Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 19 › Conversation 019-118

Nixon, Romney & Shultz on Vietnam War and Peace negotiations

Wednesday, January 26, 1972 · 4:23 PM–4:24 PM ET · White House Telephone ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Romney, George W.;  Shultz, George P.Conversation019-118 onTape 19StartWednesday, January 26, 1972 at 4:23 PMEndWednesday, January 26, 1972 at 4:24 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 019-118 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this call to thank Secretary of Housing and Urban Development George Romney for his supportive reaction to the President's recent televised speech regarding Vietnam. Romney expressed his approval of Nixon’s decision to disclose previously secret peace negotiations, noting that the transparency provided national reassurance. The conversation concluded with Nixon affirming his commitment to the diplomatic strategy despite anticipated initial rejections from the North Vietnamese.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Secretary Romney, Mr. President.
Mr. President.
George, I just wanted to call you to tell you that I greatly appreciated your comments with regard to my speech last night.
They were relayed to me this morning.
Well, I think you have a very positive peace program, and I was delighted that you revealed all these secret discussions.
Of course, I knew nothing about them, but it was very reassuring to me, and I'm sure it is to the nation.
Well, we've been—come on in.
We've been, you know, of course, working on these things.
We had to keep them private for reasons that you're well aware.
Sure.
But it just shows that what all these fellows have been talking about, we've been doing, and we were about three jumps ahead of them.
Exactly right.
And now we're on a darn good wicket, and we're going to stick right on it.
I was just delighted.
Even though the North Vietnamese, of course, will say no the first time, we'll keep at it, and eventually they're going to have to take the deal.
That's right.
Well, I was greatly encouraged, and I'm sure the country is, and I certainly think it strengthens your whole effort tremendously, Mr. President.
Thank you, George.
Good to talk with you.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On January 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, George W. Romney, and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 4:23 pm to 4:24 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-118 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 19-118

Date: January 26, 1972
Time: 4:23 pm - 4:24 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with George W. Romney.

[See Conversation No. 318-7A]

     The President's speech, January 25, 1972, on Vietnam
          -Romney's comments

The President asked an unknown person [George P. Shultz?] to enter the room.

     Vietnam
          -Negotiations
              -Secrecy

Also recorded on January 26, 1972

  • 019-115 4:20 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:20 pm.
  • 019-116 4:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 4:20 pm to 4:21 pm.
  • 318-004 4:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:20 pm.
  • 318-005 4:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:20 pm to 4:21 pm.
  • 019-117 4:21 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:21 pm and 4:23 pm.
  • 318-006 4:21 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:21 pm and 4:23 pm.
  • 318-007 4:23 PM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George W. Romney, George P. Shultz, John B. Connally, White House operator, Peter M. Flanigan, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:23 pm to 5:01 pm.
  • 019-119 4:36 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John B. Connally talked on the telephone from 4:36 pm to 4:42 pm.

All 102 conversations from January 26, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 019-118, January 26, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/019-118 (accessed September 18, 2026).