Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 447 › Conversation 447-004
Nixon, Haig & Woods on Leonid Brezhnev and Speechwriting
Monday, June 18, 1973 · 4:20 PM–4:27 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min
AI Summary
President Nixon, assisted by Rose Mary Woods and Alexander M. Haig, Jr., worked to finalize the text of his upcoming toast for the visit of Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev. The participants focused on editing the speech for appropriate length and tone, specifically requesting the removal of extraneous references, such as a passage regarding John Adams. Nixon reviewed the revised wording to ensure the toast effectively conveyed a message of peace and mutual responsibility between the two global powers.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 50% 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.
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NARA Description
On June 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:20 pm to 4:27 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 447-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 447-4
Date: June 18, 1973
Time: 4:20 pm - 4:27 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Rose Mary Woods.
Leonid I. Brezhnev’s visit
-President’s forthcoming toast, June 18, 1973
-Editing
-John Adams
-Inserts
Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked with the President between 4:20 pm and 4:22 pm.
[Conversation No. 447-4A]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 41-1]
Brezhnev’s visit
-President’s forthcoming toast
-Length
-Wording
-Stephen B. Bull
[End telephone conversation]
Rose Mary Woods talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 4:22 and
4:27 pm.
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 447-40 (cont’d)
[Conversation No. 447-4B]
[Begin telephone conversation]
[See Conversation No. 41-2]
[End telephone conversation]
Brezhnev’s visit
-President’s forthcoming toast
-Editing
-Length, wording
-Review
Woods left at 4:27 pm.Also recorded on June 18, 1973
- 041-001 4:20 PM · 2 min — Alexander M. Haig, Jr. and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone from 4:20 pm to 4:22 pm.
- 041-002 4:22 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:22 pm and 4:27 pm.
- 041-003 4:27 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 4:27 pm to 4:29 pm.
- 447-005 4:27 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:27 pm to 4:29 pm.
- 447-006 4:29 PM · 10 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 4:29 pm and 4:30 pm.
- 041-005 4:30 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 4:30 pm to 4:31 pm.
- 447-007 4:30 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:30 pm to 4:31 pm.
- 447-008 4:31 PM · 35 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 4:31 pm and 5:15 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 447-004, June 18, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/447-004 (accessed October 9, 2026).