Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 415 › Conversation 415-016
Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and POWs
Tuesday, February 27, 1973 · 11:50 AM–12:31 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 32 min
AI Summary
President Nixon recorded a memorandum for the file regarding his strategic communications and foreign policy management, specifically focusing on the postponement of a press conference. The discussion addresses the complexities of the Vietnam peace process, including the resolution of POW issues and the maintenance of a hard-line stance against cease-fire violations by North Vietnam. Additionally, the President reviewed internal tensions between Henry Kissinger and William Rogers, while also addressing administrative matters involving White House staff and efforts to manage press relations.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On February 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 11:50 am and 12:31 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 415-016 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 415-16
Date: February 27, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:50 am and 12:31 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President dictated a memorandum for the file.
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]
President’s press conference
-Plans
-Postponement
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler
-Other times
Resolution of POW issue
-Kissinger’s advice
-Laos, Cambodia
-Cease-fire agreement negotiations
-North Vietnam
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
-Hard line
-South Vietnam
-Cease-fire violations
Message to Nguyen Van Thieu
-US support
-Thieu’s visit
-Postpone announcement
-POW issue
-Resolution
Kissinger’s concerns regarding William P. Rogers
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-International Conference on Vietnam
-Talks with the People’s Republic of China [PRC], Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Publicity
President’s conversation with Rose Mary Woods
-Invitations to church service
-Mistakes
-Congressmen and Senators
-Stephen B. Bull
-Maurice H. Stans
-Contributors
-List
-David Packard
-National Finance Committee
Invitation to the White House to Jane Payden [?]
-Background information
President’s talk with Ziegler
-Press relations
-1972 campaign
-Discrediting the press
-Effect on voters
-[Edith Efron] syndrome
-Virulence
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
-Compared with 1968
-Censorship
-Publicity
-Press reports
-Accuracy
-Catherine Mackin’s story
-Press statements
-Firmness
-Adversarial tone
-William L. Safire, Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Conciliatory tone
-Critics
-“Peace with honor”
-Bias
President’s conversation with Kissinger
-Recommendations
-Bombing, mining
-Accuracy
-Mining
-Announcement
-North Vietnam
-Removal of mines
-US statement
-Delay
-POWs release
-Private communication
-US troop withdrawal
-Kissinger
-Reception
-New York
Barbara Walters’s program
-Kissinger’s appearance
-President’s conversation with Haldeman
-War critics
-Bombing decision
-Kissinger’s compared to President’s role
-Compared with PRC initiative
-30-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
-Liberal credibility
-Claims to being a dove
Rogers
-Conflicts with Kissinger
-Melvin R. Laird
Press relations
-Ziegler
-James J. Kilpatrick, Jr. [?]
-Martin Z. Agronsky [?]
-Inauguration picture
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Photographer
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Special relationships
-Voices in press
-Avoidance in press
-Avoidance of overlooking
-Lyndon B. Johnson [?]
-Republican critics [?]
Cary Grant, Sophia Loren
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew [?]
-Telephone calls [?]
[Pause]
J. Strom Thurmond’s [?] vote
-Special committee
-Richard D. Kleindienst
-Someone’s candidacy
-Governor
Ken Crawford
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
-Price [?]
News summary
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
-Reorganization
-Haldeman
-Ziegler
-Discussion with President
-Commentary compared with news
-Reaction to POWs
-New York Times
-Editorial decisions
-Amnesty
Press relations
-Leaks
-President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Charles W. Colson
-Staff
George P. Shultz and John T. Dunlop
Budget cuts
-Balance
-Shultz [?]
Press relations
-White House staff
-Safire
A campaign
-Robert C. Byrd
Foreign policy
-Issues
-Aid
[Pause]
John D. Ehrlichman
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Congressional relations
[Pause]
-32-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Truth [?]
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The President finished dictating at an unknown time before 12:31 pm.Also recorded on February 27, 1973
- 415-015 11:50 AM · 23 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 11:50 am and 12:31 pm.
- 415-017 11:50 AM · 14 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 11:50 am and 12:31 pm.
- 415-018 12:31 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:31 pm to 12:32 pm.
- 415-020 12:31 PM · 13 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 12:31 pm and 12:35 pm.
- 043-208 12:32 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:32 pm and 12:35 pm.
- 415-019 12:32 PM · 15 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 12:32 pm and 12:35 pm.
- 043-209 12:35 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 12:35 pm to 12:40 pm.
- 415-021 12:35 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 12:35 pm to 12:40 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 415-016, 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/415-016 (accessed October 1, 2026).