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Conversation 044-091

TapeTape 44StartThursday, March 29, 1973 at 10:13 PMEndThursday, March 29, 1973 at 10:17 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Woods, Rose MaryRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

Rose Mary Woods and General Walter R. Tkach provide the President with positive feedback regarding his recent speech on Vietnam and returning prisoners of war. They highlight the public's emotional response to his rhetoric on patriotism and his firm stance against amnesty for draft evaders. The conversation concludes with the President requesting follow-up calls from key advisors and supporters, including Patrick Buchanan and Admiral Thomas Moorer, to further discuss the address.

Vietnam WarPOWsAmnestyPresidential speechesPublic opinion
AudioNARA Description

On March 29, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:13 pm and 10:17 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 044-091 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 044-091

Date: March 29, 1973
Time: 10:13 pm and 10:17 pm
Location: White House Telephone

Rose Mary Woods talked with the President.

       President's March 29 speech
             -Reactions
                   -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                   -Elliot L. Richardson
                          -Russian art exhibit
                   -Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
                          -Signal Corps
                   -Patrick J. Buchanan
                   -John R. (“Tex”) McCrary
                          -New York
                   -Buchanan
                          -David N. Parker
             -People to call
                   -Buchanan
                   -Moorer
                          -Prisoners of war [POWs]

The President talked with Gen. Walter R. Tkach.

             -Tkach’s reaction
             -Draft
             -Tkach’s reaction
                   -Veteran

The President talked with Rose Mary Woods.

             -Woods's nephew
             -Amnesty
             -Delivery
             -Col. Robinson Risner
                   -POWs
             -People to call
                   -Moorer
                   -Buchanan
             -Brian J. Lewis
                   -Patriotism
             -People to call
                   -McCrary
                   -Buchanan
                   -Moorer
             -Contact with President
                   -Bruce A. Kehrli
                   -Parker
                   -Alexander P. Butterfield
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.
Miss Woods, sir.
Oh, yeah.
Okay.
Hello.
Hi.
I wanted to tell you, while you were talking to Haldeman, or just before, I guess, Secretary Richardson had called you and was very, very pleased.
But he'd gone on in that Russian art exhibit.
Oh, yeah.
Everybody went there, yeah.
He was very pleased.
And Moore called, didn't want to disturb you, and left a message with the Signal Corps.
They could get him back.
Pat Buchanan called you.
And Tex McCrary called me from New York, and he said he just wanted me to tell you that, quote, it was your finest hour.
He thought it was absolutely beautiful and was just so proud of you.
And somebody that says he met me somewhere.
He must have had a drink or two, Tex.
Oh, no.
No, no, I can tell when he's had a drink.
What did Pat Buchanan say?
I didn't talk to Pat.
I guess they put him on to Dave Parker or somebody.
I'll call old Pat.
He called me?
I think he called you.
Oh, I'll call him.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Okay.
And I'm sure he will.
Who else should I call of the other people you have?
Well, I think you ought to ask him to get more for you.
All right.
Because he didn't ask for you.
He was good enough to leave him.
I said so much about the POWs.
He'll appreciate it.
Yeah.
And Walter Takashi and I went to sit together, and we're both so proud of you.
It's just, you know, let me put Walter on and tell you what he thought.
Mr. President, you know, each time I hear you talk, I think, this couldn't be better.
And each time you surpassed the other one.
I just want to say, you know, I'm really proud to be an American and just to have known you even 10 seconds.
That's very nice.
I wrote every word of this, as Rose will tell you.
I know you did.
And Rosemary told me.
My little yellow pad.
I wish I had words to express how thrilled I was.
You know, I was one of those in Vietnam also.
I know.
You're one of the two and a half.
That's right.
I said that, Rosemary.
And I just want to tell you, I'm truly proud of you.
I can't tell you how much.
I was thrilled.
Well, thank you very much, Walter.
Thank you, sir.
Hello.
Okay.
Bye-bye.
I know that goes for...
Like, you know, my nephew Mike and all these people who served.
This had, it just simply had to mean an awful lot to all of us.
At least it got through to the kids that served.
Oh, it got through a little bit.
How'd you like that amnesty cracker?
That was great.
And there was some man who called me who says he met me somewhere, but I'll have to look up.
Did it get through there that I said, let's not dishonor those who served?
Oh, of course it did.
That was, you absolutely slowed down.
The not dishonor those who serve by giving amnesty was a very, was a really good, good shot.
And it was very clear.
The whole thing was very well delivered.
And it was very evident that you had written it yourself.
You didn't really have to look at the pages, hardly.
And it was really... You know, that was, I thought, a very good thing that I'd... That was Colonel Reisner that had told me this, the guy that, you know... Oh, that was great.
That was great, and it went right in with, you know, some of the POWs today, how much they've been tortured.
Nobody had told anything until today, but I think it would be awfully nice if you talked with Moore and with Pat Buchanan.
and as i say some guy named mr lewis brian lewis or someone called and he just never had been more proud to be american and so forth and i don't he says he knows me but i i don't know who he was but he just he was just asked to send his congratulations
i'll tell you i've never i haven't really ever talked to mccurry since i've been president so i'll talk to him once okay i'll tell him mccurry mccurry uh those are the only calls you've got mccurry buchanan and uh i think i'll tell you i was going to say the reason most the others i think hear it and don't call is because they know that you know they're going to get
or Parker or Butterfield or somebody, and so they don't call because they know, you know, normally you aren't able to take them.
Sure.
Because I know they would all call tonight.
They would be so proud.
Okay.
You have them call, and anybody else of that sort have them call.
I'll be here for about a half hour.
I won't be able to go to bed anyway, so.
Okay.
Fine.
I'll be here until 11 o'clock.
All right.
Fine.
Thanks.
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