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Conversation 158-032

TapeTape 158StartFriday, December 29, 1972 at 7:02 PMEndFriday, December 29, 1972 at 7:04 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Johnson, U. AlexisRecording deviceCamp David Study Table
AudioNARA Description

On December 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and U. Alexis Johnson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 7:02 pm to 7:04 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 158-032 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 158-32

Date: December 29, 1972
Time: 7:02 pm - 7:04 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with U. Alexis Johnson.

[See Conversation No. 237-40]

       Vietnam War
            -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Parallel
                 -William P. Rogers
                        -Message
                             -Security
                                   -US Navy channels
                             -Notification
                        -The President’s conversation with Gerald L. Warren
                        -Message from the President
                             -Security
                             -Johnson’s initiative
                             -Announcement
                             -Security
                                            -40-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. May-08)

                                                              Conversation No. 158-32 (cont’d)

                                     -Leaks
                                          -US Navy facility
                              -Johnson’s initiative
            -Congressional relations
                 -J. William Fulbright
            -Johnson’s congratulations
            -US bombing of North Vietnam
                 -The President’s decision
                        -The President’s May 8, 1972 decision
                        -Breakdown in negotiations
                 -Johnson’s meeting with Netherlands representative
                        -US-Netherlands relations
                        -Historical perspective
            -Cessation of US bombing north of 20th Paralle
                 -Johnson’s congratulations
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello, is it down here?
Yes, it's down here.
Oh, Alan.
Yes, I wanted to be sure that, uh, going around here a little bit, knowing about the information, you know, uh, you can't reach me by phone, but we don't want to open the line.
I got you what I've done, no?
I had no reason to steer away.
I'm sending a message tonight to the Navy Channel.
I'm sending a message tonight that you wanted to tell him about tonight.
That I was, that I called you tonight.
That I was...
Yeah, and there's a lot of radio switches on that.
I sent you the message I sent you, Mr. President.
I said that you wanted to reach me.
But we decided there was no sufficiently secure way to do so.
But I knew that the news...
I took it on myself.
I knew that the news that he would receive, he would be glad to have.
And therefore, I suggested that he listen in at 10 o'clock tomorrow to get the story.
And I see
That's really the only way I could do it.
... ... ... ... ...
I'm not saying congratulations to you.
Well, it's not like you know it's been a pretty rough decision.
It's your head, man.
It's your head, man.
I, you know, it's a real decision.
Well, the last fellow I had in this afternoon, as you know, I've been receiving a stream of him, he said, you know, this is a pretty rough day.
And I said that, you know, only history can tell.
And if it works, if it doesn't work, then all of you then, you know, you can come up to that.
There's a lot of ways to see if there's a chance.
Right.
Good.
Good.
Fine, Alex.
Fine.
Bye.
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