Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 223-020
Date: Sunday, October 22, 1972 at 10:10 AM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
Recording device: Camp David Hard Wire
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/223-020

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Cool.
[0:07] Now, I will be back about 12 o'clock or 12.
[0:24] I can't believe it.
[0:25] I'm just coming back anyway.
[0:25] And I thought that we could get together.
[0:26] We'll meet and sort of talk this thing out a bit.
[0:27] If you agree, that's fine.
[0:27] Okay.
[0:28] And I didn't use that any further.
[0:28] Thank you.
[0:29] Have you talked to Green again or not?
[0:29] Sure.
[0:31] Now, the only thing that I was thinking there, if you want to play at a higher level, I almost think I might have to talk to him at this point.
[0:51] My answer is, I think we just have to tell him.
[0:52] You could expect a negative, but we had it all set, because they're going to have a big resolution to play it as you put it on.
[0:56] On the basis that you try to...
[0:57] You need not be concerned about the election deadline.
[1:11] That'd be the best thing you know, is that the next election season, that's on.
[1:16] Well, I see your point.
[1:16] I mean, that'd be confident.
[1:20] Yeah, totally.
[1:20] We will say, basically, on all the military sites and so forth and so on, that's a deal.
[1:23] We're ready.
[1:23] And we'll see.
[1:23] We'll work with you to see what we can work out.
[1:25] We may have to go our own way.
[1:32] We understand we're going to go our own way.
[1:35] But we haven't given up on you.
[1:37] We're still working on it.
[1:37] We're still working on it.
[1:38] But we've got to put the lid on this thing and hold it.
[1:39] And we need to just say that our relationship
[1:41] two great powers must not be affected by the fact that these two bits which are acting the way they are.
[1:52] And then now let's keep our heads, if you keep theirs down, we'll keep theirs down.
[1:55] That's the responsibility.
[1:57] I really feel that I have, if I told you that, that could have quite an impact on you.
[2:00] And I'll be there at 1215.
[2:01] And if we think well, I'll call an ambulance.
[2:03] just lay it out like that, but we'll talk it through first.
[2:25] The other thing is that I just have a good little morning email, and I am just really adamant on not going to the office at this point in time, because the book is a complete surrender.
[2:29] You know, I mean, it'll be played that way, and also it'll look like Ramsey required to go in on all I had, and making sure we're going to get the prisoners back, and sure,
[2:33] You know, but they'll say, what in the hell have we fought for in the prisoners?
[2:56] He's going to the Naui, you know, now.
[2:57] He's like, I think another part of the game, he can make a commitment to go to the Naui later.
[2:59] Yeah, and I'll say, all right, let's meet in Paris and keep talking in the Naui later.
[3:01] Or he must, it must not be.
[3:01] The point is this.
[3:02] I strongly feel that Vietnam, in some particular
[3:03] I think that we are doing the wrong thing because of the election.
[3:19] And I just think we ought to say no.
[3:19] There's not going to be a good election.
[3:21] The main point is we've come a long way.
[3:22] In other words, they haven't got all the cards either.
[3:24] And we're still buying.
[3:24] And that's the way it's going to be.
[3:25] So therefore, we'll have to.
[3:27] The sad part of it is that I just don't know how to sell Vietnam.
[3:46] I don't see any leadership other than the Jews.
[3:47] I don't see any other course.
[3:47] But then what happens?
[3:48] I'm going to be strong if we cut off at the system center.