Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 251 › Conversation 251-042

Nixon & Haig on Prisoners of War and Repatriation

Thursday, April 29, 1971 · 6:37 PM–7:27 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 36 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation251-042 on Tape 251 (tape position 03:05:06–03:05:42)StartThursday, April 29, 1971 at 6:37 PMEndThursday, April 29, 1971 at 7:27 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 251-042 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig review the specific terms of a new proposal regarding American prisoners of war in Vietnam. They clarify that the United States remains willing to pursue unilateral repatriation of prisoners regardless of the enemy's response. Additionally, they discuss the introduction of a new bilateral proposal involving the internment of POWs in a neutral country.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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'm sure we understand.
The repatriation is unallotted.
In other words, that will be done regardless of what they do, correct?
I know that, but I mean, we're willing to do that, right?
But the internment of youth in a non-general country is bilateral, right?
Or it must have been required there going into.
It is that proposal that has not been made before, right?
Come on.

NARA Description

On April 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 251-042 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 251-42

Date: April 29, 1971
Time: Unknown between 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

     Prisoners of War [POWs]
          -Repatriation
                -Unilateral
          -Internment in neutral country
                -Bilateral
                -New proposal

Also recorded on April 29, 1971

  • 042-082 6:32 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 6:32 pm to 6:37 pm.
  • 251-040 6:32 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:32 pm to 6:37 pm.
  • 251-041 6:37 PM · 12 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 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-043 6:37 PM · 46 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 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-044 6:37 PM · 6 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 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-045 6:37 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 042-083 7:27 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:27 pm to 7:30 pm.
  • 251-046 7:27 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:27 pm to 7:30 pm.

All 64 conversations from April 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 251-042, April 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/251-042 (accessed October 3, 2026).