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Conversation 505-017

TapeTape 505StartFriday, May 28, 1971 at 9:08 AMEndFriday, May 28, 1971 at 9:12 AMTape start time04:14:24Tape end time04:16:58ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Rogers, William P.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of State William P. Rogers met to coordinate their public messaging strategy ahead of an upcoming presidential press conference. They discussed the political implications of recent comments regarding Middle East policy and the administration's stance toward Israel. Nixon instructed Rogers to maintain a low-key approach regarding these diplomatic sensitivities to ensure consistent communication.

Middle East policyIsraelPress relationsPublic messagingDiplomatic strategy
AudioNARA Description

On May 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:08 am to 9:12 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 505-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 505-017

Date: May 28, 1971
Time: 9:08 am - 9:12 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with William P. Rogers.

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[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-026. Segment declassified on 04/26/2019. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[505-017-w001]
[Duration: 19s]

[See Conversation No. 003-166; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]

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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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Well, I was wondering, have you talked to the chief syndicate and, uh, just about to coordinate again?
Just, uh, sort of anticipated, I suppose, or, uh...
It's all right.
It's all right.
I'm good.
I'm good.
Well, that's what I have to say.
I'm going to have a press conference Tuesday, and I'm going to play at this little key.
Yeah.
It's all right.
Well, it was interesting that Michael's comments, which, of course, I thought were totally predictable that time, picked up everybody's indicating that he was
and getting at the differences about their attitude toward Israel and ours.
But, you know, actually, anything less would be totally, first, totally not candid, and all but beyond that, it's also true that he was...
He's on position at home.
Poor guy can't come over here.
He favors the Jews.
I've never read the news, sorry.
I guess you still need somebody very close to you.
They knew you were over here, and they probably figured that you were talking.
No one has, I figured, even though it's probably some lower person who had no idea what was going on.
I was just trying to put things together.
Well, I think you could have just applied it.
Yeah.
Well, I didn't see it in the other papers.
Yeah.
I think the thing to do is to simply, I think if you didn't handle it, if you would have your philosophy called sick or tell me not to handle it, would you do that?
Yeah, I think if you could just tell, in May, and your call just to start a low key, okay.
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