Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 375 › Conversation 375-010

Nixon & Andrews on National Defense and Executive Power

Thursday, October 26, 1972 · 12:36 PM–12:38 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Andrews, John K., Jr.Conversation375-010 on Tape 375StartThursday, October 26, 1972 at 12:36 PMEndThursday, October 26, 1972 at 12:38 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 375-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with John K. Andrews, Jr. to discuss the political management of national defense issues. The President expressed a firm intent to restrict public access to sensitive defense information, emphasizing a need to consolidate executive power. The brief exchange reflects Nixon’s desire to maintain tight control over defense narratives rather than allowing public influence over security strategy.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

Stop.
Stop.
Regarding the defense, I am going to tell the public that there is no option to start the defense.
There is no way that I am going to pass the defense on to the public.
The public is going to want to press their power to protect their power.
Right?
This is the time to stop it.
Except for a great power to protect their power.
I don't know what I'm trying to say.
I don't know what I'm trying to say.
and everything in our car is not working.
I'm very, very happy to be a part of this.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On October 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:36 pm to 12:38 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 375-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 375-10

Date: October 26, 1972
Time: 12:36 pm - 12:38 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with John K. Andrews, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 32-53; one item has been withdrawn]

Also recorded on October 26, 1972

  • 375-006 12:16 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:16 pm and 12:36 pm.
  • 375-007 12:16 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 12:16 pm and 12:36 pm.
  • 375-008 12:16 PM · 10 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 12:16 pm and 12:36 pm.
  • 375-009 12:16 PM · 7 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 12:16 pm and 12:36 pm.
  • 032-053 12:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John K. Andrews, Jr. talked on the telephone from 12:36 pm to 12:38 pm.
  • 375-011 12:40 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:40 pm to 12:49 pm.
  • 375-012 12:49 PM · 53 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:49 pm and 2:01 pm.
  • 375-013 2:01 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:01 pm to 2:04 pm.

All 47 conversations from October 26, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 375-010, October 26, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/375-010 (accessed October 9, 2026).