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Conversation 399-008

TapeTape 399StartMonday, January 22, 1973 at 9:47 AMEndMonday, January 22, 1973 at 9:53 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. confer regarding sensitive administrative preparations and the management of high-level political communications. The President emphasizes a cautious approach to ongoing negotiations, explicitly instructing Haig to avoid committing to formal treaties or definitive agreements that could compromise their leverage. This discussion centers on maintaining strategic ambiguity to ensure favorable resolutions while minimizing potential political fallout.

Strategic maneuveringPolitical communicationNegotiation tacticsExecutive decision-making
AudioNARA Description

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:47 am and 9:53 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 399-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 399-8

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: Unknown between 9:47 am and 9:53 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 36-37]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

But I'll, I told Eric before he left that, working on my remarks, I had something infectious in my mind, and I said that I would be going.
I, of course, have had people who lose their lives, and people with grief.
The main thing I want to be sure of is that
He's got a lot of .
I mean, I think he's ever .
Yeah.
Right.
But it's been too long now, I think.
But I mean, I don't know what it is.
But I have to cut it in half, actually.
I really think .
I mean, I don't mean to .
But I don't .
You agree?
I think, I think
But with regard to that, I suppose it's a good moment.
We'll wait and see what I said and so forth, but after I step out, he's going to have a hell of a time.
I hope so.
I hope so.
Yeah.
Well, you're helping too.
Is that right?
No, I didn't see it.
That's what we're hearing about, isn't it?
You'll be okay.
Yeah.
No, no, no, no.
Okay.
Well, I told you that something in the Navy, that's not going to make a difference.
If it helps, it would be a difference.
It would help us to resolve.
And if it doesn't hurt us at all, that's what you have to do.
That's the line you have to take.
But don't slip into the line.
Don't sign into the treaty.
That's what the fight is.
If you want to slip into the nation, that's what you have to do.
Thank you.
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