Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 254-019
Date: Monday, May 31, 1971 at 6:20 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/254-019

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:02] I think it is.
[0:05] For me, when some people are committing it all, it's like parodying it all the time.
[0:14] They say, specifically, concerned about how it fits them.
[0:20] They might play it to afford it, but I don't think they're going to do it as long as we don't.
[0:26] I think we still want to hear it.
[0:28] The difficulty is how it is going to be the next year.
[0:31] If it's the right thing to do, do it.
[0:36] Take those things and change them.
[1:02] It never, it doesn't change the Russians.
[1:03] It didn't change the Chinese.
[1:04] I don't think I've changed these people.
[1:07] What I'm really concerned about is that these guys really are playing us for suckers.
[1:11] They're getting into the deal simply because they're a foreign country.
[1:14] You know, they're changing.
[1:16] Hell, the atmosphere doesn't make any difference.
[1:19] I'm much more skeptical about this.
[1:22] I know that.
[1:22] I'm much more skeptical than Henry is.
[1:25] I know.
[1:26] I read that.
[1:26] I just re-read all of those things.
[1:28] It happened before.
[1:29] I'm not really...
[1:31] But I'm sure in this case,
[2:00] Right now, right now, I think it's the best chance, I would agree, to have the right minds.
[2:08] This is the time that you negotiate, particularly when also they must have in mind that we're talking to both the Russians and the Chinese.
[2:20] Trust me, go on.
[2:23] I agree.
[2:24] But I think, I think that we must not allow our military to see
[2:30] I mean, you know, in the last few months, you know, those 31 guys, you know, in the last couple of days, we're not seeing anything.
[2:40] I mean, they've been very effective in the post-pandemic, you know, being in a position where all these people are proud.
[2:48] That's the point.
[2:49] You say, well, you know, it's true.
[2:52] It's true.
[2:52] It's true.
[2:53] It's true.
[2:54] It's true.
[2:54] It's true.
[2:59] inhibit our actions, which is wrong.
[3:01] We should never be inhibited by talking.
[3:06] If they don't stop, that's the other thing.
[3:09] You see, that's the point that we don't understand on our side.
[3:13] We should stop.
[3:14] That makes sense.
[3:16] Otherwise, they may quit talking.
[3:17] For Christ's sake, do they stop?
[3:20] They bomb the hell out of us, you know, they lock all these shells in right when they know what talk's going on, right?
[3:26] Do you miss them?
[3:30] The next one doesn't count.
[3:31] Black?
[3:33] All right, 845 counts.