Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 238-013
Date: Saturday, December 30, 1972 at 12:35 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.)
Recording device: Camp David Hard Wire
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/238-013

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] So Admiral, I just wanted you to send out a message to the various commanders who were involved in these operations in the past 10 days or so.
[0:26] You could say that we're talking presently.
[0:28] And all of this appreciation of the nation for their
[0:30] courage and sacrifice of achieving a just and honorable peace in Vietnam.
[0:55] I think they should know that it is not going to go unnoticed.
[0:56] You know, with all these jackasses that have jumped to what we've done now, they see why we did it now.
[1:00] Great cause.
[1:03] The most important thing is the message you sent should be one that doesn't look like eroding or anything like that, you know, because we've still got to tell a lot of the good shit to do.
[1:19] But just to say that you have the president's presence and appreciation of the nation for their sacrifice and their courage in this difficult period.
[1:26] So he'll
[1:28] You sent a message out to your name and said you were talking to the president alone.
[1:44] Do you want me to convey that to him for the new year?
[1:48] Fine.
[1:49] Fine.
[1:49] This, of course, is a, well, we can't say it.
[1:52] This, as you know, involves this going to be a very significant frank capitulation by the other side.
[1:56] They would never go back to the table under this circumstance.
[1:58] We're saying the bombing would never have any effect.
[2:11] Well, it's had its effect, right?
[2:13] Well, I'm not flying those damn planes.
[2:15] I'm not risking anything except a little politics that these guys risk their lives, and I know that.
[2:18] So, uh, that's what it comes.