Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 136 › Conversation 136-017

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on Baltic Republics and Soviet Union relations

Saturday, July 22, 1972 · 4:20 PM–4:23 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation136-017 on Tape 136 (tape position 00:51:33–00:52:57)StartSaturday, July 22, 1972 at 4:20 PMEndSaturday, July 22, 1972 at 4:23 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 136-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed whether to grant a meeting request from representatives of the Baltic republics, a move both men feared would provoke a hostile reaction from the Soviet Union. Nixon expressed his strong preference against a presidential audience, citing recent geopolitical tensions involving Lithuania. The two agreed that the meeting should be deferred to Vice President Spiro Agnew to maintain diplomatic discretion while still acknowledging the petitioners.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:51:33 – 00:52:57

136a.mp3
136b.mp3

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
Yes, please.
Mr. Kissinger, please.
Thank you, Mr. President.
Mr. Kissinger is on.
Hello.
Mr. President.
Oh, Henry, we were looking over one schedule item here that I wondered about, and I had a reaction that was negative on it.
The people representing the three Baltic countries, republics, want to come in.
My own view is that that just sends the Russians right up the wall.
I'm not much in favor of it, and the only reason I would go along with it is if you thought there was a major political gain.
Well, what I thought I'd do is have Agnew see him.
Let him see him.
But I think if I do, I think it's just to just thumbs your nose right at the Russians, particularly with the Lithuanians having just had a hell of a fight.
I think we can do them without receiving them.
I would much prefer it, Mr. President.
My instinct is exactly as good.
Fine, fine.
Well, we've got bigger games to play.
I couldn't agree more.
Bigger games to play, and we'll play them.
Good.
On the two points you made.
Good, good.
One other thing I wanted to tell you, if you felt, I mean, I didn't know what you were going to do, but...
If you want to, you're welcome to come to Camp David, you know.
It's cooler up here.
Oh, you're very nice.
It's much nicer if you want to come.
Right.
I have some friends down there.
Okay.
I appreciate it very much.
All right.
Fine, Henry.
Okay, thank you.
Mr. Colson, please.

NARA Description

On July 22, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 4:20 pm to 4:23 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 136-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 136-17

Date: July 22, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:20-4:23 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table (telephone)

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[This is the original beginning of conversation No. 136-017, which has been merged with
conversation 136-016.]

[See Conversation No. 197-17C]

       President's schedule
             -Representatives of Baltic Republics
                  -Possible meeting with the President
                       -The President’s view
                  -Soviet Union reaction
                  -Possible meeting with Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                  -Lithuanians

       Kissinger's conversation with John B. Connally

       Invitation to Kissinger

Also recorded on July 22, 1972

  • 136-012 2:47 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:57 pm.
  • 136-013 2:47 PM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:57 pm.
  • 136-014 2:47 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:57 pm.
  • 197-015 2:47 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:47 pm and 3:05 pm.
  • 197-017 3:05 PM · 2 hr 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Tricia Nixon Cox, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:05 pm and 3:57 pm.
  • 136-015 3:57 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone at Camp David from 3:57 pm to 3:59 pm.
  • 136-016 3:59 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:59 pm and 4:20 pm.
  • 197-018 4:23 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:23 pm and 6:37 pm.

All 29 conversations from July 22, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 136-017, July 22, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/136-017 (accessed October 25, 2026).