Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 424 › Conversation 424-008

Nixon alone in his EOB office on Vietnam War and Cease-fire agreement

Tuesday, March 27, 1973 · 5:56 PM–6:03 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation424-008 on Tape 424StartTuesday, March 27, 1973 at 5:56 PMEndTuesday, March 27, 1973 at 6:03 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 424-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum for the file to capture his thoughts on recent sensitive diplomatic and foreign policy matters. The recording addresses the status of the Vietnam cease-fire agreement, concerns regarding the actions of Nguyen Van Thieu, and the ongoing complexities surrounding the U.S.-Soviet Union relationship, including scheduling for upcoming visits and the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). Nixon emphasized the need for consistent administration policy and strategic positioning regarding these international negotiations.

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 26% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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This is a further memorandum of the file being dictated on the afternoon of the 18th of September.

Arch Gilkey is brought to Henry and Ron.

The murder is brought to the completion of the special division and the central service.

We want to get this out of the way.

It's not a bug out.

It's not out of the way.

You've got to stand around there all the way to the right.

You're responsible.

I don't think it's a little bit depressing at all.

I don't know what you're talking about.

The problem for us, though, not as serious, is that, you know, it's an accident.

And, you know, when I'm back here, I'm not used to it.

I'm not used to it.

The Russians are pretty set to revolt.

... ... ... ...

Now, back to the first stage of the system, where we can see about three minutes.

We're going to find that it's very important to be aware of that.

NARA Description

On March 27, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:56 pm and 6:03 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 424-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 424-8

Date: March 27, 1973
Time: Unknown between 5:56 pm and 6:03 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President dictated a memorandum for the file.

*****************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]

       Vietnam settlement
                                                 -5-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 424-32 (cont’d)

             -President’s conversations with Ronald L. Ziegler and Henry A. Kissinger
             -Cambodia         -Cease-fire agreement
             -Press relations

       Soviet Union-US visit
            -Scheduling
            -Arrangements
                  -Problem
            -Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT]

       Vietnam settlement
            -Irrational behavior
            -Nguyen Van Thieu [?]
            -Bombing [?]
            -Cease-fire agreement
                   -Cooperation of all parties

*****************************************************************

Also recorded on March 27, 1973

044-033 5:34 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 5:34 pm.
424-004 5:34 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 5:34 pm.
044-034 5:46 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:46 pm and 5:56 pm.
424-006 5:46 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:46 pm to 5:56 pm.
424-007 5:56 PM · 10 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 5:56 pm and 6:03 pm.
044-035 6:03 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 6:05 pm.
424-009 6:03 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:03 pm to 6:05 pm.
424-010 6:05 PM · 1 hr — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:05 pm to 7:10 pm.

All 50 conversations from March 27, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 424-008, March 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/424-008 (accessed October 2, 2026).