On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond K. Price, Jr., Manolo Sanchez, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, Walter R. Tkach, White House operator, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 400-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 400-14
Date: January 22, 1973
Time: 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Raymond K. Price, Jr.
The President’s schedule
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
-Democrats
-Length
-Congressional leaders briefing
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 5:00 pm.
Food order
The President's schedule
-Haldeman
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 5:10 pm.
The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Jan.-09)
Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Plans
-Television [TV] coverage
-California
-Congressional relations
-Bipartisan leadership
-Committee chairmen
-Timing
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Meeting with Nguyen Van Thieu
-Bipartisan support appeal by the President
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Republicans, Democrats
-TV coverage
-Content
-Suggestions
-Bipartisan agreement
-Additions
-Congressional relations
-The President's consultation
-Points to make
-Public support [?]
-Congressional relations
-Negotiations
-Expectations
-Public support
-Public statements
-Ground rules for discussion
-Negotiations
-Sensitivity
-Bombing of North Vietnam
-Bipartisan leaders
-The President’s responsibility
-Complete disclosure
-World War II
-Ending
Haldeman entered at 5:10 pm.
-Congressional relations
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
-Speech length
-Turnout
-Cooperation
-"Peace With Honor"
-TV coverage
-International cooperation
-European security conference
-World peace
-Concerns
-1972 election
-Negotiating terms
-Timing
-TV coverage
-Compared to 1972 Moscow Summit
-Congressional relations
-Buchanan
-Haldeman’s call to Haig
-Agreement
-Initialing
-Paris
-Signing
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Congressional relations
-Importance
-Revisions
-Tone
-Defensiveness
-Reaction [?]
-Public sector
-Private sector
-Republicans
-Thieu [?]
-Negotiations
-Propaganda
-Public reaction
-Congressional audience
-Home audience
-Congressional relations
-Difficulties
-Points to make
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
-Congressional relations
Unknown person’s schedule
Washington National Cathedral
-Francis Sayre
-The President's possible attendance
-Harry S. Truman’s memorial service
The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
-Johnson [?]
-Doubts
-Revisions
-First part
-Haldeman’s suggestions
-Allies
-George S. McGovern’s statements
-Prisoners of War [POWs] [?]
-Buchanan
-Agreement
-Value
Johnson’s health [?]
-Protocol [?]
-US politics
-Herbert C. Hoover
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-William H. Taft
-Warren G. Harding
-Death in Office
-[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson
-Theodore Roosevelt
-Death
-Death
-Timing
-Past recoveries [?]
The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
-The President's appearance before Congress
-Symbolism
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
-End of war
-Congress’ responsibility
-Maintenance of peace
-Aid to South Vietnam
-Aid to North Vietnam
-Future developments
-Cambodia
-TV coverage
-Congressional relations
-Briefing
-Leadership
-Confidentiality
-House of Representatives
-Bryce Harlow
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Clark MacGregor
-William E. Timmons
Stephen B. Bull entered at 5:55 pm.
-Johnson’s health
-Aircraft
-Possible death
-Change in the President’s schedule
-Congress
-Hospital
Bull left at an unknown time before 6:00 pm.
-Possible death
-Reaction
-Doctors
Past President’s health
-Harry S. Truman
-Kennedy
-Eisenhower
-Concerns
-Heart attacks
-Johnson
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
-Concerns
Haldeman talked with Gen. Walter R. Tkach at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:19 pm.
[Conversation No. 400-14A]
[See Conversation No. 36-49]
[End of telephone conversation]
Johnson’s health
-Condition
-Tkach [?]
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The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
-William P. Rogers [?]
-Press relations [?]
-The President’s error
-Revisions
-Public statements about negotiations
-Military activity
-Haig [?]
-Obligation
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
Tkach talked with Haldeman between 5:55 pm and 6:19 pm.
[Conversation No. 400-14B]
[See Conversation No. 36-50]
[End of telephone conversation]
Johnson’s health
-Air shuttle
-Condition
[The above part of the office conversation took place simultaneously with Conversation No. 400-
14B.]
-Lack of doctor at Johnson ranch
-Trip to hospital
-Tkach's information
-[First name unknown] Vogel
The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Johnson
Tkach talked with Haldeman at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 6:19 pm.
[Conversation No. 400-14C]
[See Conversation No. 36-51]
[End of telephone conversation]
Johnson's heath
-Revival
-Airplane
-Death
-Announcement
-Effect
-Meeting
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and
6:19 pm.
[Conversation No. 400-14D]
[See Conversation No. 36-52]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President's schedule
-The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
-Postponement
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 5:55 pm.
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Dinner
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 6:19 pm.
The President's speech on Vietnam settlement
-Timing
-Content
-The President’s suggestions
-Haig's review of draft
The President talked with Haig between 6:19 pm and 6:22 pm.
[Conversation No. 400-14E]
[See Conversation No. 36-53]
[End of telephone conversation]
Johnson's death
-Burial
-Lying in state at Capitol
-Washington National Cathedral
-Possible memorial service
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 400-14 (cont’d)
The President's speech on Vietnam settlement
-The President's schedule
The President's statement on Johnson's death
The President's speech on Vietnam settlement
-Content
-Length
-Accomplishments
The President, et al., left at 6:30 pm.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.