Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 246 › Conversation 246-022

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Speechwriting

Wednesday, April 7, 1971 · 4:10 PM–4:30 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation246-022 onTape 246 (tape position 04:14:02–04:16:18)StartWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 4:10 PMEndWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 4:30 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 246-022 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon rehearsed a forthcoming public address concerning American involvement in the Vietnam War and the status of prisoners of war. Through these remarks, the President sought to frame his historical legacy and personal commitment to ending the conflict beyond mere political maneuvering. The exercise served to refine his communication strategy regarding the administration's national security record and its ongoing efforts to conclude the war.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I do not ask you to take what I say on faith.
Look at the record.
Every action taken by this woman
Every decision made, the law is what I say it will come.
I do still have American involvement.
They have drastically reduced their national security.
I can't thank you for the presidency, but I pledge to have American involvement in the world.
I am keeping that in mind.
I am also a class president.
I would like to accomplish more than anything else as a president.
This is Jefferson.
Peaceful night.
I feel so strongly.
For those of you who are committed to this goal, it goes far beyond political consideration.
It's centered about my place in history.
It's motivations in political science and study go together.
It's a primer.
I'm a president.
I'm a black man.
I'm a husband.
I'm a wife.
I'm a man.
I'm a prisoner of war.
I write a letter to the government.
The end of this war has been the last two weeks.
The war has been the last two weeks.
The nation's highest war has been the last two weeks.
The nation's highest war has been the last two weeks.
... ... ... ... ...

NARA Description

On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:30 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 246-022 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 246-022
Date: April 7, 1971
Time: Unknown between 4:10 pm and 4:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President rehearsed a speech
[A transcript of the final version of this speech appears in Public Papers of the Presidents,
Richard M. Nixon, 1971, pp. 522-527]

Also recorded on April 7, 1971

  • 246-018 3:55 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 4:09 pm.
  • 246-019 3:55 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:55 pm and 4:09 pm.
  • 246-020 4:09 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:09 pm to 4:10 pm.
  • 246-021 4:10 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:30 pm.
  • 246-023 4:10 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:30 pm.
  • 246-024 4:10 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:30 pm.
  • 246-025 4:10 PM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:10 pm and 4:30 pm.
  • 246-026 4:30 PM · 29 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), White House operator, and John W. Dean, III met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:30 pm to 5:05 pm.

All 42 conversations from April 7, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 246-022, April 7, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/246-022 (accessed September 18, 2026).