Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 336 › Conversation 336-047
Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Public relations
Monday, May 8, 1972 · 5:55 PM–6:09 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min
AI Summary
President Richard Nixon rehearsed his upcoming television address regarding the situation in Southeast Asia to refine the delivery of his policy message. He emphasized the necessity of maintaining American commitments in Vietnam, focusing on the potential consequences of withdrawal, including the risks to remaining American service members and prisoners of war. The discussion functioned as a final preparation session to ensure the gravity and clarity of his public explanation for the administration's strategic decisions.
Audio
This clip was extracted from the full tape recording by Easy Nixon.
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Position in tape: 02:27:33 – 02:29:28
part B, 24:12
NARA 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 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 336-047 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 336-47 Date: May 8, 1972 Time: Unknown between 5:55 and 6:09 pm Location: Executive Office Building The President rehearsed his “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia”. [This is a continuation of Conversation No. 336-34] [See Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 583-587]
Transcript (AI-generated)
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Also recorded on May 8, 1972
- 336-040 5:54 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:54 pm to 5:55 pm.
- 336-041 5:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
- 336-042 5:55 PM · 2 min — 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 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
- 336-043 5:55 PM · 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 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
- 336-044 5:55 PM · 59 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 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
- 336-045 5:55 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
- 336-046 5:55 PM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
- 336-048 5:55 PM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:09 pm.
Related conversations
- Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Paris Peace Talks January 25, 1972 · 16 min
- Nixon alone in his EOB office on Speech rehearsal and Public speaking October 21, 1971 · 7 min
- Nixon & Sanchez on Vietnam War and Paris Peace Talks January 25, 1972 · 16 min
- Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Presidential Address March 29, 1973 · 7 min
- Nixon alone in his EOB office on State of the Union and Speech rehearsal January 17, 1972 · 25 min
- Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Paris Peace Accords January 23, 1973 · 8 min
Cite this conversation
Conversation 336-047, May 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/336-047 (accessed November 2, 2026).