President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discussed messaging strategies regarding the Vietnam War, specifically the ongoing U.S. bombing and mining of North Vietnam as a response to enemy buildup and the breakdown in peace negotiations. The two also addressed the administration's contentious relationship with the Washington Post, with Nixon instructing Ziegler to remain firm in his policy of denying the newspaper special access to White House social events. Nixon encouraged Ziegler to continue distributing press opportunities more broadly to other outlets to diminish the Post's traditional influence in Washington.
On December 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at Camp David from 10:48 am to 11:11 am. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 184-006 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 184-6
Date: December 18, 1972
Time: 10:48 am - 11:11 am
Location: Camp David Study Desk
The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Vietnam War
-Ziegler’s press conference
-US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-William Beecher’s New York Times article
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Washington Star
-Washington Post
-Source
-[National Security Council] [NSC]
-Kissinger’s reaction
-The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
-Purpose
-Settlement agreement
-Enemy buildup and offensive action
-Kissinger’s press conference
-Negotiations
-Negotiations
-Enemy buildup and offensive action
-Invasion of South Vietnam
-Points to make
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)
-Settlement agreement
-Prolongation of war and negotiations
-The President’s memorandum
-October 1972 agreement
-Principles
-Kissinger
-Negotiations
-Resumption
-Settlement agreement
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Breakdown
-Thieu
-Purpose
-Enemy buildup and offensive action
Press relations
-Washington Post
-Alleged barring from White House
-Helen A. Thomas article
-Washington Post article in Style section
-Ziegler’s possible call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower’s possible conversation with Thelma C.
(“Pat”) Nixon
-Ziegler’s statement to United Press International [UPI]
-Tone
-Ziegler’s statement to the Washington Star
-Invitations
-Washington Star
-Press pool
-New York Times
-Washington Star
-New York Times
-Selection process
-Wire services
-Washington Post articles
-Style section
-Dorothy McCardle
-Associated Press [AP] photographs
-Pool report
-White House access policy
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)
-San Antonio Light
-[Marianne Means] [?]
-Wire services
-Mrs. Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Ziegler’s view
-Washington Post’s attitude toward White House
-Alleged barring from White House
-Discrimination claim
-Thomas article
-Unknown article
-White House access policy
-UPI
-Press pool
-Criticism
-Washington Star
-New York Times
-Local compared to national coverage
-Ziegler’s conversation with Kenneth W. Clawson
-Past access
-Freedom of the press
-Prerogative claim
-Social events
-Open House
-Candlelight tour
-Ziegler’s conversation with David
-Washington Star
-Kraslow
-Sources
-Past practice
-Washington, DC
-Influence of Washington Post and New York Times
-Call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Washington Post
-Alleged barring from White House
-Ziegler’s possible call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-The President’s possible call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-New York Times
-Contact with Kissinger
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman, Ziegler
-State Department
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)
-Haldeman, Ziegler
The President’s schedule
-Dinner party
-Announcement
-Timing
-Attendees
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth
-Howard K. Smith
-Richard L. Wilson
-Katherine Young (Macy) Wilson
-Anne L. Armstrong
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
Second term reorganization
-Armstrong
-Announcement
-Timing
-Washington Star
Press relations
-Washington Star
-White House social events
-Local compared to national coverage
-Kansas City Star
-Dallas Times Herald
-Washington Star
-Timing
-Wire services
-Ziegler’s conversation with Patrick J. Buchanan
Vietnam War
-Kissinger’s press conference
-Negotiations
-Ziegler’s press conference
-US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-Kissinger’s advice to Ziegler
-Settlement agreement
-The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
-Continuation
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-08)
Conversation No. 184-6 (cont’d)
-Settlement agreement
-Purpose
-Enemy buildup and offensive action
-The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Cease-fire
-Free elections in South VietnamThis 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.