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Conversation 322-026

TapeTape 322StartTuesday, March 7, 1972 at 2:26 PMEndTuesday, March 7, 1972 at 2:27 PMTape start time01:12:11Tape end time01:14:21ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the return of Henry Kissinger and coordination issues between the National Security Council and the Department of State. Nixon expresses strong resistance to the idea of allowing a State Department official to join his team, emphasizing the need to maintain control over his advisory structure. The discussion touches upon broader geopolitical strategy, noting the distinct leadership dynamics between Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.

National Security CouncilDepartment of StateHenry KissingerForeign PolicyLeonid BrezhnevZhou Enlai
AudioNARA Description

On March 7, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:26 pm to 2:27 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 322-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 322-26

Date: March 7, 1972
Time: 2:26 pm - 2:27 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 21-15]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

So, hello, Al, is Henry back at, uh, Conner?
Yeah.
Uh, fine.
When he gets back, uh, you have him, if it's before, before, I don't know exactly where he'll be.
Have him drop open, he'll be, yeah.
Oh, okay, Al.
Oh, fine, well.
Nobody's very smart.
Yeah.
Well, here.
How did they, uh, well, how did, uh, how did, uh, Rogers and, uh, really conquer?
Yeah.
That's good, that's good.
I did hope we could get him to turn around.
He's very sensitive on this, and I'm going to have to see him today about it.
The main thing I have to be concerned about is the seat.
We just can't get him into the...
I mean, I think if the Russians had engaged him, because Brezhnev, I'm sure, will have, you know, more of a plenary session coming, and Brezhnev is the man in charge there, whereas Joe is the man in charge in China, right?
And, uh, so that'll work out.
But the other thing is, uh, is, uh, is this, uh, this whole system that, uh, because we have this NSC man sitting on his team, and there should be a state man sitting on my team.
That's just unpredictable.
I'm not going to have a state man sitting on my team.
I'm going to have a state man sitting on my team.
Do you agree?
What is it, Mr. O'Reilly, that you've been telling me to do?
We're going back to the government after all.
I never got to know anybody else.
I don't know what's going on here.
I don't know what's going on here.
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