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Conversation 338-009

TapeTape 338StartTuesday, May 9, 1972 at 11:16 AMEndTuesday, May 9, 1972 at 11:21 AMTape start time00:29:59Tape end time00:34:23ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Laird, Melvin R.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird met to coordinate the public relations strategy and military planning surrounding the Vietnam War, specifically focusing on the recent escalation of operations. Nixon emphasized the necessity of achieving a strong psychological impact through targeted strikes on infrastructure, such as power lines, and requested photographic evidence of enemy naval activity. They further discussed managing congressional testimony and media appearances to ensure a unified, aggressive message that conveys the administration's resolve and authorization to achieve victory.

Vietnam WarMilitary StrategyPublic RelationsPsychological OperationsDefense Policy
AudioNARA Description

On May 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Melvin R. Laird met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:16 am and 11:21 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 338-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 338-9

Date: May 9, 1972
Time: Between 11:16 and 11:21 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Melvin R. Laird.

[See Conversation No. 24-40]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

So, Mel, everything's still going on schedule, huh?
Right.
One thing that would be very helpful, I was talking this morning, there was some wires that were reported on the ship, on the FBI, last night out there, but if you could have a photo plane get a photo of the ship's line up to get out, that would be a hell of a good thing to put out here.
Do you think you could do that, or is it too dangerous?
Maybe that that was simply unawares of the report.
If you do that, in other words, Mel, I would particularly like, in this period, if you watch the PR thing yourself, and you're not operational, but you know you know more about this, you forgot more than a hundred people have ever learned.
So, and if you see something we can do, write it down.
Oh.
Oh.
We're all set for a good strike tonight, is that right?
And I particularly want that one.
You see, when we've got it at the outset of an operation like this, you'll have more support than you'll have later.
Now is the time to bang and do it.
Yeah.
It's a rare event.
Some feel well.
Yeah.
And you're looking at those power lines.
You get those power lines, you know, they use up fuel.
That would have a hell of a psychological effect on you.
You take a hard run for those.
Good deal.
Fine.
All right.
Just be careful out there, because now that we've crossed the Rubicon, as I said, Bobby, I don't seem to cross the Rubicon, but he didn't lose.
Oh, he did.
I didn't get to see him.
I...
Well, he's a, he's a, he's a diplomatic experience and this and that.
Well, good, I'll, I'll, I'll get a rerun of it and see what happens tonight.
Good.
When are you going to do something?
When do you have to appear before committees?
I'm just trying to think of when to go after that.
Take a day off, yeah.
And we go to date, right?
You go tomorrow.
Great, great, great.
Hit it like hell.
That's a marvelous place to do it.
Could be better.
But also, get the national TV there down there, too.
They'll tell you.
Try to hit it in the way that you hit it at the part of the day that you get on the evening news and you met they have in your room, okay?
Fine.
And then tomorrow, I don't know, we haven't got anybody to go.
Well, I guess that makes no sense.
Well, anyway, you're not going tomorrow, then, huh?
If you do this, would you mind, I'm almost concerned, watching to see that we don't step on each other, would you mind giving him a ring to see who is going tomorrow, and if not, it may be more important for you to do a press conference here than a court meeting.
Or maybe even to vote, you know.
Right, right.
Okay.
Well, you see, I should not go up to that again right now.
Don't you agree?
I've got to let it rest a week now, and then maybe I'll do something next week with the president.
Henry's on today, and that's good.
That gets all the diplomatic stuff we do coming away.
But then you can go on with a strong statement about that this can be made to work.
That's the main thing.
It will work.
And the main thing is the president has given authorization
that we now have not only the power but the will and the directives and the flexibility to make the name of the name work.
And I think that's what we've got to become home to.
Because the psychological effect is what we need.
And I'm not speaking American people, but the psychological effect is what we need.
And it is going to be like 68.
See?
Okay.
That's right.
All right, well, thank you.
Press the next one, please.
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