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Conversation 318-024

TapeTape 318StartWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 2:50 PMEndWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 3:03 PMTape start time02:32:26Tape end time02:35:20ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon directed H. R. Haldeman to coordinate with Patrick Buchanan on a strategy to attack Edmund Muskie’s criticisms of the administration’s Vietnam peace proposal. Nixon sought to deflect political pressure by highlighting Muskie’s past support for Lyndon B. Johnson’s war policies, which he argued led to increased casualties and stagnant negotiations. The President tasked Buchanan with drafting talking points that shift blame for the prolonged conflict onto the Democratic Party’s previous leadership.

Vietnam WarEdmund MuskiePatrick BuchananPeace negotiationsPolitical strategyDemocratic PartyPOWs
AudioNARA Description

On February 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:50 pm and 3:03 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 318-024 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 318-24

Date: February 2, 1972
Location: Executive Office Building

The President dictated a memorandum to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     Haldeman's forthcoming discussion with Patrick J. Buchanan

     US peace plan proposal for Vietnam
          -Edmund S. Muskie's statement
               -Administration attack
                     -Buchanan
                           -Talking points or speech
                     -Democrats' responsibility for war
                           -Lyndon B. Johnson's policy
                                 -Muskie's vice presidential nomination in 1968
                                 -US casualties
                                 -Negotiations
                                       -Lack of progress
          -Negotiations
               -Michael J. Mansfield
               -Editorial opinion
               -Muskie's statement
                     -Effect
                           -Casualties
                           -Prisoners of war [POWs]

[Continued as Conversation No. 318-27]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

We're at the Hall of Explorers.
Discussion of the canon.
That must depend on our peace proposal.
For us to nail in hard on a number of fronts.
That's probably the only one we can.
right to the public's point of our speech.
So, among those, I'm going to come to the conclusion that not necessarily an orderly priority, that our development as well as those who got us into this war are sadly not
to get us out.
Muskie got the nomination for Vice President on the basis of a very strong speech to the Democratic National Party in 1968, totally supporting the Johnson War Policy.
That policy was one in which American casualties went up in a group of Americans.
Vietnam went up.
And no peace lines.
Forever.
And no progress has been made.
And the Russian table in Paris has got the shape of the table.
And the Russian table in Paris has got the shape of the table.
And the progress is fine.
And the progress is fine.
And the progress is fine.
And we can go.
And there's another way to do it.
Hold a moment.
Wait a little bit.
Hold a moment.
Throughout the mission.
And we've got a credit to get to.
And in fact, that was the only option we were given.
I'll use the base test test.
If they want to go shooting in New Orleans next week, they will get a better deal by the end of the month.
The problem with this is that the longer we wait, the more people will be killed in Vietnam, and the longer I feel government is going to be out of the country tonight.
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