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Conversation 332-034

TapeTape 332StartTuesday, April 25, 1972 at 10:45 AMEndTuesday, April 25, 1972 at 10:50 AMTape start time03:07:49Tape end time03:08:57ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and an unidentified associate review draft remarks for a speech concerning the Vietnam War. The discussion focuses on refining the rhetoric surrounding the necessity of avoiding a humiliating American withdrawal to maintain the global standing and prestige of the presidency. Nixon emphasizes the strategic importance of his upcoming diplomatic travel to Moscow and the necessity of preventing actions that would irreparably weaken the nation's influence in global peace negotiations.

Vietnam WarForeign policyPresidential rhetoricDiplomacyCold War
AudioNARA Description

On April 25, 1972, 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. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 332-034 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 332-34

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

The President talked with an unknown person.

     Vietnam
          -The President's speech
               -Deletions
               -Troop withdrawals
                     -Previous troop levels
               -Passage
                     -Insertion
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

The cost of winning an election is much too high.
The cost of winning an election is much too high if the price is that America loses.
No man who sits in this office can act in a way that weakens the presidency of the United States.
The United States is the most powerful nation in the great world.
We made our mistakes in foreign policy.
But to our eternal credit, in this century, we have never started a war.
We have always used our power, freedom, not to destroy it.
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.
I agree.
Later this year, I travel to be king on a 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,
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 nations abroad 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.
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