Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 448 › Conversation 448-007

Nixon & Haig on International Diplomacy and Treaty Obligations

Friday, June 22, 1973 · 2:02 PM–2:08 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation448-007 on Tape 448StartFriday, June 22, 1973 at 2:02 PMEndFriday, June 22, 1973 at 2:08 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 448-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discuss the importance of maintaining international treaties and the role of leadership intentions in upholding diplomatic agreements. The conversation touches upon the reliability of international allies and the necessity of ensuring administrative continuity within the White House. Nixon emphasizes the need for Haig to maintain constant oversight of operations, specifically noting that no personnel should depart without a clear transfer of responsibility.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 3 minutes of this recording (about 47% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, what do you think of that?
What do you think about that?
Well, you and I know this right now, but basically, to think of whether five years ago, or four years ago, or three years ago, or during the whole candy revolution,
It's just God isn't here.
God and Jesus are so hidden in Greece.
Threats, of course, religious support against U.S. or any ally or friend.
Breaks this agreement.
This is a hell of a, no, this is no shame.
We've never done any of it.
It's a hell of a shame on them.
The British have doctrine that's abrogated there.
Conflicts the world has abrogated.
It's the whole damn thing that's done.
For a moment, I think, how Henry was, you know, sort of talking about the fact that somebody accepted his life, being the mother of a bullshit.
This is very, this is, this is a show that certainly wouldn't agree to listen to.
They made a command decision.
They had to get along with us for a while.
Well, now we must worry, though, and make sure to hold each other's hands when we die, because if not, we'll post this on all the crime sites already.
I think we will have to.
Because basically, we'll do it because they're so over-the-cuff and upset with the goddamn water game that it's got to be fixed.
Thank God that we can all agree
Well, anyway, if they do, if you're wrong, as long as you're in a country where you want to fight, then you're going to have to do it.
In that version, I have a very difficult time admitting to something, of course, that's not true.
I do.
Who did you talk to in that class?
What do they impress by?
Do they grieve under the attitude of the leader?
Well, I just don't have any answer for that.
The reason is that when every war started to break the treaty, the tractors were the leaders of the day.
So the treaty is not the word, but it's important.
The treaty is the will of parties to keep it.
And what this means to demonstrate is that the leaders get to keep the desire and intention to keep the treaty.
That's the main thing about this big business that we've got to get across.
Try it.
Are they giving you the light?
No.
But nevertheless,
Let them crap around a bit more.
He said that?
Sure.
Well, he's a piece of shit, so maybe he understands what it's like.
Look, I don't care why they understand, even the full line.
And I'm asking them.
They can get the protection China.
It's the final reason why we care.
Tommy, uh, you're going to head with the Tsar.
When you leave, there's nobody here, huh?
No.
The continuity must be all the time.
You've got to know that nobody can leave without leaving the truck.
That's very important.
Good.
What's your reason?
Good.
OK.

NARA Description

On June 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:02 pm to 2:08 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 448-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 448-7

Date: June 22, 1973
Time: 2:02 pm - 2:08 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig

[See Conversation No. 41-45]

Also recorded on June 22, 1973

  • 041-042 1:47 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 1:51 pm.
  • 041-043 1:51 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 1:51 pm to 1:58 pm.
  • 448-005 1:51 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:51 pm to 1:58 pm.
  • 041-044 1:58 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and 2:02 pm.
  • 448-006 1:58 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 1:58 pm and 2:02 pm.
  • 041-045 2:02 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 2:02 pm to 2:08 pm.
  • 448-008 2:08 PM · 24 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 2:08 pm and 3:31 pm.
  • 448-020 2:08 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 2:08 pm and 3:31 pm.

All 70 conversations from June 22, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 448-007, June 22, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/448-007 (accessed October 10, 2026).