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 · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation330-037 on Tape 330 (tape position 04:21:55–04:24:17)StartWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 3:09 PMEndWednesday, April 12, 1972 at 3:20 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 330-037 ↗

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 · 2.2 MB

This clip was extracted from the full tape recording by Easy Nixon.

Listen to the full tape segment

Position in tape: 04:21:55 – 04:24:17

part B, 1:12:55

330a.mp3
330b.mp3
330c.mp3

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 President

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.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

I'll give them something that will make them realize we're still playing that one against the Russians.
Do you have any ideas on that score?
Is that what I mean?
I meant it another way to indicate that, look, we're not getting along very well with the Russians, and that the president's directing his remarks to the Russians, and so told the legislative figures.
Why don't you put it that way?
And he's not putting any responsibility on the president.
How's that?
Are you going to call Mr. D and just tell him that we will consider a trip to the Russian?
I think that has great merit.
If they'll do it secretly, it provides also the opportunity that we would like to have anyway if you're taking the trip to prepare the song, wouldn't you say?
Which we couldn't have done the rockers, but if you're going for this purpose, nobody can squeal in the conceit and secret.
So I think it has an advantage for us, apart from this.
On the other hand, this is the major reason.
And that's enough to do it for them anyway.
Incidentally, there was one other thing.
Did any, did any strike get off or is going off or not?
It's 2.30 today.
Fine.
What is the situation?
That's what I, what I have a chance to see.
Okay.
3.30 is all right now.
Well, I've got five more minutes, and I've got to go to Henry.
He's just got to bring on the other line.
I'll buzz you.
I'll buzz you.
I'll buzz you.
Would you ask Dr. Kidd to call me when he gets off the line?

Also recorded on April 12, 1972

  • 330-038 3:09 PM · 48 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 · 14 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.

All 34 conversations from April 12, 1972 →

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 November 15, 2026).