Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 162 › Conversation 162-003

Nixon phone call with Wallace on Vietnam War and Prisoners of War

Friday, February 23, 1973 · 7:15 PM–7:18 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Wallace, George C.Conversation162-003 on Tape 162StartFriday, February 23, 1973 at 7:15 PMEndFriday, February 23, 1973 at 7:18 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 162-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called Governor George Wallace to request that he convey the administration's gratitude and support to attendees at a dinner honoring returning Vietnam Prisoners of War. The two leaders discussed the importance of achieving 'peace with honor' and recognized the fortitude of the POWs and their wives. Additionally, they briefly touched upon Wallace's recent health issues and confirmed arrangements for Wallace's upcoming participation in the National Governors' Conference.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello?
Governor Wallace, sir.
Hello?
Yes, sir, Mr. President.
Governor, I wanted you to express the appreciation of the nation and my best wishes to those that you're having tonight for your dinner.
I sure will, Mr. President.
And would you also say that without their courage and the courage of their wives and their mothers and the rest, we couldn't have done this?
And also, I must say, without...
The courage that you and others in this country, who despite all the criticism we had, stood by us to get peace with honor.
I want to congratulate you for bringing the thing to an end and bringing them back.
You know, it isn't just bringing them back, but it's bringing them back with our heads high rather than just getting them back for the sake of getting them back, you know.
That's exactly right.
And that's what they were saying, weren't they?
That's exactly what they were saying.
God bless America, and they had confidence in their commander-in-chief.
Right.
Well, I sure will give them that message.
I'm glad that you called.
But you tell them, too, that I'm... Just speaking for the nation, I met with 250 congressmen last night, Democrats and Republicans who were supporters and all this, and I said...
They made us all proud of being Americans.
They've inspired the country, and we really are most grateful to them.
let them know how we feel about them, what they've done.
I'm certainly going to.
I think there's 14 that are here.
They're going to be here with their wives tonight in just a little while, and I certainly will give them the message that you sent them.
And will you also say that we're just as proud of their wives as we are of them?
I sure will.
I'll say exactly what you said.
You see, the point is that the women, they could have, you know, and a few did, but most of them stood firm and said, look, we want peace with honor.
We don't want our...
our husbands to come back with their heads low.
We want them to come back with their heads high.
That's exactly right.
Right.
Well, I know they'll be pleased to hear from you.
Yeah.
And I'm pleased to hear from you, and I'm glad I got to shake your hand the other day at the inauguration.
Well, now let me ask you this.
Will we see you at the governor's thing?
Yes, sir.
I intend to come unless I... Well, we expect you and Mrs. Wallace, and let me say that I'll call on you to say a few words as the head of the southern governor's.
And we're just looking forward to it.
We're going to have a good program that night that will be, you know...
typical of what I think all of us should hear.
We're going to have the Army Chorus sing Stout-Hearted Men.
I think that's great.
Does that sound all right to you?
Yes, sir.
Fine, Governor.
I look forward to seeing you that night unless I want to have some back set.
I've been in the hospital.
I know you have.
I heard about it, but I heard you came out well, and I'm really praying for you, and I hope everything goes okay.
Well, I'm praying for you, Mr. President, and you give your family my best.
Thank you very much.
Give our best to Mrs. Wallace.
I thank you.
And all the POWs and their wives.
I certainly will, Mr. President.
Okay.
Thank you.
Bye.
Bye.

NARA Description

On February 23, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and George C. Wallace talked on the telephone at Camp David from 7:15 pm to 7:18 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 162-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 162-3

Date: February 23, 1973
Time: 7:15 pm - 7:18 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with George C. Wallace.

       George Wallace’s Prisoners of War [POWs] dinner
             -The President’s expression of appreciation
                                     - 2 -

           NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 162-3 (cont’d)

       -Courage
       -Vietnam
              -George Wallace’s support
              -Peace with honor
              -POWs return
                       -Statements
       President’s talk with Congressional supporters
              -POWs
                       -Pride
                       -Gratitude
                       -Wives
                               -Support for the President

1973 Inauguration
       -George Wallace’s meeting with the President

National Governors' Conference
       -George Wallace's attendance
              -Cornelia Wallace
              -Remarks
              -Southern governors
       -Program
       -Army Chorus
              -“Stout Hearted Men”
-George Wallace’s meeting with the President

George Wallace's health
      -Hospital

Best wishes
       -Cornelia Wallace
       POWs
                                           - 3 -

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on February 24, 1973

  • 243-003 7:15 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George C. Wallace met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 7:15 pm to 7:18 pm.
  • 243-015 7:18 PM · 15 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 7:18 pm on February 23, 1973 and 8:55 am on February 24, 1973.
  • 162-004 12:01 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:01 am and 8:55 am.
  • 243-004 12:01 AM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:01 am and 8:55 am.
  • 243-005 8:55 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:55 am to 8:56 am.
  • 243-006 8:56 AM · 29 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, unknown person(s), President Richard M. Nixon, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 1:36 pm.
  • 162-005 1:36 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 1:36 pm.
  • 162-006 1:36 PM · 24 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:36 pm and 6:10 pm.

All 20 conversations from February 24, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 162-003, February 24, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/162-003 (accessed October 1, 2026).