticipantsWhite House operator; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation039-107 on Tape 39StartWednesday, June 6, 1973 at 1:38 PMEndWednesday, June 6, 1973 at 1:40 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 039-107 ↗

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss urgent diplomatic developments regarding the Paris peace talks, specifically tensions between Henry Kissinger and the South Vietnamese government. Following advice from Kissinger, Nixon agrees to meet with Ambassador Tran Kim Phuong to address these critical issues. Consequently, the President adjusts his upcoming schedule, including postponing a bipartisan Congressional meeting and coordinating a private dinner with John Connally, Bryce Harlow, and Haig.

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Hello?
General Haig, sir.
Mr. President?
What's Henry's report?
Two things, sir.
One is he's having his usual problem with Saigon.
Yeah.
And he's sending us a message in a draft letter for Q. Yeah.
He just fired off.
Yeah, and he believes it would be very helpful if I first talked to Ambassador Fong here.
Good, good.
And maybe even bring him in to you for two minutes.
All right.
He said it's that urgent and that crucial.
He also said they had to slip the schedule twenty-four hours and that they won't be ready until Friday.
Well, let's slip the meeting then.
That's what I thought.
We ought to get the bipartisan— Yeah.
—shifted until 8.30 Friday morning and then take off for Florida on these.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
I agree.
We better slip the meeting.
No sense in—and then I would move the cabinet to—well, no, leave them where they are.
They've already been informed.
Right.
Fine, fine.
And I thought tonight, if you're free... Are you free tonight?
Yes, sir.
Maybe we might invite...
I talked to Steve before.
We might invite...
I thought we might have Connelly, but I'm not sure.
You're going to see him at 2.30?
Yes.
Now, that wouldn't be a bad idea.
All right, fine.
When he's there, you see if he'd like to go.
Good.
Just you and he and I and maybe Harlow.
I think that's excellent.
Fine.
Okay.
Fine.
Good.

On June 6, 1973, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 1:38 pm to 1:40 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 039-107 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 39-107

Date: June 6, 1973
Time: 1:38 pm - 1:40 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The White House operator talked with the President.

       Incoming telephone call
                                               -87-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 39-107 (cont’d)

Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the President.

[See also Conversation No. 443-7]

       Vietnam
             -Haig’s previous conversation with Henry A. Kissinger
                    -Message for Nguyen Van Thieu
                            -Need for meetings with Tran Kim Phuong
                                    -Haig, President
                    -Paris peace talks
                            -Negotiations schedule

       President’s schedule
              -Possible meeting with Phuong
              -Bipartisan Congressional leadership meeting
              -Trip to Florida
              -Cabinet meeting
              -Stephen B. Bull
              -John B. Connally
                      -Meeting with Haig
              -Dinner with Connally, Bryce N. Harlow, Haig
  • 039-104 1:00 PM · 4 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and J. Fred Buzhardt, Jr. talked on the telephone from 1:00 pm to 1:04 pm.
  • 039-105 1:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:04 pm and 1:09 pm.
  • 443-004 1:04 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:04 pm and 1:05 pm.
  • 443-005 1:04 PM · 18 sec — White House operator and President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:04 pm and 1:05 pm.
  • 443-006 1:05 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:05 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 039-106 1:09 PM · 28 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 1:09 pm to 1:38 pm.
  • 443-007 1:40 PM · 2 min — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:40 pm to 1:42 pm.
  • 443-008 1:42 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:42 pm and 2:34 pm.

Conversation 039-107, June 6, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/039-107 (accessed September 28, 2026).