Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 145 › Conversation 145-023

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on SALT and Foreign Policy

Monday, October 2, 1972 · 8:51 PM–8:52 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation145-023 on Tape 145StartMonday, October 2, 1972 at 8:51 PMEndMonday, October 2, 1972 at 8:52 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 145-023 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructs Henry Kissinger to emphasize to Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin that his past willingness to take decisive actions, such as the bombing of Cambodia and the Moscow summit, reflects a readiness to act despite political risks. Nixon intends to project a firm stance, signaling that while he prefers diplomatic restraint, the Soviets should not underestimate his resolve or his capacity for unilateral action. Kissinger agrees to convey this message of underlying strength to ensure the Soviets understand the President's commitment to his policies.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Oh, one point I did not make.

Are you there?

I'm with the Foreign Ministry.

I wanted you to be sure to get across the point that I had failed to point out that I wouldn't want to say it, but you should point out that, after all, when very much was at stake, that I made the decision on Cambodia, and something that I considered the most vital thing in this administration, the meeting with the

you know at the summit that I did what was necessary and that now when frankly we have no election problems or anything else that they just got to assume that we don't want it that the president doesn't like to lay down all the mediums he won't but you must never underestimate what he's going to do exactly I could say that I think you see the idea that

We talked softly, but don't underestimate it.

Don't you think you should say that?

I will say it.

If you could convey that time to him, okay?

Absolutely, I'll make that point.

Okay, fine.

NARA Description

On October 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:51 pm to 8:52 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 145-023 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 145-23

Date: October 2, 1972
Time: 8:51 pm - 8:52 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 214-36]

             Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]
                  -Kissinger’s negotiation with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
                      -The President’s position
                          -Cambodian bombing
                          -Previous US-Soviet Union summit
                          -The President’s policies
                                -1972 election
                                -Tone

Also recorded on October 3, 1972

145-021 8:39 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:39 pm to 8:43 pm.
214-033 8:39 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:39 pm to 8:43 pm.
145-022 8:43 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:43 pm and 8:51 pm.
214-034 8:43 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:43 pm and 8:51 pm.
214-035 8:43 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:43 pm and 8:51 pm.
214-036 8:51 PM · 54 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:51 pm to 8:52 pm.
145-024 8:54 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:54 pm and 9:09 pm.
214-037 8:54 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 8:54 pm.

All 64 conversations from October 3, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 145-023, October 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/145-023 (accessed October 12, 2026).