On December 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Alexander P. Butterfield, White House operator, Tricia Nixon Cox, and Zosimo T. Monzon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:30 pm and 7:35 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 386-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 386-4
Date: December 5, 1972
Time: Unknown between 6:30 pm and 7:35 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Vietnam negotiations
-Haldeman’s message to Henry A. Kissinger
-Breakdown in talks
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible television [TV] appearance
-Compared to impasse
-Consultations
-Recess
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Tone
-US military action
-Duration
-Settlement agreement
-Resumption of talks
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Breakdown in talks
-North Vietnamese intransigence
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 386-4 (cont’d)
-Doves
-Haldeman’s conversations with “hard liners”
-John B. Connally
-Possible effect on Kissinger
-Breakdown in talks
-Initiative
-North Vietnam
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 6:30 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Telephone call from Tricia Nixon Cox
-Manolo Sanchez
Message to Kissinger
Butterfield left at an unknown time before 6:43 pm.
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 6:30 pm and
6:43 pm.
[See Conversation No. 34-148]
[Conversation No. 386-4B]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President talked with Tricia Nixon Cox between 6:43 pm and 6:44 pm.
[See Conversation No. 34-26]
[Conversation No. 386-4A]
[End of telephone conversation]
Vietnam negotiations
-Breakdown
-Kissinger’s recommendation
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Connally’s view
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 386-4 (cont’d)
-Public relations [PR]
-US bombing of North Vietnam
-Pace
-PR
-Charles W. Colson’s view
-Boston
-Harvard University
-Princeton University
-Announcement
-Kissinger’s possible statement
-Timing
-Kissinger’s return to Washington, DC
The President’s schedule
-Reception for California administration officials
-Haldeman’s schedule
-Home
-Robert J. Dole
-Robert H. Finch’s recommendation
-California Republicans
-Possible meeting in San Clemente
-George H. W. Bush
-Oval Office
-Telephone calls
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Herbert G. Klein
-Strom Thurmond’s birthday
-Harry S. Dent
-Private line
-Compared to wire
-Timing
-Apollo XVII astronauts
-Launch
-Timing
-Camp David
-Harry S. Truman
-Health
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Telephone call
-Death
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-08)
Conversation No. 386-4 (cont’d)
Second term reorganization
-John A. Volpe
-Ambassadorship to Italy
-Announcement
-Timing
-John D. Ehrlichman
Connally
-Presidency
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
Vietnam negotiations
-Haldeman’s message to Kissinger
-Breakdown in talks
-Option
-Congressional relations
-Funds
-The President’s view
-Breakdown in talks
-Kissinger’s return
-California
-Press relations
-The President’s possible TV appearance
-Necessity
-Ehrlichman’s and Colson’s views
The President’s schedule
-Reception for California administration officials
Zosimo T. Monson entered and Haldeman left at an unknown time before 7:35 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Reception for California administration officials
Monson left at an unknown time before 7:35 pm.
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. July-08)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.