Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 528 › Conversation 528-014
Nixon, Marshall & Wright on Madagascar and Diplomatic Relations
Thursday, June 24, 1971 · 11:17 AM–11:22 AM ET · Oval Office · 6 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with Ambassador Anthony D. Marshall and W. Marshall Wright to discuss the deteriorating diplomatic situation in Madagascar, specifically the influence of French official Jacques Foccart in instigating actions against U.S. personnel. The participants evaluated the goals for an upcoming U.S. diplomatic mission, which included rescinding expulsion orders for American officers and preserving vital U.S. interests, such as a NASA tracking station and economic assets. Following this briefing, the President advised Marshall to consult with Peter Flanigan regarding potential future diplomatic assignments in Europe, Australia, or Africa.
- Madagascar
- Diplomatic Relations
- Jacques Foccart
- NASA
- Foreign Policy
- Personnel Assignments
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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The rather extraordinary action of President Siran in this is one of a state and
He said, well, he's sick, I don't know if that was the other party.
Well, yeah, right, Mr. President.
They didn't make a stick of him.
They did, Foucault did.
And I think that they didn't want it to go as far as it has, but they certainly instigated the action against the United States using Siransk.
which to take political action against his heir apparent and accuse him of treason, and using ounces and instruments as a tool in this.
I feel that the United States has an interest in Madagascar, the NASA station, a growing economic interest, the oil interest, and our plaintiffship visits that we would like to try to
work this out satisfactorily within their own discipline, continuing good relations.
They sent a mission over here, we're sending a mission back, Marshall Wright, going on it, and trying to work toward a friendly, reestablishment of friendly relations, not to keep it on a bilateral basis, not to service the French action in this.
And to
and that France is more important to us than our relations with them, then somewhat shady relations at the moment for Madagascar.
Even though I feel that they have kicked us in the teeth, that we must all save face.
And that if the delegation that arrives there on Tuesday is successful, that we'll be able to get back to a near norm within the near future.
If it is not successful, that we should maintain a low profile for an extended period of time.
And that we should work in this sort of reluctant diplomacy
atmosphere of not facing the French with what actually they want.
The CIA is positive.
There's no doubt in their minds that Foucault is behind this.
Do you think the other guy is sick?
Yes.
Well, I'm afraid all that.
Yes.
Well, what are you going to do?
Do you believe that I have undersigned the course?
Well, in coming back here, I feel that I'd like very much three things that the delegation hopes to accomplish.
First of all, the rescinding of the order to expel five MC officers and keep them there.
Secondly, to allow me to return to say goodbye promptly.
And stay long enough to take a statement.
They've never publicly announced that we were the ones.
They've never publicly taken a decision.
And then to issue a press release, which is what I intend to do.
But then after that, they have to then accomplish all that.
Then what I'm going to do is... After that, that's what I'm going to do.
I'm going to give you more time to consider your own decision before the game.
As I've indicated, this is going to take a while.
I'm going to work with them along the side.
You see the thing is, he's his partner.
He's an actor.
He's one of the few people who really cares about him.
Yes.
No, they're not.
Well, I'd like to turn my sights elsewhere now.
I think that I'd like very much to go to Europe, or perhaps, you suggested once I might go to Australia, jokingly.
No, I don't mean that.
I would like, I might say that it might be, too, that it's the other problem, too, having been down there in Africa, those people are so, and they're sort of childlike.
In any other country, it's kind of the anti-spy, or something like that.
Yes, are you going to call me?
Yes, right now, I would.
That's it.
He's finished there, which is good.
Not just I. I love him.
I'll tell you what, I love him, but I don't know if he's going to finish it.
Most of them, some are not, but they're going to take many years.
And if they have an act like this, you know, you're going to have to do something.
You're going to have to educate them and all the rest.
And so are we.
Well, maybe I'll get back to this some day.
Well, would you do this?
Talk to Peter Flanagan in our shop.
Of course, it's a safety question.
We'll see what develops into these things.
We don't want you to be tossed out of there and sort of leave and not do anything.
That's not right.
He knows how I feel about it.
And you don't
what your interests are and so forth.
Maybe you might have to shoot somebody to get to you.
Yeah, we'd be glad to do that.
We don't get caught.
See, after all that, you're your presidential co-host.
You should have signed off.
Okay, that's your reward for going through the call of duty.
Okay, don't get discouraged.
No.
NARA Description
On June 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Anthony D. Marshall, and W. Marshall Wright met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:17 am to 11:22 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 528-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 528-14
Date: June 24, 1971
Time: 11:17 am - 11:22 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Ambassador Anthony D. Marshall and W. Marshall Wright.
Conv. No. 528-16/529-1 (cont.)
Greetings
**********************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-029. Segment declassified on 05/08/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[528-014-w001]
[Duration: 43s]
Madagascar
-President Philibert Tsiranana
-Recent actions
-History
-French role
-The President’s reaction
-Involvement of Jacques Foccart
-Use of Philibert Tsiranana
-Against US
-Attacks on political opponents and rivals
**********************************************************************
Madagascar
-US interests
-National Aeronautics and Space Administration [NASA] station
-Oil
-Economics
-Interest in good relations
-Mission exchange
******************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-029. Segment declassified on 05/08/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[528-014-w002]
[Duration: 1m 15s]
Conv. No. 528-16/529-1 (cont.)
Madagascar
-French role in recent actions
-Kept secret
-Importance of US-France relationship
-US/Madagascar problems
-Future relations with US
-US diplomatic mission
-Arriving June 29, 1971
-Success compared to failure of delegation
-US posture towards French
-US/Madagascar problems
-CIA [Central Intelligence Agency] conclusions
-Involvement of Jacques Foccart
-Anthony D. Marshall’s opinion
******************************************************************************
Madagascar
-US diplomatic mission
-Goals
******************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-029. Segment declassified on 05/08/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[528-014-w003]
[Duration: 8s]
Madagascar
-US diplomatic mission
-Goals
-Remain in Madagascar
-French withdrawal
******************************************************************************
Madagascar
-US diplomatic mission Conv. No. 528-16/529-1 (cont.)
-Goals
Marshall's future
-Europe
-Australia
-Africa
Marshall and Peter M. Flanigan contacts
-William P. Rogers
Vacancies
Gift presentation
Marshall and Wright left at 11:22 am.Also recorded on June 24, 1971
- 005-158 10:58 AM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:58 am.
- 528-009 10:58 AM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:58 am.
- 528-010 10:58 AM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:58 am and 11:01 am.
- 528-017 11:01 AM · 38 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:01 am and 11:17 am.
- 528-019 11:01 AM · 24 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:01 am and 11:17 am.
- 528-015 11:23 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:23 am.
- 528-016 11:23 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John Mackey, Mrs. John Mackey, Ed Garvey, Bill Curry, Nick Buonconti, and Henry C. Cashen, II met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:23 am to 11:35 am.
- 529-002 11:35 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:35 am and 11:36 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 528-014, June 24, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/528-014 (accessed October 10, 2026).