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Conversation 462-009

TapeTape 462StartFriday, March 5, 1971 at 10:41 AMEndFriday, March 5, 1971 at 10:45 AMTape start time02:38:47Tape end time02:42:58ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Garment, LeonardRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Leonard Garment reviewed the President's recent press conference, focusing on his confrontational strategy toward the media. Nixon defended his direct communication style, suggesting that bypassing the press to speak to the public was a necessary tactic despite the resulting friction. The discussion also covered the ongoing situation in Laos, which Nixon compared to World War I tactical attrition, and his commitment to Israel that the U.S. would not impose a peace settlement.

Press relationsLaosVietnam WarMiddle East policyIsraelPublic relations
AudioNARA Description

On March 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Leonard Garment met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:41 am to 10:45 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 462-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 462-9

Date: March 5, 1971
Time: 10:41 am - 10:45 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Leonard Garment

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     President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
          -Statement about press
                -Ronald L. Ziegler
                -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
          -Laos (Lam Son)
                -Current situation
                -Compared to World War I
          -Israel
                -Robert B. Semple, Jr.’s question
                     -President’s response
                -Cease fire
                -Yitzhak Rabin
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Well, we tried to, I was, I was trying to get the, really on that, on that subject, big, it probably makes, it makes Xavier's job all the harder for a few weeks, but, but I felt it was necessary then, in a nice way, in a nice way, to go right over the heads of the press and say they'd been lying.
And by golly, they can't, you know, it took them on in a way that they didn't, you know.
I mean, I'm like, I smiled at it and I said, no, I know you all disagree, but I talked to that television audience.
I said, you all remember.
I said, do you remember what they all said?
They said that what I said, what they said, I was right, they were wrong.
Now, I say the same thing.
I hope we're quicker than the country we're in.
But I think it was good to do that.
Yeah, yeah.
It was good to do it.
And it made that understanding of loss, too, the purpose there is really to get the hell out of which it is.
And it's working pretty well now.
It's picking up today, tomorrow.
And so we're going to have a few knocks, but we're up against their best.
You know, if you've ever read the history of the World War, even World War I, I mean, the great German armies suffered defeats and won battles, and the French won battles.
and one wins the war.
That's what this is.
Well, incidentally, I think we reassured our friends in the Israeli community.
When I answered Semple flatly, I said the question is, are we going to impose a settlement?
The answer is no.
Now, of course, naturally, you will know we are trying to urge them.
We're not going to impose a settlement.
That'll help a little there.
We're going to have to run a sled in there and hobble around.
But we're working our butts off to try to avoid it and slow it down and adjust in every area which way.
But the main thing is we don't want to cease fire.
Ravine should know.
I mean, you might know.
They said, well, you know what the president said.
We would not go settlement.
But, you know, you've got to react.
You've all got to be reasonable on your part.
Don't put me in a spot.
See?
Right, right, right, right, okay.
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