Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 607 › Conversation 607-002

Nixon & Scott on United Nations and Taiwan

Friday, October 29, 1971 · 8:26 AM–9:30 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scott, HughConversation607-002 on Tape 607 (tape position 00:01:02–00:06:11)StartFriday, October 29, 1971 at 8:26 AMEndFriday, October 29, 1971 at 9:30 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 607-002 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Senator Hugh Scott discuss the political fallout regarding a recent UN vote concerning Taiwan's representation and the expulsion of the Republic of China. Nixon expresses frustration over the perceived humiliation of the United States by smaller nations that benefited from American support. Consequently, the President signals a shift in foreign policy, suggesting the administration should retaliate by reconsidering its relationships and diplomatic stance toward those nations.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 70% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Hello.
I was trying to appeal last night, so I didn't call you, but that was just a great victory in, uh, science.
And, uh, as you know, and as you said so well, uh, it was, uh, essential because, uh, uh, to, uh, have such a, such an unbelievably irresponsible restriction, you know, then just being called home
I don't believe there's no options in negotiating with the Presbyterian Charter, for example.
Kevin Lee had to get out.
It's not a believable bad thing.
I don't know what the hell we're doing.
Look, the cash is this week, or seven, or last week, or five.
You know what I mean?
We're divorced.
I don't know where we're getting out of.
What do they want?
Yeah, in other words, the people who got the same one get the credit for getting us on today.
Yeah, that's why.
Yeah, that's right.
Well, I'll tell you, I think it was just great.
And, uh, you know, certainly appreciate it.
You know, really, really, uh, George Bush was telling me how they, uh, how they came and danced in front of his desk when I got there.
You know, we can accept the loss.
I mean, after all, in a democratic system, we believe in it.
We win some, we lose some.
But these little countries that we've done so much for, we don't have to come in and insult them and humiliate the United States.
And after that, we'll deal with them.
That's very good.
Israel here is good.
In fact, even on Fargo, we should go after Israel.
Of course, South Africa is essentially off now.
Portugal, maybe.
We should crack a candle and then go after Greece.
Great, thank you.
You go.

NARA Description

On October 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:26 am to 9:30 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 607-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 607-002

Date: October 29, 1971
Time: 8:26 am - 8:30 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Hugh Scott.

[See Conversation No. 013-023]

Also recorded on October 29, 1971

  • 607-001 8:24 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:24 am to 8:25 am.
  • 013-023 8:26 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hugh Scott talked on the telephone from 8:26 am to 8:30 am.
  • 607-003 8:30 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:30 am and 8:40 am.
  • 607-004 8:40 AM · 1 hr 57 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Manolo Sanchez, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:40 am to 10:35 am.
  • 013-024 10:04 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:04 am and 10:36 am.
  • 607-005 10:35 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:35 am.
  • 607-006 10:35 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:35 am and 10:36 am.
  • 013-025 10:36 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William P. Rogers talked on the telephone from 10:36 am to 10:45 am.

All 65 conversations from October 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 607-002, October 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/607-002 (accessed October 1, 2026).