Conversation 277-007

TapeTape 277StartWednesday, September 15, 1971 at 12:24 PMEndWednesday, September 15, 1971 at 12:25 PMTape start time00:13:19Tape end time00:14:31ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building

AI Summary

President Nixon directed Alexander Haig to formulate a strategy for reducing foreign aid to specific nations, explicitly targeting countries that lack contested democratic elections. Nixon dismissed concerns regarding the political optics or difficulty of such a policy, insisting that the process of cutting aid to these governments would be straightforward. This brief discussion prioritized the strategic realignment of American foreign assistance by conditioning it on domestic political governance.

Foreign aidAlexander HaigForeign policyDemocracyInternational relations

Audio

NARA Description

On September 15, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:24 pm to 12:25 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 277-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 277-7

Date: September 15, 1971
Time: 12:24 pm - 12:25 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 9-19]

Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Now, the way I want that, I want you to prepare this as you're working on this part, the second part of this.

The state of today is aid in one form or another.

I don't get what I care it is, or in Africa you don't need to give 25,000 to the ambassador.

That's aid to blind countries.

Okay.

The United States were to cut off a few countries whose present leaders were not elected in a contested election.

That, to some degree, means to Americans that we would have to cut off a few blank countries to get the money.

Now, no, forget that to me.

It's very easy.

I should have thought of it earlier.

Okay.

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