Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 489 › Conversation 489-028

Nixon & Haldeman on Foreign policy and Trade policy

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

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation489-028 onTape 489 (tape position 05:37:13–05:38:03)StartMonday, April 26, 1971 at 8:30 PMEndMonday, April 26, 1971 at 8:51 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 489-028 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed adjusting the President's public appearance schedule, specifically weighing potential engagements with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars for the 1971 and 1972 calendar years. The President also outlined a strategic objective regarding international trade policy, directing that trade relations with the People's Republic of China be normalized to the same status as those held with the Soviet Union and other communist nations. These directives served as key instructions for the administration's upcoming domestic and foreign policy communications.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 think we might reconsider our decision with regard to the Legion and VFW appearances.

We haven't money to do with VFW as planned, but I think we also might consider doing the Legion this year.

and the possibility of doing one or both next year.

Our friends and their adherents will .

I know that with regard to our China initiative is that trade with China should be on the same basis as trade with the Soviet Union and other communist countries.

This is our final objective.

The question is whether, for all the timing of such an absence, or if he had anticipated for reasons that are obvious.

NARA Description

On April 26, 1971, 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. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 489-028 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 489-28

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

The President dictated a memorandum for H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     President's schedule
           -Possible Presidential appearances
                 -American Legion
                 -Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW]
                      -1972

     People’s Republic of China [PRC] initiative
          -Trade
               -Soviet Union
               -Communist nations
               -Announcements

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.
489-026 8:30 PM · 38 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.
489-027 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.
489-029 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 489-028, 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/489-028 (accessed September 18, 2026).