Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 196 › Conversation 196-017

Nixon, Haldeman & Kissinger on Foreign Policy and Nuclear Defense

Sunday, July 23, 1972 · 12:29 PM–1:35 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation196-017 on Tape 196StartSunday, July 23, 1972 at 12:29 PMEndSunday, July 23, 1972 at 1:35 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 196-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman and Henry Kissinger regarding follow-up actions from his recent discussion with Ronald Reagan, including potential adjustments to U.S. policy on Irish Airlines. The President also outlines strategic objectives for upcoming meetings with foreign leaders, specifically emphasizing the need for a unified Western stance on nuclear defense and European security ahead of negotiations with the Soviet Union. To manage his schedule, Nixon directs staff to limit foreign minister meetings, suggesting that his engagement with Sir Alec Douglas-Home be handled via a casual breakfast or a private trip on the presidential yacht, Sequoia.

Audio

Download MP3 · 4.6 MB

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 53% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Mr.
This memorandum has been what it's just given to Mr.
I don't know how complex they're handling groups in the way.
I don't know what I've just given him.
He talked to Ronald Reagan, and he raised three points that we'd like to do a look into.
One, the Irish Airlines found where it may even be a bit too rigid and too rough in order to get
Right.
Right.
He also mentioned that back when I was part of the field, I told him I was staying in the field.
The field has two parts to these, but we're making that happen.
One has the British, the Australian, the French, and the Germans, and it could be brought in, too.
nuclear defense problems that they have up to this point.
This is a very sensitive matter, as we know, but at least we should be prepared to discuss it with Bill.
The other point is one that, uh, that, uh, before we go to
the European Security Conference, that we should get together on our side with the British, the French, and the Germans, and develop a line that is a standpoint that will be united and effective, having in mind the fact that the Soviets will be pushing their line very, very hard.
Right, and I see that.
If you pass through Washington with this way of a hand, this will, uh, probably on the weekend before, but on the call, so to be, at that time, this will open the door for other foreign ministers to see.
Certainly, at least, at the very least, we should see.
We'll make a new question.
I want to keep the number of foreign visitors I see down to a bare minimum.
You, my name, can be justified on the basis of my personal friendship.
Seeing him, it occurred to me that I might do it for breakfast, or possibly for the two-hour trip on Sequoia.
In any event, you were the call for the date.
A limited number of voicemails.

NARA Description

On July 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 1:35 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 196-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 196-17

Date: July 23, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:29 pm and 1:35 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President resumed dictating a memorandum to H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

[This is a continuation of Conversation No. 196-15]

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 57s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************

The President dictated a memornadum to Henry A. Kissinger.

     Instructions
           -Copies

     The President's conversation with Ronald W. Reagan
          -Irish Airlines
                 -US airlines
                      -Modification of US position
                           -Possible talk with Peter M. Flanigan
                 -John M. (“Jack”) Lynch
          -Reagan’s talk with Sir Alexander F. Douglas-Home
          -The President’s forthcoming meeting with Home
                 -US allies
                      -Strengthened nuclear policy
                           -British view
                                  -France, West Germany
                      -European Security Conference
                           -British, French, Germans
                                  -Soviets

     Reagan's possible meeting with the President
         -Republican National Convention
               -Miami
         -Haldeman

     The President's meetings with Foreign Ministers
          -Douglas-Home
          -Andrei A. Gromyko
          -Douglas-Home
               -Breakfast on Sequoia
                     -Arrangements

               -Date
                   -Haldeman
          -Number

Also recorded on July 23, 1972

  • 136-022 12:25 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:25 pm and 12:26 pm.
  • 196-010 12:26 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 12:26 pm.
  • 196-011 12:26 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 12:26 pm.
  • 196-012 12:26 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 12:26 pm to 12:29 pm.
  • 196-013 12:29 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 1:35 pm.
  • 196-014 12:29 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 1:35 pm.
  • 196-015 12:29 PM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 1:35 pm.
  • 196-016 12:29 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 1:35 pm.

All 52 conversations from July 23, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 196-017, July 23, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/196-017 (accessed October 12, 2026).