Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 301 › Conversation 301-024

Nixon & Kissinger on Robert H. Finch and Latin American relations

Wednesday, November 3, 1971 · 3:01 PM–4:25 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation301-024 onTape 301 (tape position 04:30:46–04:32:53)StartWednesday, November 3, 1971 at 3:01 PMEndWednesday, November 3, 1971 at 4:25 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 301-024 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed coordinating talking points for Robert Finch's upcoming diplomatic trip to Latin America to ensure they aligned with White House policy rather than just State Department directives. The President also tasked Kissinger with monitoring progress on the U.S. import surcharge regarding Latin America and Canada. To facilitate this, Nixon requested an interim status briefing involving himself, Kissinger, George Shultz, Peter Peterson, and Paul McCracken prior to Finch's departure.

Robert H. Finch
Latin American relations
Import surcharge
International trade policy
Diplomatic coordination
Economic strategy

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Henry, before Bob Finch goes, I'd like you to let him know that I think it would be well if we had him in.

You and I have a little talk with him, you know.

I think, I don't think you'll be able to do so, but in addition to, I don't know whether your staff has prepared a couple talking points, but maybe you ought to because you'll get his state talking points, and I just want to be sure they're the same as ours.

Right.

Now, has any clients going with him?

He'll give a chance.

We'll bring a client in, too.

So if you set it up, you and Jim, I'll talk.

It's point two.

With regard to that surcharge in Latin America and Kennedy and things, I'm trying to avoid getting involved with Peterson and his point on it.

But Schultz is also busy in Washington.

Would you sort of

Smell around the edges and see how that thing is going.

Yeah, and well, what I'm getting at, maybe you can talk to George, and if you, I have it in mind, if you, George, Peterson, and McCracken and I might meet, I've got to have an interim report on what's going on.

Connelly has come and sent me reports in.

Not yet.

We don't need it, but I think it might be well, but I have a certain sort of a report before a pitch goes as to what, how we stand on this thing.

So what the left is gonna get and also how the Canadians is coming along.

So if you could sort of let me know, I think with the four of us in here, then I can sort of get a feel of the situation.

And also, I'm going to let Peterson have a few of these for you.

Yeah.

And, uh, so you can run that by.

Thank you.

All right.

NARA Description

On November 3, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 301-024 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 301-24

Date: November 3, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Robert H. Finch's schedule
         -Forthcoming trip to Latin America
                -The President and Kissinger
                -Talking points
                     -Kissinger's staff and State Department
                -Herbert G. Klein

     Import surcharge
         -Latin America
         -Canada
         -Peter G. Peterson
         -George P. Shultz
         -Kissinger's schedule
                -Shultz, Peterson , Paul W. McCracken and the President
         -John B. Connally
         -Finch's forthcoming trip
                -Latin America
                -Canada
         -Peterson

Also recorded on November 3, 1971

013-103 2:45 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.
301-020 2:45 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.
301-021 2:45 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:45 pm and 3:00 pm.
013-104 3:00 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 3:00 pm to 3:01 pm.
301-023 3:00 PM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:00 pm to 3:01 pm.
013-105 3:01 PM · 2 min — Charles W. Colson, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm.
013-106 3:01 PM · 2 min — Charles W. Colson, White House operator, Arthur F. Burns, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm.
301-025 3:01 PM · 1 hr 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:01 pm and 4:25 pm.

All 67 conversations from November 3, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 301-024, November 3, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/301-024 (accessed September 18, 2026).