Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 189 › Conversation 189-012
Nixon phone call with Dent on George Wallace and Vietnam War
Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 10:33 AM–10:43 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire ·9 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Harry S. Dent discussed the political implications of the 1972 Democratic primary, specifically focusing on George Wallace’s unexpected success in Michigan and the potential for a GOP electoral victory. The two also addressed the logistics of a private presidential visit to Wallace following his recent injury, with Nixon expressing a desire to avoid press coverage. Finally, the President defended his recent decision to implement a naval blockade in Vietnam, asserting that it was a necessary and correct strategic move to bolster both South Vietnamese and American morale.
- 1972 Presidential Election
- George Wallace
- Vietnam War
- Democratic Primaries
- White House Public Relations
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) ·JSON data · Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
Yeah.
Well, I, uh, did you have a good time up in Connecticut?
Uh, that's the stuff, yeah.
Yeah, they support, support what we did in Vietnam a little bit, yeah.
What's the price of matter at this time?
He is out of his mind.
They should.
They should.
Just before the president goes to Moscow, for any Republican, they could have gone fishing, but they should vote against him.
Well, anyway, I tried to call you last night only to get the results from ahead now.
But that Wallace thing was unbelievable, particularly in Michigan.
Now that just shows you Michigan can be won.
I mean, if we play it right, that shit's, that shit's right and I never cut it down.
Yeah.
Because of the sympathy and everything.
Yeah.
On the other hand, I would think, Harry, that he's going to have to make an awful tough decision with regard to...
He's missed quite a few states, hasn't he, in terms of, I don't know, I don't suppose many southern states, but it's awful hard for us, I understand, for him to get into Texas, for example.
It's pretty hard for him to get on the ballot for Michigan, I think.
Well, we can't tell about what's going to happen in this case.
The poor devil has got a deal signed for him.
Incidentally, the doctor tells me that he did not take a telephone call.
I called his wife.
Well, I think the call is better.
I mean, if I go by, I mean, I thought Humphrey was way out of line to go rushing out to the hospital.
That's what he said about it.
Well, if I do that, you may go over.
Go over to Friday.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That would probably be better than calling on the phone.
And I won't call it.
Yeah.
Yeah, talk to Holland about it later.
See if he's worried something on Friday.
Without telling a soul, I just go out there and I wouldn't tell the press or anything else.
And then it'll get out.
It's getting out, not publicizing it.
That's the way I want to do it.
Not helping Ashbrook much these days, is it?
Yeah.
Oh, John.
Too bad they didn't get the hell out.
He ought to.
I mean, he ought to unite, but he didn't look to.
He's getting his ride.
Sort of a pathetic character.
Yeah.
But looking at the Democratic side, who's going to get nominated here?
Teddy.
Connelly still thinks it's going to be Teddy.
Well, what surprised me is that he beat Humphrey, Michigan.
Good God.
Where?
Really?
yeah yeah just like we did in 68 yeah well i think the real test is california if he could if he could win that damn thing i don't it might be impossible to stop me what do you think
Harry, how could Hubert make a deal with Wallace after what he said about him?
What do you think?
The McGovern people may want to stick with McGovern.
They really feel that way, don't they?
On Wallace's.
I mean, you think it worries him.
You think it worries him.
I imagine what the other reasons are.
Well, anyway, it's not Bell, is it?
Well, I'll tell you the best decision, I'll just tell an old Kissinger.
I said, you know,
It was the toughest decision any president's made since World War II.
But it's certainly, in my opinion, the best one I've made was that Vietnam.
However it comes out, it's the right thing to do.
And you know, we had no, as I'm sure you know, except for just among us, except for Meg Connolly, we had no strong support.
But I would say the others all have gone around beautifully.
Larry Rogers has done great since we've done it.
But you know what I mean?
But we had to do it.
And I mean, some people say, well, will it work?
And the point is, I'm damn sure nothing else would have worked.
And we've now got these people where it's changed the morale of the South Vietnamese.
It's helped the morale of our own forces out there.
And I think it's helped the morale of all the people of this country.
What do you think?
I heard that one.
Good, good, good, good.
All right.
Yeah.
Well, one thing.
Well, there's still going to be some battles won and lost in Vietnam.
I don't think it's going to make that much difference now because they know that we've thrown down the gauntlet.
These bastards are either going to play or that's it.
We'll try.
We'll try.
We'll try.
OK, Eric.
Bye.
NARA Description
On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Harry S. Dent met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:33 am to 10:43 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 189-12
Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 10:33 am - 10:43 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President talked with Harry S. Dent.
Connecticut
-Trip
-Support for Vietnam action
An unknown man
-The President’s view
Vietnam
-Vote in Congress
-Republican vote
-Soviet summit
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/10/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[189-012-w001]
[Duration: 1m 47s]
1972 election
-Michigan primary
-The President’s attempted May 16, 1972 telephone call to Harry S. Dent
-George C. Wallace vote
-Significance
-Potential Michigan electoral victory by the President
-Impact on Democratic Party
-George C. Wallace
-Sympathy vote
-Southern states
-Texas
-Possibility of getting on ballot
-Michigan
-Possibility of getting on ballot
*****************************************************************
George C. Wallace
-The President’s view
-Dr. William M. Lukash's report
-Possible call by President
-President's call to Cornelia Wallace
-Possible visit by President
-Hubert H. Humphrey visit
-The President’s view
-Telephone call
-Day and time
-Arrangements
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Day
-Press coverage
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/11/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[189-012-w002]
[Duration: 3m 11s]
1972 election
-John N. Ashbrook
-The President’s opinion
-Democrats
-Nomination
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-John B. Connally's view
-George C. Wallace
-Michigan victory over Hubert H. Humphrey
-The President’s reaction
-Comparison to the President's 1968 campaign
-California primary
-Importance
-George S. McGovern
-Momentum
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Potential deal with George C. Wallace
-George S. McGovern
-Supporters
-Loyalty
-George C. Wallace
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
*****************************************************************
Vietnam
-Blockade
-Henry A. Kissinger
-President's decision
-The President’s view
-John B. Connally
-Melvin R. Laird
-William P. Rogers
-Necessity
-Alternative
-South Vietnam and US troop morale
-Future of war
-The President’s viewAlso recorded on May 17, 1972
- 189-009 10:06 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Beverly J. Kaye met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:15 am.
- 189-010 10:15 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:15 am to 10:32 am.
- 189-011 10:32 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:32 am and 10:33 am.
- 189-013 10:43 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 10:43 am.
- 189-014 10:52 AM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 10:52 am to 11:09 am.
- 131-005 11:09 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm.
- 189-015 11:09 AM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm.
- 189-016 11:09 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:09 am and 2:26 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 189-012, May 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/189-012 (accessed September 18, 2026).