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Conversation 336-034

TapeTape 336StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 4:57 PMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 5:23 PMTape start time02:00:54Tape end time02:04:34ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon rehearsed his televised address to the nation regarding the escalation of the Vietnam War and the ongoing situation in Southeast Asia. The speech served to justify his decision to implement air and naval strikes in response to North Vietnam’s invasion of the South. Nixon detailed his recent diplomatic efforts, specifically referencing failed peace negotiations in Paris and outreach to Soviet leadership, to explain the administration's strategic shift toward military pressure.

Vietnam WarAddress to the NationParis Peace TalksSoviet UnionForeign PolicyMilitary Strategy
AudioNARA Description

On May 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:57 pm and 5:23 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 336-034 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 336-34

Date: May 8, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:57 and 5:23 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”.

[See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Five weeks ago, Mr. Lee and the Congress departments of North Vietnam watched a massive invasion of South Vietnam, and a day that was made possible.
My thanks are to our great and other advanced and massive weapons supplied and analyzed by the Soviet Union and other communist nations.
The South Vietnamese have fought bravely to repel this brutal assault, catching them on both sides of the ground.
Most gradually, there have been over 20,000 civilian and national security women and children in the cities of North Vietnam and these counties.
As I announced in my report to the nation 12 days ago, the role of the United States in consistent disinnovation has been limited to air and naval strikes on military targets in North and South Vietnam.
As I also pointed out in that report, we have responded to North Vietnam's massive military attack by undertaking wide-ranging new peace efforts aimed at ending the war with the negotiation.
I sent our minister to Moscow on the four days of meeting with the General Secretary of Russia and other Soviet leaders.
I instructed them to decide our desire for a rapid solution to the war and our willingness to look at all possible approaches.
At that time, the Soviet leaders showed interest in bringing the war to an end on a basis adjusted to both sides.
They urged resumption of negotiations in Paris and indicated they would use their constructive efforts.
Based on these assurances, I authorized our minister
the top North American peace negotiator in October on Tuesday, the second of March.
Ambassador Porter, she knows how much she negotiates in Paris on Thursday, April 9th, and on Thursday, May 4th.
At those meetings, all we can remember, all we heard from them, was Ambassador Greger and her reflex on their demands for our security.
For example, for May 8th, the sister meeting, I authorized Dr. Kistler
or about failing to see what will happen in the court of peace.
The majority of the enemy's battery bills are considered negative,
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