Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 246 › Conversation 246-031

Nixon & Ziegler on Vietnam War and Television Address

Wednesday, April 7, 1971 · 5:50 PM–5:55 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.; Nixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation246-031 onTape 246 (tape position 05:14:50–05:16:47)StartWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 5:50 PMEndWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 5:55 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 246-031 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler met to finalize preparations for a nationally televised address concerning the Vietnam War. The discussion focused on the logistics of the speech, including the strategic integration of charts to support the President's messaging and the timing of the broadcast. Nixon instructed Ziegler to coordinate with Mark I. Goode to ensure the technical aspects of the television presentation were ready for the scheduled evening delivery.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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It's going to be quite a breeze.

Yes, sir.

Well, they keep backing up, though.

They keep backing up, they say something, but in fact,

This is a course of action that they run us out.

They sponsor us.

They pass it to the Congress.

I head to the situation where we believe that this will be accomplished.

And I do for my cause.

This particular arrest is strong and consistent.

Uh, let's see.

Oh, uh...

Uh...

Bring me a copy that brings a good over the demand of the television.

I've got the television.

I've got the intent to know when I'm going to turn to the chart.

And I've added three places where I can turn to the chart.

You look through this.

Well, let me show you the third place.

I'll just go over to you, and then you go home.

uh uh closer to seven o'clock so we don't re-interrupt you again why don't we do it about ten to seven well it's only going to take a couple

I think you might get it ready so that they can get their television.

You just call them over and I'll show you the three different places.

NARA Description

On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:50 pm to 5:55 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 246-031 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 246-031
Date: April 7, 1971
Page | 47
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Time: 5:50 pm - 5:55 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler
President’s schedule
-President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-[Thomas] Hale Boggs
Vietnam
-Congress
-President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-Evaluation
President’s schedule
-Mark I. Goode
President’s forthcoming speech, April 7, 1971
-Television
-Charts
-Press copy
-Goode
-Timing
Ziegler left at 5:55 pm

Also recorded on April 7, 1971

246-027 5:05 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:05 pm and 5:22 pm.
246-029 5:22 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:22 pm to 5:40 pm.
246-030 5:40 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:40 pm and 5:50 pm.
246-032 5:55 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:01 pm.
246-033 6:01 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Mark I. Goode met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:01 pm to 6:10 pm.
246-034 6:10 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:10 pm and 7:09 pm.
246-035 6:10 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:10 pm and 7:09 pm.
246-036 6:10 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:10 pm and 7:09 pm.

All 42 conversations from April 7, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 246-031, 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/246-031 (accessed September 18, 2026).