Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 440 › Conversation 440-038

Nixon & Scott on Secret diplomacy and National security

Thursday, May 24, 1973 · 1:36 PM–1:38 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, HughConversation440-038 on Tape 440StartThursday, May 24, 1973 at 1:36 PMEndThursday, May 24, 1973 at 1:38 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 440-038 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott discuss Scott’s recent public performance, with Nixon expressing strong approval of his messaging. The conversation centers on the necessity of secret diplomacy, with Nixon framing the protection of classified information as essential to the success of foreign policy initiatives like opening relations with China, arms limitation with the Soviets, and the return of POWs from Vietnam. Nixon emphasizes the irony of critics undermining national security while the administration attempts to secure long-term peace through confidential negotiations.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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John, I thought you should know that Ziegler and all of our fellows here thought you were never so great as you were yesterday.
And I'm very grateful.
And I'm most grateful.
Now, let's stick to what you read.
You say that's one thing we can't say, that without secrecy and secret diplomacy, we wouldn't have had the Chinese, we wouldn't have had the Soviet limitation, and the POW would still be in Vietnam, in North Vietnam.
And therefore, it is a great, you know, it's a great irony when
to steal the secrets and publish them, and then, though, to try to protect the national security so that we can conduct negotiations for peace.

NARA Description

On May 24, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:36 pm to 1:38 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 440-038 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 440-38

Date: May 24, 1973
Time: 1:36 pm - 1:38 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President talked with Hugh Scott.

[See Conversation No. 39-4]

Also recorded on May 24, 1973

  • 039-002 1:34 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 1:34 pm.
  • 039-003 1:34 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:34 pm and 1:36 pm.
  • 440-036 1:34 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 1:34 pm.
  • 440-037 1:34 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:34 pm and 1:36 pm.
  • 039-004 1:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 1:36 pm to 1:38 pm.
  • 039-005 1:39 PM · 2 min — White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and Leslie C. Arends talked on the telephone from 1:39 pm to 1:40 pm.
  • 440-039 1:39 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Leslie C. Arends met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:39 pm to 1:40 pm.
  • 039-006 1:40 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:40 pm and 4:52 pm.

All 40 conversations from May 24, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 440-038, May 24, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/440-038 (accessed October 12, 2026).