Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 330 › Conversation 330-037
Nixon & Kissinger on People's Republic of China and Chou En-lai
Wednesday, April 12, 1972 · 3:09 PM–3:20 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building
AI Summary
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to finalize the phrasing of a sensitive message intended for Chinese Premier Chou En-lai, specifically regarding the diplomatic rhetoric following recent visits by Senators Mansfield and Scott. The discussion centered on ensuring technical accuracy and carefully balancing U.S.-PRC relations while managing potential complications with the Soviet Union. Nixon directed Kissinger to have the document retyped with specific amendments to ensure the language remained consistent with previous administration statements.
Audio
Download MP3 (part 1) · 112.0 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 111.8 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 91.7 MB
This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 04:21:55 into the tape and ends around 04:24:17.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On April 12, 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 3:09 pm and 3:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 330-037 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 330-37
Date: April 12, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:09 pm and 3:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.
People's Republic of China [PRC]
-Relations with US
-Rhetoric
-Message from the President
-Chou En-lai
-Michael J. Mansfield's and Hugh Scott's trip
-US-Soviet relations
-PRC’s responsibilities
Soviet Union
-Kissinger's trip
-Call to Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Secrecy
-Advantages
-Preparation for Summit
-William P. Rogers
Vietnam
-Air strikes
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Meeting with the PresidentAlso recorded on April 12, 1972
- 330-038 3:09 PM · 45 sec — 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 3:09 pm and 3:20 pm.
- 022-118 3:20 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:20 pm.
- 330-039 3:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 3:20 pm.
- 330-040 3:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:20 pm and 3:26 pm.
- 022-119 3:23 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 3:23 pm to 3:26 pm.
- 330-041 3:26 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
- 330-042 3:26 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
- 022-120 3:27 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 3:27 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 330-037, April 12, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/330-037 (accessed October 1, 2026).