Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 400 › Conversation 400-014
Nixon, Price & Haldeman on Vietnam Peace Settlement and Lyndon B. Johnson
Monday, January 22, 1973 · 5:00 PM–6:30 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 hr 29 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with key advisors and staff, including Raymond Price, H.R. Haldeman, and Alexander Haig, to finalize the messaging and strategy for his upcoming televised address regarding the Vietnam settlement. The discussion focused heavily on managing congressional relations, securing bipartisan support, and refining the speech’s tone to project strength while addressing potential sensitivities. Throughout the afternoon, the group also monitored news of former President Lyndon B. Johnson's declining health, which prompted deliberations on the impact of his condition on the President's schedule and the potential need for a public statement.
Audio
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Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 46 minutes of this recording (about 52% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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Ok. Ok.
Ok, ok, ok, ok.
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Her's the game plan.
I'm not sure how it works.
I'm not sure how it works.
I'm not sure how it works.
I'm not sure how it works.
I'm not sure how it works.
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By...
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Følelsen pågår i veldig svært større størrelse.
Det er større størrelse.
Det er større størrelse.
All over the place, I couldn't share it.
I couldn't find out the rest of it.
I couldn't get it.
But it's a little, a little graceful.
It's not a bad idea.
It's a good thing.
It's a good thing.
It's a good thing.
It's a good thing.
It's a good thing.
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I take action.
I take action.
I take action.
I take action.
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Fødselskapet.
I was looking at you, and I was like, what is it to say what you got to say?
I was like, I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Eriko.
Eriko.
Eriko.
Søren Søren Søren
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Søren Frihjøs, Frihjøs, Frihjøs, Frihjøs, Frihjøs, Frihjøs, Frihjøs,
... ... ... ... ...
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Ok. Det er fett, ja.
Nå er vi i stedet for å kontaktere alle de andre.
Nå er vi i stedet for å kontaktere alle de andre.
Nå er vi i stedet for å kontaktere alle de andre.
Nå er vi i stedet for å kontaktere alle de andre.
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I don't want to get out.
I've got a question I want to ask you, Joe.
You can say you're not in a safe zone, and you're not in a state where you're not in a state where you're not in a state where you're not in a state where you're not in a state
Ja.
Ja.
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1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
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All right, you can check this one.
Check this one now.
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Ja.
Ja.
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Nå er vi igjen.
Nå er vi igjen.
Nå er vi igjen.
Det er i dag.
Det er i dag.
Det er i dag.
Det er i dag.
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I request that you have a witness to check out some of the things you saw.
I pray that you can see them.
I think it's a good thing to do.
Well, it's not her at all.
Thank you.
I just want you to know that you're going to be glad.
You're going to come here.
You need to have the right to be here.
You're going to have a lot of money in your pocket.
Well,
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Når du går ut i stedet, når du går ut i stedet, når du går ut i stedet, når du går ut i stedet, når du går ut i stedet, når du går ut i stedet, når du går ut i stedet,
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Teksting av Nicolai Winther
Nå går vi ut i fjellet.
Nå går vi ut i fjellet.
Nå går vi ut i fjellet.
Ja, vi har stått her.
Vi har stått her.
Vi har stått her.
Vi har stått her.
Teksting av Nicolai Winther
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Hei.
Det var bra.
Ja, det var bra.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Vi har en rådgivning.
Vi har en rådgivning.
Vi har en rådgivning.
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I think, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er, er.
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Nå er vi i stedet.
Nå er vi i stedet.
Nå er vi i stedet.
Ok.
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3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
Fødselveien er rett.
5 km.
Fødselveien er rett.
5 km.
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Det var en av de stående stående.
Det var en av de stående.
Det var en av de stående.
Det var en av de stående.
Nå er vi igjen.
Nå er vi igjen.
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Råstegn har jeg sett på de ideelle støttene.
Det var på de ideelle støttene.
Det var på de ideelle støttene.
Råstegn har jeg sett på de ideelle støttene.
Why don't you go to the bathroom?
We can go to the bathroom.
We can go to the bathroom.
We can go to the bathroom.
We can go to the bathroom.
We can go to the bathroom.
We can go to the bathroom.
We can go to the bathroom.
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It's going to be like, like Cambodia.
I don't know how many times you've heard of it.
I don't know how many times you've heard of it.
I don't know how many times you've heard of it.
I don't know how many times you've heard of it.
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If it's, if it's, if it's going to later, you know, change the way it's going to be, you're going to really try to, you're going to try to, you're going to try to, you're going to try to,
I don't think that's a problem.
I think we can talk about that.
If you go back to the five years before, it was so long ago.
I agree.
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Ok.
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Let me try to speak to the light.
All right.
All right.
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But I still would like to do this.
That's the reason I'm there, so maybe the governor will see me.
Thank you, baby.
I have my food on the table.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
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Ok. Ok.
Let's figure it out.
I think that's it.
I'm sure we've got to do that.
I'm sure we've got to do that.
I'm sure we've got to do that.
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I was, I was having a crazy story, but I wasn't thinking about choosing you.
And I was wrong.
You know, sir.
You know, you just, you just, you know, the greatest cannot be over, over, you know, free.
It must be over.
It must be over.
But you can say it.
The way I have rewritten your story, sir, to evade any other statements during the past few months,
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But I would like you to do what you have to do.
You can do it.
Nå er vi igjen.
Nå er vi igjen.
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And it would only have happened if I had the only way to fight it, the aggression, which would lead to another war.
I wonder if, well, if we're closing on the two of us now, it's possible that we should close on the other side.
Det var en av de stående stående stående.
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Nå er det nytt dag.
Nå er det nytt dag.
Nå er det nytt dag.
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I like to say that I'm curious about that.
I mean, maybe it's something that we expect to get back in time.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Føleløp.
Føleløp.
Føleløp.
I should like to talk to you about that.
I should like to fight you for a while, but I don't think I can.
I'm over it.
I'll get this back if you forget what I'd like to do.
Take a look at this.
But if you decide to over it, over your ground, you can't be available.
Now, the question is, I wonder, what do you think about this?
Well, right in front of us now has a blue ticket.
I was wondering if it happens around 8 o'clock in the afternoon.
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I gotta think it's better if you've got the office on the line.
Yeah, right.
Right.
Okay, that's out of the way.
We'll be available at 8 o'clock.
I think it's time to go.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Ok, takk for det.
NARA Description
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 Aid
Conversation 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
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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
-16-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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
-17-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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
-18-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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
-19-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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 [?]
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 55s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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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
-20-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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
-21-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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
-22-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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.Also recorded on January 22, 1973
- 036-042 4:05 PM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:05 pm to 4:06 pm.
- 036-043 4:06 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 4:13 pm.
- 036-044 4:13 PM · 43 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 4:13 pm to 4:14 pm.
- 036-045 4:14 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:14 pm.
- 036-046 4:15 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 4:15 pm to 4:16 pm.
- 036-047 4:51 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:51 pm.
- 400-012 4:51 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:51 pm.
- 400-013 4:51 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:51 pm and 5:00 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 400-014, January 22, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/400-014 (accessed October 11, 2026).