Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 206 › Conversation 206-014

Nixon phone call with Kissinger on 1972 Presidential Campaign

Sunday, August 20, 1972 · 4:00 PM–5:59 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 11 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation206-014 on Tape 206StartSunday, August 20, 1972 at 4:00 PMEndSunday, August 20, 1972 at 5:59 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 206-014 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met at Camp David to refine the closing remarks for Nixon's upcoming presidential nomination acceptance speech. They evaluated draft language, critiquing specific segments for sounding too "professorial" or "maudlin" while discussing the need to project a confident, strong, and forward-looking image. Ultimately, the two agreed on a rhetorical strategy that contrasted Nixon’s optimism against the perceived "whining" and frustration of his opponent, George McGovern.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 9% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Got a little sun?
Yeah.
I'm trying to figure out whether to get off.
Somebody...
That might be in two paragraphs.
Difficulty as we really separate here all this.
Yeah, in the previous one.
I think, you know, well, we can read.
It's only a lot quieter about it.
I would put it more affirmatively.
I would say I do not accept the proposition that this nation is finished, is torn by doubts.
I do not accept the proposition that this election will be won by appealing to all the frustrations in this country.
I'd put it on the positive side.
I'd say we have always been a people of idealists.
We've always been a nation of optimists, and it is in that spirit I'd go forward as a happy warrior.
But this is too professorial.
This other one is too maudlin.
I don't really think we need anything more than that.
I think what the people have to see you as is confident, strong, forward-looking.
They have to see you as a man compared to a whiner.
With modeling stuff is that it sounds slightly phony.
And in Russia it was great because there you were trying to reach enemy people with a human example.
Well, I can use the Russian example, but what we have to do is to get the conclusion on a firm, strong, and absolute view.
Contrast.
McGovern says his country is run.
McGovern's hope is the policy of frustration.
And I would draw the line there.
I would say we don't need our inspiration.
It's the future we want to build, not the pretended frustrations or something like that.
But the Charles McGovern could say too.
You'll have to say things he couldn't say.
Ridiculing.
Ridiculing when he just makes that the whole...
I mean, it's too soft.
Isn't that your point?
It's too soft.
It's not manly enough.
I mean, you're leading troops into battle.
This isn't...
I'll say it.
We... We...
This is not a time to turn away from the great...
That's it.
That's what I would say.
It isn't the time to come home, it's the time to go forward.
Like I wouldn't use the word come home, I'm just trying to give you the... ...to whine about our frustrations, but to accept our responsibilities.
Price is a fine man.
We can talk.
But he'd be more comfortable with an Adelaide Stevens.
way it's all right to have a little of the emotion what i mean of the sentiment about the peace and so forth you've got a lot of yeah what i meant is i may i mean as i develop as i move that into the conclusion the conclusion must be on the strong that's my that was my
You got the other one?
Yes.
That's too professional.
Yeah, this would be a nice thing to deliver sometime.
It's a great deal of training.
Yeah.
I'm okay.
It's very decent.
they know and have to I haven't said it this eloquently I find it ingestible which is a relic of all hell of excellence it's more it sounds like Adelaide
all of this McGovern could say all of this McGovern the basic impact of all of this is that I'm not as bad as McGovern says I am because I have the same but I think the conclusion ought to be that everyone who sees that flying on
The guy who says everything is wrong with America compared to the man who says, I draw the line rather than make a catalog of virtue.
Y'all take care.
The backer.

NARA Description

On August 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 5:59 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 206-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 206-14

Date: August 20, 1972
Time: 4:00 pm - unknown before 5:59 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Kissinger's schedule

     The President’s forthcoming acceptance speech
          -Conclusion
               -Tone
               -Reference to Tanya Savicheva
                     -1968 nomination acceptance speech
               -Divisions within nation
                     -Tone
                          -Kissinger’s view
               -The President's image
                     -The President’s previous speech in Soviet Union
               -George S. McGovern’s view of country
               -Tone
                     -Phrasing
          -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
               -Kissinger’s view
                     -Adlai E. Stevenson, II
                     -McGovern

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

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

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

     The President’s forthcoming acceptance speech
          -Emotion
          -Conclusion

                -Tone
                     -The President’s view
                     -Harvard University
                     -Kissinger’s view
          -The President’s view
                -Stevenson’s style
          -Kissinger’s view
                -The President compared to McGovern

     McGovern
        -Kissinger’s view

     The President's schedule
          -Dinner arrangements
               -Timing
               -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
               -Kissinger
               -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman

Kissinger left at an unknown time before 5:59 pm.

Also recorded on August 20, 1972

  • 206-015 4:00 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 5:59 pm.
  • 140-052 6:25 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 6:30 pm.
  • 206-016 6:25 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 10:32 pm.
  • 206-017 6:25 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 10:32 pm.
  • 206-018 6:25 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 9:45 pm.
  • 206-019 6:25 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 10:32 pm.
  • 206-020 6:25 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 10:32 pm.
  • 206-021 6:25 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:25 pm and 10:32 pm.

All 28 conversations from August 20, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 206-014, August 20, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/206-014 (accessed October 9, 2026).