Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 332 › Conversation 332-030

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and 1972 Presidential Election

Tuesday, April 25, 1972 · 10:45 AM–10:50 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation332-030 on Tape 332 (tape position 03:04:12–03:06:55)StartTuesday, April 25, 1972 at 10:45 AMEndTuesday, April 25, 1972 at 10:50 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 332-030 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates notes for a speech draft focusing on the geopolitical ramifications of the Vietnam War in the context of his 1972 reelection campaign. He analyzes the potential impact of a perceived U.S. defeat on presidential credibility, global peace, and foreign policy. The dictation emphasizes the necessity of maintaining international respect following his recent diplomatic initiatives with China and the Soviet Union.

Audio

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Position in tape: 03:04:12 – 03:06:55

part B, 1:04:13

332a.mp3
332b.mp3
332c.mp3

NARA Description

On April 25, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:50 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 332-030 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 332-30

Date: April 25, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:45 am and 10:50 am
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President resumed dictation of notes for a speech draft.

     Vietnam
          -1972 election
               -Winning the election at the price of losing the war
          -Impact on presidency and US foreign policy
          -Review of US uses of power
          -Defeat of US
               -Consequences
          -The President's trips to People's Republic of China [PRC] and Soviet Union
               -Respect for the Presidency
                     -Henry A. Kissinger’s report

                     -Necessity to maintain credibility
          -US defeat
               -Impact
                     -Loss of credibility
                     -Danger to peace

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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

But through our eternal credit in this century, we have never started a war.
We have always used our power.
Freedom, not to destroy.
America, if the United States leaves Vietnam defeated and humiliated,
The power we have exerted for peace on so many occasions would be irreparably weak.
Mayor Grant.
Later this year, I travel to be king on an historic journey for peace.
Next month, I shall travel to Moscow on what I hope will also be a journey for peace.
In all the countries I have visited,
or in the blank countries to limit up his idealism as President.
I have found great respect for the office of President of the United States.
I do not know who will be in this office years ahead.
That is a decision that you, the American people, must make, will make.
But I do know that future presidents will travel the nation to brawl and transfer peace, as I have.
If the United States leaves Vietnam humiliated and defeated, the President of the United States
will not preserve or receive the respect which is essential for the United States to play the great role we are destined to play in helping to build a new structure of peace in the world for generations to come.
Thank you.
Mr. Rose.
.

Also recorded on April 25, 1972

  • 332-023 10:05 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:05 am and 10:40 am.
  • 332-029 10:40 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:40 am to 10:45 am.
  • 332-031 10:45 AM · 12 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 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
  • 332-032 10:45 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
  • 332-033 10:45 AM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
  • 332-034 10:45 AM · 1 min — 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 10:45 am and 10:50 am.
  • 332-035 10:50 AM · 1 hr 46 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Manolo Sanchez, unknown person(s), White House operator, Henry A. Kissinger, and John K. Andrews, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:50 am to 12:50 pm.
  • 023-059 11:20 AM · 2 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:20 am and 12:00 pm.

All 56 conversations from April 25, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 332-030, April 25, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/332-030 (accessed November 2, 2026).