Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 489 › Conversation 489-026

Nixon & Kissinger on War powers and Executive authority

Monday, April 26, 1971 · 8:30 PM–8:51 PM ET · Oval Office ·38 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation489-026 onTape 489 (tape position 05:35:27–05:36:18)StartMonday, April 26, 1971 at 8:30 PMEndMonday, April 26, 1971 at 8:51 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 489-026 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted with Henry Kissinger regarding the administration's strategic response to congressional efforts to curtail executive war powers. The discussion focused on formulating a firm stance against the Javits resolution, which sought to limit the President's authority over military engagements. Nixon directed Kissinger to ensure that representatives from the State and Defense Departments testify in direct opposition to these legislative restrictions.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I am a dissenter.

In talking to the group of congressmen today, none of them need or state their defense.

testify against the judge's resolution on restricting the war powers of the president, taking those powers from the Congress.

I do not know what the view is here.

This, of course, is a vital, very aware, firm line against the proposal.

Representatives testify according to .

NARA Description

On April 26, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 489-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 489-26

Date: April 26, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum for Henry A. Kissinger.

     President's previous meeting with Congressmen
           -State and Defense Departments
                 -Jacob K. Javits resolution
                      -President's war powers
                            -President's position

Also recorded on April 27, 1971

489-025 8:30 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-027 8:30 PM · 44 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-028 8:30 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-029 8:30 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Betty Graham met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-030 8:30 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-031 8:30 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-032 8:30 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.
489-033 8:30 PM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 pm and 8:51 pm.

All 46 conversations from April 27, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 489-026, April 27, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/489-026 (accessed September 18, 2026).