Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 336-053
Date: Monday, May 8, 1972 at 6:14 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]
Recording device: Old Executive Office Building
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/336-053

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[2:36:53] Their sole purpose is to protect the lives of 60,000 Americans with the great foundation of the United States of America.
[2:36:56] We respect the Soviet Union.
[2:36:58] It is a great power.
[2:36:59] We recognize the right of the Soviet Union
[2:37:14] and defend its interests on their front.
[2:37:16] The Soviet Union, in turn, unrecognized our role and defended our own.
[2:37:19] No Soviet soldier is a president of Vietnam, since the founding of the American Revolution.
[2:37:29] We expect you to help your allies.
[2:37:31] You cannot expect us to do other than to help our allies.
[2:37:34] But let us and let all of our allies help our allies only for the purpose of their defense, not for the purpose of launching invasions against the nation.
[2:37:44] Otherwise, the cause of the peace of the people and so the way the state would be seriously jeopardized.
[2:37:48] Our two nations have made significant progress in our work here.
[2:37:51] Anyway, you're great.
[2:37:52] You're a great, great host of operations.
[2:37:54] Let us not slide back into dark shadows.
[2:37:56] You do not have to do that.