President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger to discuss the implementation of a more aggressive and centralized propaganda strategy regarding the Vietnam War. Drawing comparisons to previous conflicts, the President emphasized the need to appoint a director of propaganda within the White House staff to improve the administration's messaging. They evaluated the roles of key personnel, including Richard Helms, Ronald Ziegler, John Scali, and Herbert Klein, while considering how to better manage their relationship with the press.
On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:05 am and 8:44 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 190-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 190-18
Date: May 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:05 and 8:44 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President dictated a memorandum to Henry A. Kissinger.
[Discontinuities appear in the original recording]
Vietnam
-US propaganda
(rev. Oct-06)
-Compared with World War I, World War II, Korean War
-Richard M. Helms and intelligence community
-Need for director of propaganda on White House staff
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Ronald L. Ziegler, John A. Scali, Herbert G. Klein
-Relationship with the press
-Timing of further discussionThis 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.