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Conversation 659-023

TapeTape 659StartFriday, January 28, 1972 at 5:03 PMEndFriday, January 28, 1972 at 11:59 PMTape start time04:54:20Tape end time04:55:44ParticipantsUnited States Secret Service agents;  [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

Secret Service agents and unidentified individuals discuss the complexities of maintaining operational security regarding presidential travel routes and secret logistical arrangements. The conversation highlights the value of managing information disclosure to foster trust and political rapport with foreign counterparts, specifically referencing previous interactions with French officials. The participants reflect on the importance of controlled leaks and selective credit-sharing as strategic tools in high-level diplomacy.

Operational SecurityPresidential TravelFrench DiplomacyIntelligence OperationsStrategic Communication
AudioNARA Description

On January 28, 1972, United States Secret Service agents and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and 11:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 659-023 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 659-23

Date: January 28, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:03 pm and 11:59 pm
Location: Oval Office

Unknown people [Secret Service agents] met.

An unknown agent talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and
11:59 pm.

[Conversation No. 659-23A]

****************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Federal Statute]
[Duration: 5s]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************************

[End of telephone conversation]

     [Unintelligible]

     The President’s location
          -Residence

An unknown agent talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 5:03 pm and
11:59 pm.

[Conversation No. 659-23B]

     The President’s location
          -Residence

[End of telephone conversation]

     [Unintelligible]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

If you bring up something secretly, they love it.
I get focused.
Really?
Is that right?
They want to know what airplanes we used, what airplanes we landed at.
You haven't told them that?
That's good.
But time figured out.
Of course, we had five different routes.
But time had found out one of them.
What's a fascinating story.
Did they know about Walters?
No.
You know, didn't you say that the French, though, were delighted?
Oh, they're drooling all over.
I expressed my thanks to the person who followed you, you know, who made the rings and the scissors.
They loved it.
Frankly, they started to regal, didn't they?
No.
Was he dead?
No.
August 69, he was alive, but...
He resigned in May 69, end of April 69.
April 69.
Oh, wow.
It was then, though.
Yes.
But I mean, de Gaulle resigned in April.
Yes, he resigned in August.
Yes, and in August they started.
But you know, that was a very good story when you were in the parks yesterday.
I should have thought of it.
But I see that whenever you can let a man get some credit for something, and also whenever you let the world know that he's in on the secret, it shows you trust in him.
Papa, who is a French love to me, that when we were sitting there and he said, or she once said, is there any way we can help on this?
Can you please let us know?
And I said, well, you know.
They all want it all.
Oh, no, that, that, that turns out to be fine.
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