Nixon White House TapesTape 336 › Conversation 336-060

Nixon with unidentified visitors in his EOB office on Vietnam War

Monday, May 8, 1972 · 6:34 PM–7:14 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  [Unknown person(s)]Conversation336-060 onTape 336 (tape position 03:12:16–03:12:34)StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 6:34 PMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 7:14 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 336-060 ↗

President Nixon held a discussion with an unidentified individual to refine the messaging regarding the U.S. military strategy in Vietnam. The conversation focused on justifying American intervention as a necessary measure to protect the lives of 60,000 U.S. troops against communist aggression. Nixon articulated a diplomatic stance toward the Soviet Union, asserting both a respect for their interests and a firm commitment to defending American objectives in the region.

Download MP3 (part 1) · 112.6 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 112.3 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 49.5 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 03:12:16 into the tape and ends around 03:12:34.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) ·JSON data · Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.

3:12:16Their sole purpose is to protect the lives of 60,000 Americans who would be gravely endangered in the event that the communist offensive continues to rule over them under the empty imposition of a communist government by brutal aggression among nations of the United States.
3:12:20I particularly direct my comments to the life of the Soviet Union.
3:12:24We respect the Soviet Union's great power.
3:12:26We recognize the right of the Soviet Union to defend its interests on the air front.
3:12:31It's only convenient here in my very mind, our way, to defend our great interests.

On May 8, 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 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 336-060 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 336-60

Date: May 8, 1972
Time: Unknown after 6:34 and before 7:14 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with an unknown man.

                                         (rev. Nov-01)

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The unknown man left at an unknown time before 7:14 pm.
  • 336-050 6:14 PM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:14 pm and 6:22 pm.
  • 336-056 6:22 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:22 pm to 6:34 pm.
  • 336-057 6:34 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm.
  • 336-058 6:34 PM · 2 min — 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 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm.
  • 336-059 6:34 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm.
  • 336-061 6:34 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 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm.
  • 336-062 6:34 PM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm.
  • 336-063 6:34 PM · 42 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 6:34 pm and 7:14 pm.

Conversation 336-060, 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/336-060 (accessed September 18, 2026).