← 237-001237-003 →

Conversation 237-002

TapeTape 237StartThursday, December 28, 1972 at 6:50 PMEndThursday, December 28, 1972 at 7:14 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Sanchez, ManoloRecording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the file regarding Vietnam peace negotiations and administration strategy, followed by a brief discussion with his aide, Manolo Sanchez, about scheduling and a report on George Wallace. Nixon evaluates the status of ceasefire talks, the potential for resuming bombing, and the administration's public relations management of these policies during the Congressional recess. The conversation concludes with administrative logistics regarding movie plans and a follow-up call to Bebe Rebozo regarding Governor Wallace.

Vietnam WarPeace NegotiationsHenry KissingerPublic RelationsGeorge WallacePresidential Scheduling
AudioNARA Description

On December 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 6:50 pm and 7:14 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 237-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 237-2

Date: December 28, 1972
Time: Unknown between 6:50 pm and 7:14 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President dictated a memorandum for the file.

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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift.]

       Introduction for recording
             -Location
             -Time
                                          -2-

                 NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. July-08)

                                                      Conversation No. 237-2 (cont’d)

      Vietnam negotiations
           -Telephone call
                 -Time
                 -Col. Richard T. Kennedy
                        -Success
                 -Henry A. Kissinger
                 -Message
                 -Thieu
                 -Kissinger
                        -Motives
                 -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
           1973 Inauguration
                 -Plans
                 -Press relations
                 -Compared to May 8, 1972 decision
           -Tactics
           -Moscow Summit
           -Bombing
           -US position
                 -Actions compared to ideas
                 -The President on television [TV]
                 -Options
                 -Thieu
           -Kissinger
                 -Optimism
                 -Los Angeles Times
                        -James Roosevelt
           -Press relations
                 -New York Times
                 -Los Angeles Times
                 -Congress holiday recess
                 -TV networks

      The President’s schedule
           -Movie night

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift.]
*****************************************************************
                                             -3-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. July-08)

                                                           Conversation No. 237-2 (cont’d)

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:50 pm.

       The President’s schedule
            -Movie viewing

       George C. Wallace
            -Meeting with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo in Kay Biscayne
                  -Sanchez’s conversation with Rebozo
                  -Wallace’s view of the President
            -Call from the President
                  -Timing
                        -Movie
                              -Rebozo’s location
                              -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                                    -Instruction for Fina Sanchez

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 7:14 pm.

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift.]

       The President’s schedule
            -End of dictation

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift.]
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Transcript (AI-Generated)

This 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.

I have a file being dictated to Camp David at approximately 7 p.m. on December the 28th, 30th paragraph.
At 8.45, I received a call from Kennedy indicating an armpit, a bird, and just your notice from the 8th.
Optimistic call week, but hardly.
It's a jubilation.
wanted to call me, but I told Kennedy to let me know as soon as the message came in.
A rather grandiose game plan laid out.
I think you were on the 15th by pointing out that conversation, but in another one, when I called him from Camp David after I arrived here, he had an attitude that he could not be dependent upon, and he was certain that he would likely get over there and try to...
negotiate or manipulate in such a way as to serve his political purposes.
And this one that we sent to James turned around to the point that he agrees that Haig probably has to bring the message to the table.
I agree about the weakness of our plan as far as inauguration is concerned.
And I deliberately put a claim on this.
The fact that this was like May 8th.
Noted by all the commentators in town.
After a bit, when I called him, he said, David, it's not what caused them to come back to the conference table.
He said that the situation, which otherwise could have been handled by negotiation, it's a long deal.
It's not that he's fluttered, but it's me.
He then went back to rumble around with the effect that
Maid had been a political stand-in.
He didn't understand the light coming home to him.
It was followed, first, with the summit, which directed attention, and second, Maid had a purpose, that is, to bring to the war to an end, which gave people hope.
And that was it.
He went back to the point that we must never let go.
Our position is relatively weak because of the possibility of our resuming bombing.
He talks about the obvious.
He talks bravely and erotically.
Here's the indication of the enemy that our position is weak.
We must know in our own minds what our position is.
And then, accordingly, we can break off the talks because of some disagreement about this language or that language.
And then the president would go on television and say, we're sending the bombing car to Vietnam.
This just isn't the car that we're monitoring.
This isn't a viable option.
Although, of course, he's got to let them think it's a good option.
And they, of course, would have some doubts in the back of their minds as to what he would have made in December the 18th.
We should not tie ourselves to any kind of a time schedule because that would give too much market to the power.
We're going to cut down on economic assistance to children.
Neither.
We're going to get at this in the morning.
We're going to make it much more drastic than any other decision we've made.
Neither.
Neither.
But, because I thought he really wasn't tired at all, and he was obviously elated, he had no doubt about the public reaction.
But, of course, he was always an object of people's respect.
He said it came just in the right time, because the Los Angeles Times had an editorial in which Jimmy Roosevelt had called him about Bobo's candy hidden.
He said that he was 100% with the press on it, that it was necessary.
And, of course, now with this action,
We are in a position to be arguing that we should be beginning to squeal with the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, predictably.
This is because the Congress is out of town the day after Christmas.
And it is the effect that that works.
Otherwise, we would have had a point on that.
I gave no ground on it, however.
And, uh, from a personal standpoint, it was a fairly rugged day.
Command, y'all.
Ready.
I understand, but before you go to the movies, I better tell you this.
I was just talking with an old neighbor in the East Cape, and he spent the one hour with Governor Wallace.
Governor Wallace is very proud of you, and he says you are the man he really likes.
Good.
And he gives me some tips, but you know about...
I tell him, well, the president knows what he moves now, and I tell him, he, I believe he's in the 340th house.
Do you want to call him back, sir?
Richard Rosso?
Yes, sir.
Oh, and can I give it to you in front?
Good.
I'll give him a call.
Yes, sir.
Are we ready yet?
We're ready, sir.
Well, we'll be ready in a minute.
We'll have a dinner or something.
Five minutes will be enough.
Yes, sir.
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