Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 333 › Conversation 333-037

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Vietnamization

Wednesday, April 26, 1972 · 6:36 PM–7:07 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation333-037 on Tape 333 (tape position 04:16:30–04:17:59)StartWednesday, April 26, 1972 at 6:36 PMEndWednesday, April 26, 1972 at 7:07 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 333-037 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met to rehearse a televised address to the nation regarding the ongoing military conflict in Vietnam. He reviewed the progress of his Vietnamization policy, specifically highlighting the significant reduction in American troop levels and combat casualties. The speech was intended to justify his administration's continued military approach while emphasizing efforts to negotiate peace and the eventual withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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During the past three weeks, you have been reading and hearing about the massive invasion of South Vietnam and the communist forces of North Vietnam.
Tonight, I want to give you a first-hand report on the military situation in Vietnam, the decisions I have made with regard to the role of the United States in the conflict, and the efforts we are making to bring peace and negotiate peace.
Let me begin by briefly reviewing what the situation was when I took office, what we have done since then to end American involvement in the war and to bring
The long-circuited people of Southeast Asia.
On January 20, 1959, the American troops here in Vietnam was 549,000.
Our casualties were running as high as 300 a week.
30,000 North Americans were being drafted every month.
Today, 39 months late.
Through our program of Vietnamization, helping the South Vietnamese develop a capability to defend themselves, the number of Americans in Vietnam by Monday, May 1st, will have been reduced to 69,000.
Our casualties even during the present O-Long enemy offensive have been reduced by 95%.
Grab calls now every year have been 5,000 minimum, and we expect to bring them to zero every year.
As I reported in my television address to the nation on January 25th, we have honored the most generous peace terms in both public and private negotiating sessions.
Our most recent proposal provided for an immediate cease-fire, the exchange of all prisoners of war, the withdrawal of all of our forces.

NARA Description

On April 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:36 pm and 7:07 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 333-037 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 333-37

Date: April 26, 1972
Time: Unknown between 6:36 pm and 7:07 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed a speech.

       [A transcript of the final broadcast of this speech appears
       in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States,1972, pp. 550-554.]

Also recorded on April 26, 1972

  • 023-088 6:32 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:32 pm and 6:35 pm.
  • 333-032 6:32 PM · 6 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 6:32 pm and 6:35 pm.
  • 023-089 6:35 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone from 6:35 pm to 6:36 pm.
  • 023-170 6:35 PM · 3 sec — a telephone call was attempted from 6:35 pm to 6:36 pm, but the call was not completed.
  • 333-033 6:35 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:35 pm to 6:36 pm.
  • 333-034 6:36 PM · 7 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 6:36 pm and 7:07 pm.
  • 333-035 6:36 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:36 pm and 7:07 pm.
  • 333-036 6:36 PM · 10 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 6:36 pm and 7:07 pm.

All 57 conversations from April 26, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 333-037, April 26, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/333-037 (accessed October 9, 2026).