Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 280 › Conversation 280-018

Nixon, Kissinger & Sanchez on People's Republic of China and Foreign Policy

Thursday, September 23, 1971 · 2:20 PM–2:42 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 16 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.; Sanchez, Manolo; Butterfield, Alexander P.Conversation280-018 on Tape 280 (tape position 02:20:18–02:36:17)StartThursday, September 23, 1971 at 2:20 PMEndThursday, September 23, 1971 at 2:42 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 280-018 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417184529 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to finalize the strategic communications plan regarding the upcoming announcement of Kissinger’s trip to the People's Republic of China. The discussion focused on coordinating the announcement timing to maximize geopolitical advantage, particularly in managing the Soviet Union's reaction, while determining which technical details should be withheld for the President's subsequent press conference. They successfully aligned the schedule to build momentum and ensure that staff remained tight-lipped, allowing the administration to control the narrative surrounding the normalization of relations with China.

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NARA Description

On September 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Manolo Sanchez, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:20 pm to 2:42 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 280-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 280-18

Date: September 23, 1971
Time: 2:20 pm - 2:42 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     The People's Republic of China [PRC]
          -Announcement of Kissinger's Trip
               -Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters
                     -Date
               -Dates of the President's trip to the PRC
               -Press conferences
               -Earlier dates
               -PRC’s position

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 2:20 pm.

     The President's schedule book

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 2:25 pm.

     The PRC
          -Announcement of Kissinger’s trip

                -Time
           -Domestic situation
           -Chou En-lai
                -Position
           -Message from the PRC
           -Communique
                 -Formosa [Republic of China]
                      -July 15, 1971 statement
                 -Proposals
                      -United Nations [UN]
                            -Tactics
                      -Debate over admission of the PRC
                      -PRC press
                -Issues to be discussed
           -Kissinger's meeting with PRC officials
                -Arrangement of dates
                      -Alternate Dates
                -Agenda
                      -Statement
Show the rest of the log (101 more lines)
                      -Outline of Communique
                            -Trade

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 2:25 pm.

     The President's schedule
          -Detroit Economic Club question and answer session, September 23, 1971

Butterfield left at 2:27 pm.

     The PRC
          -Kissinger's role in initiative
               -Press conference
          -Protocol for the President's visit
          -Announcement of Kissinger's visit
               -Date
               -Soviets
               -Questions
               -Background
               -Ronald L. Ziegler's role
               -Handling of announcement
               -Time of press conference

                 -Questions
                 -Press conference
                        -Announcement of Kissinger's PRC visit
            -Soviet Union
                 -Relations
                 -Information on the President's trip to the PRC
                        -Date of Kissinger's Trip to the PRC
                              -Ziegler's Statement [?]
                              -State Department
                              -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
            -Kissinger's visit to the PRC
                  -Handling of meeting
            -Congressional staff
            -The President's schedule and news events
                  -Anchorage, Alaska trip
                  -Andrei A. Gromyko
                  -Signing of Accidental War Agreement
                  -Kissinger's trip
                  -Press conference
                  -Soviet Summit
            -Soviets
                  -Previous PRC trip
                  -Reaction
            -Chou En-lai
            -Relations with the Soviet Union

     Foreign economic policy
          -John B. Connally
                -Return from trip
          -Connally

     The PRC
          -Trip

Butterfield entered at 2:34 pm.

     Item
            -Book
            -Placement
            -Book
            -Detroit Economic Club statement

                 -Changes

     Foreign policy
          -Soviets' reaction to announcements
          -Announcements
                -Details

     Placement of item

Butterfield left at 2:36 pm.

     Kissinger's previous meeting with unknown man
          -The President's decisions
          -William Moyers
          -William P. Rogers

     Foreign relations
          -PRC announcement
                -Advance notice
          -Japan
          -Announcement
                -Soviet Union
                -Japan
                -Time
                -Press conference
                -Exact date
          -Arrangements for the President's visit
                -President’s group
          -Reactions

     The President's Detroit appearance

     Kissinger's schedule
          -Los Angeles

Kissinger left at 2:42 pm.

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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They want the announcement of October 6th, which they said was the earliest practical date.
They couldn't change it to the 7th.
Well, I'm sure they couldn't do it to the 7th, Mr. President, but we have given them 22nd, 23rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th at that order of preference.
It wouldn't be nice if we had known about the press conference, but they gave us the 22nd, 23rd, they couldn't make, it was too short, and they just gave us the earliest date.
They did that as an accommodation to us.
They said they didn't want to go into detail of any of the technical arrangements.
They said they think it's at least a way to do things.
I think there was more technical cases.
Bring my run over, tell Cole over there to come to bring my schedule book over right away.
If I still come to your back, we'll check on you.
Maybe you don't want to screw around with that either, though.
I don't.
I don't.
He had his pedestal set up.
That's the only reason.
All right.
Make another 72 hours.
They told us yesterday they couldn't do this, Mr. President.
If they do one thing, it's very sharp.
Partly Kaidu, partly the U.S.A.
But I don't know what topics we could put into the book when he came.
I didn't mention Pomoda.
And they said, they want to remind you that Mr. Isaac Yeats stated something good in Pomoda.
That some of our tactics in the U.S.A. are not exactly sufficient for him to do it.
And that he should not take the lead.
But at least they are allowed that way.
They have to do that for the record, too, but they don't do it.
Disgust, as I said, we will do, but as it's listed among the items, we will cover this.
As I understand, you're a medium only for the purpose of...
Then I'm dead.
You arranged the date.
Right.
Or they haven't accepted the date.
I'm not sure they will.
And if I had wanted earlier dates, that's one thing.
I would like to be armed with the opportunity.
Just accept the date they want you.
Well, it's true.
So I would like to check with you, Mr. Kirsten, if you give them two alternate accepting dates.
But we'll settle on a date, we'll work out the precise agenda, and who will say what, so that we can prepare to pay you.
And we will sketch out the outline of a communique, so that you're not going to be trapped there.
There's nothing to show for it.
Yeah, got it.
You've got to look at something about the trade.
Well, then I covered with them, and I think we can pass it on.
He's all pertained to Detroit.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
When I offered him the estate, I said, I don't know about your plan on the 7th, and we didn't want to hold a special press conference in the old house.
I didn't get paid for it.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
After that is announced, though, I think it's as brief as possible that on October 5th, when it is announced, so that we can leave easy questions for me to dribble out of the 7-0.
I wouldn't have any background or anything at that point unless they can shut up the problem.
I thought that...
Excuse me, let me handle it.
Handle it on the 7th floor.
That's all the questions they want to put.
I thought that the 6th floor didn't just stand out as an announcement.
Exactly.
We can't say that when we answer the details.
In this case, it should be that we should...
If this is possible, we could probably move into time.
I think just well that way.
They're all cracking questions.
They're all just saying we can't respond to that.
I could get all that crap out on 7-7.
That's easy.
See, Justin started saying there's nothing to do with that.
That would be a good time to announce the press conference.
Right after the Chinese announcement, they would say, press conference, press conference, 7-7.
It will help with the Russians, actually, if you don't announce it.
All right.
And, uh, with that, we'll give the exact date that I'm going, and there will not be a rapid and responsible question.
Oh, that isn't, that isn't anything different.
I'm just saying, it's the latter part of the program.
Yeah, I get it now.
They would say, X now plans to not give it to them, but I would give it.
And that shows a little more movement.
And the way you, and it's a bigger, you just got enough to say, and all the rest.
The video, and if you arrive, you'll be knocking off a lot of the details behind you, but that is my announcement.
Thank you.
I prefer not to, but I think it might prevent him a little.
The advantage of not having him is that I don't have to break the meeting into two parts.
But, uh, hold on.
But, they are sophisticated.
They are.
Oh.
So, if you came early enough to the congressional table, they just won't be able to get anything started, thanks to the U.S.
Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
The Actors Committee.
In the following few states, you have the Black Trips, the Sevens, you have the press conference, and the first five or ten minutes can be a trip again.
The rest is going to be a trip.
And on this balance, you have the Soviet side and the Russian side.
The funny thing is that nobody expects the Russians to take advantage of that previous Chinese trip.
It's guaranteed, unless somebody leaves.
Guaranteed, sir.
No, I can't.
No, there'll be bad news about that in a week.
as it means to annihilate and control the Jews and the Russians.
Partly there may be a scare of the Russians, although they can't seem to hang a weight on the Jews and the Russians.
To send over what is, I'm afraid, a rather lengthy two or three pages, but that is an uncommon fact, and I'm cautious on what you might say of the economy.
There we go.
Now with this Chinese commitment, you're on a good trip.
Good, and I've got this here.
I'll take this here and put this through here.
I'll take this here and put this here.
Well, no.
It's in this book.
This book?
Yeah.
Oh, sure.
You want this book?
Yeah.
There's tonight's thing back, which you said you didn't want to notice.
Not fine.
I think we could probably change it.
No, it's not fine.
I think it's much better.
I already think about it.
Yeah.
I think it will make the reference a little happier.
You'll have a different format for that announcement and for the one you're signing about that.
And it would still enable you to make all the detailed announcements.
We were just off by a mile.
One moment.
He's settled for a month.
As I often say, he just can't see me doing it.
He can't go to work.
He was good last night.
He asked me how he was doing.
I said, I don't think he's doing it.
He sat down in the situation of flying every
Take a shake.
It's about the way.
It also sets up that overture, that other overture we're talking about very well, Mr. President, because...
I think I ought to tell Tony, who I've been planning on for the next...
This leads to this conclusion.
Thank you for that.
And it will help them in the consideration of the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the consideration of the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the consideration of the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having.
And it will help them in the conversation they're having
I'm telling Monday morning and Monday evening must go on and on because we have to tell the chance about that time anyway.
Are we good?
The announcement should be just like you say, 10 o'clock.
It will quack for the day.
It will keep the batteries on for a couple of days.
It will build up in the press conference.
Press conference.
Just leave all the odds and ends for me.
Don't let anybody answer anything.
The only thing they'll have to check with is that no one else will know anything.
whether you can announce the exact date of arrival as a check.
Oh, sure.
But you can certainly announce the time of decision of the group, and things like that.
Well, I guess that isn't too important for us.
I'd be late, but we just won't answer anything.
Yes, sir.
Well, I'm glad to hear it, Henry.
Well, not a little word off the mind.
For a while, huh?
Well, I think.
Well, at least we're not going to worry about it for a while.
All right, fair enough.
All the best tonight.
All right, thanks.
All right, stop.
I'll be going off to Los Angeles this evening.
Great.
Have a good trip.
I'll catch up with you.
Yeah, okay.

Also recorded on September 23, 1971

  • 280-015 1:16 PM · 59 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 1:16 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 280-016 1:16 PM · 26 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 1:16 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 280-017 1:16 PM · 11 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 1:16 pm and 2:20 pm.
  • 280-019 2:42 PM · 13 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 2:42 pm and 3:30 pm.
  • 280-020 2:42 PM · 17 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 2:42 pm and 3:30 pm.
  • 280-021 3:30 PM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:30 pm to 3:31 pm.
  • 280-022 3:31 PM · 6 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 3:31 pm and 4:09 pm.
  • 280-023 3:31 PM · 7 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 3:31 pm and 4:09 pm.

All 32 conversations from September 23, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 280-018, September 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417184529). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/280-018 (accessed November 1, 2026).