Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 186 › Conversation 186-005

Kissinger, Howe & Camp David Operator on PRC and Diplomatic Communications

Friday, February 2, 1973 · 3:43 PM–8:50 PM ET · Camp David Study Desk · 3 min

ParticipantsKissinger, Henry A.; Camp David Operator; Howe, Jonathan T. (Cmdr.)Conversation186-005 on Tape 186StartFriday, February 2, 1973 at 3:43 PMEndFriday, February 2, 1973 at 8:50 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study DeskSourceNixon Library record for 186-005 ↗

AI Summary

Henry Kissinger contacted Cmdr. Jonathan T. Howe to organize an urgent diplomatic notification strategy regarding the upcoming announcement of his February 1973 trip to the People's Republic of China. Kissinger directed Howe to send back-channel communications to key diplomatic personnel and foreign governments, including representatives in South Korea, Japan, France, West Germany, Great Britain, and Laos. The instructions emphasized framing these notifications as routine consultations following the recent Vietnam settlement and maintaining strict confidentiality under the guise of contributing to peace in Asia.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Mr. Kissinger, can you get me General Scowcroft urgently?
Thank you, sir.
Yes, please.
How are we doing on that call?
It's very urgent, because I'm holding up the whole party.
We're getting him now, sir.
He's not in his residence.
We're trying to tailor a house.
Well, never mind.
See whether Commander Howe is in my office.
Fine.
Yes, sir.
How are we doing?
All right, I'm talking to his office now.
Hello?
Yes, sir.
John, I suppose we haven't informed anybody about our announcement tomorrow.
You mean other countries?
Yes.
No, I don't believe so.
God damn it, somebody has to think of these things.
Now, will you do a back channel to Ingersoll, to Bunker, to Habib?
Right.
And tell them to tell their principals at what time we're going to make this announcement, tip them the text, and say it's a regular consultation in the aftermath of the Vietnam settlement.
Right.
And will you get that out this evening?
Yes, sir, certainly.
Now, wait a minute now.
Who else would we do?
Korea?
Japan?
You might let the French know.
All right.
What about the Germans?
Oh, isn't that crucial?
Yeah, do a back channel to Bauer.
Right.
And have you done your luncheon test?
Yeah.
Okay, and I suppose you've done the British.
Yeah.
All right, sir.
I think that takes care of it.
Yes.
Oh, you might let Godley tell Suvana and Swank.
All right.
Okay?
Yes, sir.
But it should be closely held, and that it's done in the spirit of contributing to peace in Asia.
Right.
Oh, and we have to tell Taiwan, call the Chinese.
Wait, I've got to go with you.
Yes.
Okay, wait a minute.
They're all leaving.
All right, I'll check with you when I get in.
Yes, sir.
Bye.
Bye.

NARA Description

On February 2, 1973, Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, and Cmdr. Jonathan T. Howe talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm. The Camp David Study Desk taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 186-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 186-5
Date: February 2, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm
Location: Camp David Study Desk

Henry A. Kissinger talked with the Camp David operator.

[See Conversation No. 241-3]
                                              -5-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 186-9 (cont’d)

       Request for a call to Brig. Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft

Kissinger talked with the Camp David operator.

       Call to Scowcroft
               -Status

Kissinger talked with Cmdr. Jonathan T. Howe.

       Kissinger’s schedule
              -Trip to People’s Republic of China [PRC], February 15-19, 1973
                      -Announcement
                             -Robert F. Ingersoll
                             -Ellsworth F. Bunker
                             -Phillip C. Habib
                             -Instructions from Kissinger
                                     -Vietnam settlement
                             -South Korea, Japan, France
                             -West Germany
                                     -Egon Bahr
                             -Unknown person
                             -Great Britain
                             -Laos
                                     -G. McMurtrie Godley
                                             -Souvanna Phouma
                                             -Emory C. Swank
                             -“Peace in Aisi”
                             -Taiwan, Republic of China
                                     -Departure

Also recorded on February 2, 1973

  • 186-001 3:43 PM · 42 sec — Camp David operator, William Hirsch, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-002 3:43 PM · 32 sec — William Hirsch and Charles C. ("Charlie") Sumrell talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-003 3:43 PM · 4 min — Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, Paul ("Stern") Kissinger, and Louis Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-004 3:43 PM · 3 min — Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, unknown person(s), and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-006 3:43 PM · 20 sec — Charles C. ("Charlie") Sumrell and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-007 3:43 PM · 33 sec — Frank A. Sisco, Camp David operator, and Charles A. Grunden talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-008 3:43 PM · 6 min — Frank A. Sisco, Camp David operator, unknown person(s), and Farrell D. Morlan talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.
  • 186-009 3:43 PM · 2 min — Charles C. ("Charlie") Sumrell, Camp David operator, and Farrell D. Morlan talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 3:43 pm and 8:50 pm.

All 33 conversations from February 2, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 186-005, February 2, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/186-005 (accessed October 10, 2026).