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Conversation 332-040

TapeTape 332StartTuesday, April 25, 1972 at 1:33 PMEndTuesday, April 25, 1972 at 1:38 PMTape start time05:11:49Tape end time05:13:37ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with an aide regarding the final drafting and tone of an upcoming presidential speech. The discussion focused on refining rhetorical conclusions and ensuring the address avoided negative political risks associated with past Cambodian policy rhetoric. Furthermore, they deliberated on the implications of Nixon’s status as a declared re-election candidate on the speech's overall messaging.

Speechwriting1972 ElectionCambodiaPresidential rhetoricForeign policy
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 1:33 pm and 1:38 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 332-040 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 332-40

Date: April 25, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:33 pm and 1:38 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

     [See Conversation No. 332-40A]

     The President's speech
          -John K. Andrews Jr.'s work
               -Compared with William L. Safire
          -Conclusion
               -Allusions to Cambodia speech

                      -Risks for election
                           -Soviets

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 1:33 pm and conferred with the President.

     President’s schedule

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 1:38 pm.

     [End of telephone conversation]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

And if running, if we don't want to have stuck in the line, we've got an endless road ahead of us.
The point is, we are on a home stretch.
You know, we're not over the navigation.
This is a compulsive plan.
Well, then we wait there until the South didn't even get to anymore.
Well, then we'll work out a paragraph along that line, not too long.
And that's entirely possible.
I don't think it is.
Yeah, I know it is.
Yeah, and then we can say just before, just before they put it in.
Where am I?
Hey, here.
My last sentence, let us regard your policy of seeking peace, not the peace of surrender, but peace for all.
We will make not just peace in our time, but peace for generations to come.
Good morning.
How about the Cambodian speech?
Almost three years ago, exactly.
So we wanted to avoid doing, perhaps, a mistake to deal with that.
And I know it was regarded by a lot of people as quite inappropriate for you to talk about being a one-term president in that speech.
Because probably this being an election year, you being a declared candidate for re-election, it's a different program.
It's been so universally raised now by everybody.
In other words, it's not a question that anybody, I mean, I don't say it in person, but I'm going to make sure the president is here and I'm talking to myself.
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