Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 251 › Conversation 251-007

Nixon & Arends on Vietnam War and Republican Party

Tuesday, April 20, 1971 · 2:45 PM–2:46 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 54 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Arends, Leslie C.Conversation251-007 on Tape 251 (tape position 00:04:46–00:05:38)StartTuesday, April 20, 1971 at 2:45 PMEndTuesday, April 20, 1971 at 2:46 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 251-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met briefly with Congressman Leslie C. Arends to express gratitude for Arends’ supportive remarks during an earlier meeting. The two men briefly discussed the public's changing perception of the Vietnam War and the administration's progress in achieving its objectives. Nixon emphasized his determination to maintain control over the war effort despite opposition from Democrats who feared the administration's policies might succeed.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, I just wanted to thank you for your nice little comment at the meeting today.
Yeah, you said, boy, it's all good.
You feel all right after your trip?
Good, good.
Well, you know, actually, the country here is kind of drunk with the poor folks who, you know, I mean, you can report a lot of times, but in particular, you say you're one and a half.
It's pretty solid, isn't it?
You know, they all want to get the name of the war.
They're beginning to realize we're doing it.
You know what?
I think we're our democratic race.
They're afraid it might work.
We'll try to get it done.
Anyway, we'll do it.
Keep the war in charge of us.
All right.
Bye.

NARA Description

On April 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Leslie C. Arends met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:45 pm to 2:46 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 251-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 251-7

Date: April 20, 1971
Time: 2:45 pm - 2:46 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Leslie C. Arends

[See Conversation No. 42-61]

Also recorded on April 20, 1971

  • 042-058 2:38 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 2:38 pm.
  • 042-059 2:38 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:38 pm and 2:39 pm.
  • 251-003 2:38 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 2:38 pm.
  • 251-004 2:38 PM · 20 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 2:38 pm and 2:39 pm.
  • 042-060 2:39 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 2:39 pm to 2:44 pm.
  • 251-006 2:39 PM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:39 pm to 2:44 pm.
  • 042-061 2:45 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Leslie C. Arends talked on the telephone from 2:45 pm to 2:46 pm.
  • 251-008 2:46 PM · 1 min — 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 2:46 pm and 2:55 pm.

All 51 conversations from April 20, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 251-007, April 20, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/251-007 (accessed October 3, 2026).