Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 491 › Conversation 491-021

Nixon & Mitchell on Anti-war demonstrations and Capitol Police

Wednesday, May 5, 1971 · 10:27 AM–10:30 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.Conversation491-021 on Tape 491 (tape position 03:18:14–03:20:00)StartWednesday, May 5, 1971 at 10:27 AMEndWednesday, May 5, 1971 at 10:30 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 491-021 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and John Mitchell discuss the security management of ongoing anti-war demonstrations in Washington, specifically focusing on the coordination between military and civilian authorities. They address the role of the Capitol Police in handling protesters on congressional grounds and express a cynical willingness to let law enforcement use force if necessary. The President emphasizes the importance of maintaining clear jurisdictional responsibility for the crowd control operations to ensure the demonstrations proceed according to the administration's plan.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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who was sort of in charge of the Pentagon or military on this, on these last three days.
I thought since having called both the chief and called Washington, I ought to call somebody on that side.
I called Kline.
Kline is talking to Laird.
He said it was an undersecretary of the Army, somebody who's... Yeah, he's... Well, I won't call it that.
Okay, good.
I thought it was a good idea for me to call him so he knows that we and the military have done a hell of a good job.
Fine.
Everything that seems to me is going about according to plan today, isn't it?
How many will there be?
As far as Congress is concerned, isn't that then the responsibility of the Capitol Police once they get up there?
Let's be sure that gets around.
Those guys, they could lose their heads and start beating up a few of these people.
Let them do it.
We won't.

NARA Description

On May 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:27 am and 10:30 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 491-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 491-21

Date: May 5, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:27 am and 10:30 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with an unknown man [John N. Mitchell?].

     Thaddeus R. Beal
         -Military preparations
               -Demonstrations

     Demonstrations
         -President's previous conversation with Melvin R. Laird
         -Congress
               -Capitol police

Also recorded on May 5, 1971

  • 002-083 10:15 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:30 am.
  • 002-084 10:15 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Harry F. Byrd, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:30 am.
  • 002-085 10:15 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:30 am.
  • 491-015 10:15 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:15 am and 10:27 am.
  • 002-086 10:27 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Melvin R. Laird talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:27 am and 10:33 am.
  • 491-020 10:27 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Melvin R. Laird met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:27 am and 10:30 am.
  • 491-022 10:27 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:27 am and 10:30 am.
  • 491-023 10:30 AM · 47 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), Peter G. Peterson, and Peter M. Flanigan met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:30 am to 11:27 am.

All 77 conversations from May 5, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 491-021, May 5, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/491-021 (accessed October 12, 2026).