Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 300 › Conversation 300-034

Nixon & Knebel on National Image and Political Strategy

Tuesday, November 9, 1971 · 2:29 PM–3:04 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Knebel, John A.Conversation300-034 on Tape 300 (tape position 02:06:06–02:08:40)StartTuesday, November 9, 1971 at 2:29 PMEndTuesday, November 9, 1971 at 3:04 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 300-034 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John A. Knebel discuss a narrative strategy regarding the historical perception of national strength and the risks of political overreach. Their conversation centers on the practical limitations of foreign policy maneuvers and the importance of maintaining an image of national dignity. The dialogue concludes with an informal agreement to monitor incoming intelligence or confirmation of a specific developing situation.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
Yeah.
You know, at that point, it was a great nation camp before it became humiliated.
So I made that a part of the story.
And I think he picked that up, too.
He knew he could do that.
And he knows practically that he can't.
Therefore, uh... Let's say it is, yeah.
You're gonna cross somebody around here, okay?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Sure, sure.
Good.
Well, if we get the word true.
Okay.
Thanks.

NARA Description

On November 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John A. Knebel met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:29 pm and 3:04 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 300-034 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 300-034

Date: November 9, 1971
Time: Unknown between 2:29 pm and 3:04 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Kissinger's call

     International relations
           -The President’s conversation with an unknown man

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on November 9, 1971

  • 300-031 1:50 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:50 pm and 2:29 pm.
  • 300-032 1:50 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:50 pm and 2:29 pm.
  • 300-033 1:50 PM · 2 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 1:50 pm and 2:29 pm.
  • 300-035 3:04 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:04 pm to 3:06 pm.
  • 300-036 3:06 PM · 3 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 3:06 pm and 4:24 pm.
  • 300-037 3:06 PM · 15 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 3:06 pm and 4:24 pm.
  • 300-038 3:06 PM · 16 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 3:06 pm and 4:24 pm.
  • 300-039 3:06 PM · 8 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 3:06 pm and 4:24 pm.

All 40 conversations from November 9, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 300-034, November 9, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/300-034 (accessed September 30, 2026).