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Conversation 425-019

TapeTape 425StartWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 3:57 PMEndWednesday, March 28, 1973 at 4:00 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discussed public communication strategy regarding the ongoing enforcement of the Paris Peace Accords in Vietnam. Nixon aimed to frame the administration’s narrative by emphasizing that the U.S. has achieved its core goals while warning against further North Vietnamese violations of the agreement. The President decided to adopt a firm public stance, asserting that the administration would not tolerate non-compliance and dismissing the need for extensive public justification regarding aid to South Vietnam.

Vietnam WarParis Peace AccordsForeign PolicyPublic RelationsNorth VietnamU.S. Foreign Aid
AudioNARA Description

On March 28, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:57 pm to 4:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 425-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 425-19

Date: March 28, 1973
Time: 3:57 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

[See also Conversation No. 44-53]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
I got your memorandum on Vietnam.
Let me tell you one problem I have here.
The difficulty with going into the east in North Vietnam is very hard.
and even aid to the South.
My point being that the purpose of setting on how we're going to keep the agreement and the rest, I think I can get that.
You see, after my meeting with the Jew, I'll have to see the press and I'll just lay it off there, perhaps.
The difficulty of the case now is it needs more explanation.
I've got to say my promise.
Yeah.
What I feel in this one, I should say, is that I will raise a little bit of a problem.
I said, you know, the idea that after 25 years of guerrilla war, there's still some problems.
Nothing more than that.
But mainly good to say, look, we've accomplished our goal.
That's that.
Not how they act, but how we go about it.
I think if I get into the portion where you bring up the A to the R, does that really require a sentence?
Does it really require time to speak?
Do you agree?
It won't be here.
Right, okay.
Right, right, sure.
Is that right?
I see you're fine.
Well, I don't think you'd be safe.
Right.
I got it.
Right.
But that's the hell with the aid we're putting in there.
We expected an agreement to be made that we expected to be complied with.
And, uh, that's that.
And we, uh, we shall not tolerate a, uh, failure to comply with the prescription.
I agree.
I agree the hell with it.
You haven't had a chance to talk to the reading app?
Right.
Okay.
All right.
I just said that we can get ready to have a courier, but that's .
OK.
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