Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 415 › Conversation 415-007

Nixon & Kissinger on Ceasefire violations and North Vietnam

Tuesday, February 27, 1973 · 8:07 AM–8:14 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation415-007 on Tape 415StartTuesday, February 27, 1973 at 8:07 AMEndTuesday, February 27, 1973 at 8:14 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 415-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate their strategy regarding North Vietnamese ceasefire violations ahead of a scheduled public address. They evaluated the extent of these violations and discussed the necessity of framing their response carefully while managing expectations for future diplomatic engagements. The two agreed to maintain a measured approach as they prepared for the evening’s events.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 10% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I agree.
We, uh, get prepared for this, uh, I don't know what to say tonight, but we'll deal with everything.
What violations did you talk about?
Well, of course, the only, I know that, but we have to realize that the only
Well, on this violation thing, what are you constricting this to?
I mean, now this is the, this is not going to be the highest level yet on their part.
Yeah.
I understand that.
I'm just saying, what I meant is,
Well, it's my fault they might relate to this below.
But I mean, we have no ceasefire.
They have control over it.
Well, what does it tell you?
The way it stands out.
Thank you.
Or is that the lighting?
I'm just going to give time.
Just give it rough, in rough form.

NARA Description

On February 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:07 am to 8:14 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 415-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 415-7

Date: February 27, 1973
Time: Between 8:07 am and 8:14 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See Conversation No. 43-203]

Also recorded on February 27, 1973

  • 043-202 8:01 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:01 am and 8:07 am.
  • 415-006 8:01 AM · 20 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 8:01 am and 8:07 am.
  • 043-203 8:07 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 8:07 am to 8:14 am.
  • 415-008 8:14 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:14 am and 9:30 am.
  • 415-009 8:14 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:14 am and 9:30 am.
  • 415-010 9:30 AM · 46 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:30 am to 10:20 am.
  • 043-204 9:34 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:34 am.
  • 043-205 9:43 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:43 am and 10:20 am.

All 56 conversations from February 27, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 415-007, February 27, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/415-007 (accessed October 1, 2026).