Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 383
Nixon White House Tape 383 (December 14, 1972)
6 conversations · Old Executive Office Building · about 2 hr 49 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Bull, Haldeman, Kissinger, Haig
President Nixon met with Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig to assess the stalled Vietnam peace negotiations and contemplate the strategic use of increased bombing campaigns, specifically targeting Hanoi and Haiphong, to compel North Vietnamese concessions. The discussion focused on maintaining U.S. leverage while navigating concerns regarding South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu's cooperation, domestic political pressures, and the potential impact on relations with the Soviet Union ahead of a planned 1973 summit with Leonid Brezhnev. Amidst these diplomatic maneuvers, Nixon also briefly paused the meeting to place a personal birthday call to J. Paul Getty.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met briefly to coordinate administrative logistics and executive appointments. The discussion centered on the timing of the announcement regarding John A. Scali’s nomination as Ambassador to the United Nations. Additionally, the participants reviewed the President’s schedule, including a planned telephone call to Arthur Krock.
President Nixon held a brief interaction with the White House operator to facilitate an official communication. This administrative encounter served as a logistical step to connect the President with another party for further discussion. No substantive policy matters or major decisions were recorded during this brief logistical exchange.
President Nixon met with his aide Stephen B. Bull to provide specific instructions regarding executive branch outreach to Congress. The discussion focused on coordinating legislative strategy and refining the role of William E. Timmons in managing these congressional relations. This brief interaction served to delegate administrative follow-ups necessary to maintain effective communication with Capitol Hill.
President Nixon held a brief, unscheduled communication with the White House operator from his office in the Old Executive Office Building. The interaction served as a routine administrative exchange to facilitate telephone connectivity. No policy discussions or significant political developments occurred during this brief contact.
In this wide-ranging discussion, President Nixon met with top aides and political associates to strategize for his second term, with a primary focus on navigating the difficult final stages of the Vietnam peace negotiations. Nixon emphasized his resolve to continue bombing campaigns until a satisfactory agreement was reached while managing public perception and Congressional relations. The conversation also covered extensive planning for second-term personnel appointments—including naming John Scali as UN Ambassador—and organizational restructuring to ensure a loyal, efficient administration. Throughout, Nixon stressed the need for his appointees to avoid being captured by existing bureaucracies and to cultivate new political constituencies rather than deferring to the traditional East Coast establishment.