Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 459 › Conversation 459-001

Nixon & Kissinger on Media relations and Journalism

Friday, February 26, 1971 · 9:18 AM–9:35 AM ET · Oval Office ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation459-001 onTape 459 (tape position 00:02:40–00:21:29)StartFriday, February 26, 1971 at 9:18 AMEndFriday, February 26, 1971 at 9:35 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 459-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger discuss managing media strategy regarding a potential interview or article with a journalist named Brandon. The President distinguishes between the candor expected for a book project versus a breaking news story, expressing concern over how the material might be framed. They coordinate logistical arrangements for the upcoming meeting, noting that Secretary of State William Rogers will facilitate the journalist's arrival.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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to take over this briefly.
In the meantime, I just wanted to be sure that you had talked to Brandon.
I've got one point that I don't think there's any question about, but that this was on a book, you see, that we were doing, rather than a current news story.
See what I mean?
That it's on current news.
See, that's the way I want to do it.
If it's a current news story, then of course I don't talk as freely as I do in a book, that's why.
But you see, if he uses this as a, if he uses this as a bench for Harrison.
It's news news, I think so too, but what I mean is if he uses it as a news, news news, then I have to go to another column and see.
All right, fine.
But, he's supposed to be here.
He's supposed to be, I think Rogers is bringing him.
Oh, you can't see me, Captain.

NARA Description

On February 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:18 am and 9:35 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 459-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 459-1

Date: February 27, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:18 am and 9:35 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger

Also recorded on February 26, 1971

  • 460-001 10:26 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:26 am to 10:27 am.
  • 460-002 10:29 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:29 am to 10:36 am.
  • 460-003 10:36 AM · 46 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:36 am and 10:40 am.
  • 460-004 10:40 AM · 10 min — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:40 am and 12:35 pm.
  • 460-005 12:35 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Melvin R. Laird, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Henry A. Kissinger, and Nigel Henderson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:35 pm to 12:48 pm.
  • 460-006 12:48 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Patricia R. Hitt, Robert E. Hampton, Barbara B. Gunderson, Jeanne Wilson Davis, Florence Johnson Hicks, Juanita Morris Moody, Essie Davis Morgan, Rita M. Rapp, Joan Raup Rosenblatt, and George T. Bell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:48 pm to 12:54 pm.
  • 460-007 12:54 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:54 pm.
  • 460-008 12:54 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Francis E. White, Frederick C. Wieting, Bonnie Cook, Dennis Conley, Mrs. Dennis Conley, Eva M. Johnson, and George T. Bell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:54 pm to 1:00 pm.

All 30 conversations from February 26, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 459-001, February 26, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/459-001 (accessed September 18, 2026).