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Conversation 668-016

TapeTape 668StartWednesday, February 9, 1972 at 11:21 AMEndWednesday, February 9, 1972 at 12:05 PMTape start time03:05:26Tape end time03:12:03ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon recorded a segment of his radio address concerning the Third Annual Foreign Policy Report to Congress with the assistance of technical staff. The remarks focused on the Vietnam War, emphasizing the necessity of executive authority in peace negotiations and urging presidential candidates to avoid rhetoric that might inadvertently prolong the conflict. Nixon concluded by highlighting the importance of maintaining international trust in U.S. treaty commitments while pursuing an honorable withdrawal from the region.

Vietnam WarForeign PolicyRadio AddressPresidential ElectionPublic Diplomacy
AudioNARA Description

On February 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:21 am and 12:05 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 668-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 668-16

Date: February 9, 1972
Time: Unknown between 11:21 am and 12:05 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President taped the Vietnam section of the radio address about the Third Annual Foreign
Policy Report to the Congress; unknown technicians are in the Oval Office at the time of taping.

[A transcript of the final version of this speech appear in Public Papers of the Presidents,
Richard M. Nixon, 1972, pp. 192-193]

     The President’s schedule
          -Executive Office Building [EOB]

The President left at an unknown time before 12:05 pm.

Recording was cut off at an unknown time before 12:05 pm.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

And I do not question the patriotism or the sincerity of those who disagree with my policy to bring peace.
But as I said in 1968 when I was a candidate for president, we have only one president at a time.
And only the president can negotiate an end to the war.
There should always be free debate and criticism, so that our policy will represent the best thinking of our nation.
A candidate for president has a higher responsibility than the ordinary critic.
A candidate should make any criticism he believes would contribute to bringing an honorable peace.
But I would hope that anyone seeking the presidency would examine his statements carefully to be sure that nothing he says might give the enemy an incentive to prolong the war until after the election.
Trust in the United States among the 45 nations with which we have treaty commitments is essential if peace and freedom are to be preserved in the world.
Let us end our involvement in the war in Vietnam in a way which will not destroy that trust.
No, no, no, no.
No, no, no, no.
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