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Conversation 314-016

TapeTape 314StartThursday, January 13, 1972 at 5:25 PMEndThursday, January 13, 1972 at 5:26 PMTape start time02:15:46Tape end time02:18:03ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss the progress of a draft speech being prepared by William Safire. They evaluate the inclusion of specific diplomatic details, including the August 1971 ceasefire proposal and the two-phase timeline strategy. Kissinger instructs Safire to refine the text's nuances before finalizing the speech's introduction and conclusion.

William SafireSpeechwritingCeasefire proposalDiplomatic strategyAugust 1971 proposal
AudioNARA Description

On January 13, 1972, 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 5:25 pm and 5:26 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 314-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 314-016
Date: January 18, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:23 pm and 5:26 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.
William L. Safire's draft of speech
-Kissinger’s schedule
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Changes
-August 1971 proposal
-Deadlines
-Nine months
-Ceasefire
-Kissinger’s forthcoming talk with Safire
-Safire
-Pace of work
-Introduction and conclusion
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Let me just say one thing.
I thought you'd be pleased to know that Sapphire just did a hell of a good job on this.
I called earlier, and you were in Bob's office, so I went over the thing.
Made my suggestions, and I told him to bring it over and talk to you, and whatever you wanted to add.
But he's just really, really, I think, delighted with what he's done.
He's got all the nuances.
There's a couple of points that he, that I told him to check with you.
He does not have in there the August proposal, which I understand.
Remember, in June, he had offered, he did offer a nine-month one then.
I told him, I thought that was, I told him where to put it.
The other thing that he did not understand, he thinks it's very important, I don't know whether it's true, but remember, when I said to you that our proposal,
link the ceasefire and the deadline.
You said no, not necessarily.
There's a two-phase operation.
Is that correct?
Okay.
You tell him what he can put in.
I just told him that I think the way he's got it is taken right out of your draft.
It sounds that way.
Anyway, he'll bring it around to you.
Yeah.
Well, no, no, there's no hurry, because he's, he's now, he's, he's working on that text now, and, uh, but, but, gee, I'm talking to somebody who's going to work with him.
He's so fast.
You know, I told you at 3 o'clock, I'm going to have to do a few things, and I was going to do a four-minute show.
You'll be pleased.
Particularly, you like the person.
He just marches right in at the conclusion.
It means a lot of work, but he's going to work on a different song right now.
Okay.
Okay.
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