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Conversation 041-041

TapeTape 41StartFriday, June 22, 1973 at 1:45 PMEndFriday, June 22, 1973 at 1:47 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler discuss the positive media coverage surrounding the summit with Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev and the recent Agreement on the Prevention of Nuclear War. Nixon emphasizes that the success of these diplomatic efforts rests on the personal commitment and political will of both leaders to maintain the agreement. He instructs Ziegler to ensure Henry Kissinger conveys this narrative of mutual resolve to the press, highlighting the significance of the shift in US-Soviet relations.

Leonid BrezhnevUS-USSR relationsNuclear non-proliferationMedia relationsHenry KissingerDiplomacy
AudioNARA Description

On June 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 1:45 pm to 1:47 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 041-041 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 41-41

Date: June 22, 1973
Time: 1:45 pm - 1:47 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See also Conversation No.448-3]

     Leonid I. Brezhnev visit
          -Press coverage
                 -Upbeat
          US-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR] relations
          -Agreement [on the Prevention of Nuclear War]
                 -Henry A. Kissinger’s briefing
                      -President’s relationship with Brezhnev
                             -Attitude towards agreement
                                   -Will
                      -Kissinger’s message to media

     Press coverage
           -Television [TV]
                                                -24-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                    (rev. November-2012)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yes, Mr. President.
How are the press reacting to this thing?
Are they playing it decently, objectively, and so forth?
What's the situation?
Well, I think they're...
Hold on just a second.
You had somebody there?
Someone's leaving, Mr. President.
That's all right.
All right.
They're playing it very well, I think.
The discussion...
They have to play it in an upbeat way because they've got to think in terms of...
sort of thing four and a half years ago would have been absolutely unthinkable.
Even last year, it was impossible.
This year, we have an agreement from these people that they're not going to use force or the threats of force against any country.
That's the biggest thing.
And these guys have got to realize how important this is.
Yes, I think they do.
Henry made that point very well in the briefing.
And also, the fact is it isn't an agreement, but the will of the parties to keep it, Henry or you should emphasize it.
that it's quite clear that Brezhnev and Nixon have the will to keep the agreement.
Yes, sir.
It's a good line.
The will of the parties to keep it, but what is more important, perhaps, in the words we've all signed, is that the two men have shown a definite will to keep these agreements and to move in this direction.
Right.
And that's, therefore, it isn't every war starts by breaking a treaty.
That isn't the important thing.
The important thing is that we have a will to keep it.
Right.
I think Henry, you know, he's so convoluted, he doesn't see it.
He ought to go back and tell the press and the plane that that's the key point.
It's the will of the parties to keep it.
Right.
Very good.
As I say, the leads are excellent.
Yeah.
Well, there ought to be good television out of that.
There will be.
Those people up here when the damn thing was signed.
Yes, sir.
It's bound to play in that direction.
It's going to play very good.
Okay.
Yes, sir.
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