Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 403 › Conversation 403-018

Nixon & Kissinger on Military strategy and Cambodia

Wednesday, January 31, 1973 · 10:10 AM–10:18 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 8 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation403-018 on Tape 403StartWednesday, January 31, 1973 at 10:10 AMEndWednesday, January 31, 1973 at 10:18 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 403-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss military strategy and logistical concerns regarding the ongoing conflict, specifically focusing on the supply and replacement of weaponry. The discussion touched upon the restraint exercised in current operations and addressed potential bombing activities related to Cambodia. Nixon reaffirmed his commitment to proceeding with a planned military operation.

Audio

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NARA Description

On January 31, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:10 am to 10:18 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 403-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 403-18

Date: January 31, 1973
Time: 10:10 am – 10:18 am.
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 43-6]
                                               -11-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 4 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

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Well, I guess you'd regret it quite a bit.

With regard to the labor you've created, Mr. Clayton, I saw you suggested, but how soon is that going to be?

What do you want me to say to him?

If I, if I'm mad.

Good.

Oh, I know what I'm talking about.

What the point?

What is this?

I'm not going to say anything.

Hang on there.

Come on.

I was wondering in regard to the supply of .

How do they do it?

Replace weapons in the war now, you, et cetera, et cetera, right?

I think so, I know, I know that.

I know it, I know it.

It would be awful if we didn't just kill them.

That would be awful experience to replace weapons.

All right, I just wanted to know that these are questions from .

What do you think that I did?

We've been very restrained.

That was also the only thing that I had with me.

That was the only thing that I had with me.

Yeah.

But it breathed one quite well.

Some of them, some of them, some of them, some of them, some of them,

Now, in regard to the Campoia, a lot of it was inspired by that mid-40s, early 40s, and we played with it.

We are not bombing the Campoia because of that mid-40s.

With that said, we are, and we have a good respect for the Campoia.

We have a good respect for the Campoia.

And as far as what I'm allowed to do, I'm just going to do the operation before you.

And that's coming right along.

That's good.

Also recorded on January 31, 1973

043-002 10:02 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:02 am.
043-212 10:03 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:03 am.
043-004 10:04 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan talked on the telephone from 10:04 am to 10:06 am.
403-015 10:04 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Brennan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:04 am to 10:06 am.
043-005 10:06 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:10 am.
403-016 10:06 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 10:10 am.
043-006 10:10 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 10:10 am to 10:18 am.
403-017 10:10 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 10:10 am.

All 52 conversations from January 31, 1973 →

Nixon & Haig on Watergate and Cambodia May 9, 1973 · 9 min
Nixon & Kissinger on China visit and Vietnam War November 22, 1971 · 18 min
Nixon phone call with Haig on Vietnam War and Cambodia March 30, 1973 · 13 min
Nixon & Kissinger on Foreign Policy and Diplomacy March 7, 1973 · 3 min
Nixon & Haig on Cambodia and Air operations March 30, 1973 · 13 min
Nixon phone call with Moorer on Vietnam War and Air strikes April 4, 1972 · 4 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 403-018, January 31, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/403-018 (accessed November 15, 2026).