Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 675 › Conversation 675-008
Nixon, Kissinger & Haldeman on PRC Trip and Media Relations
Tuesday, February 29, 1972 · 8:55 AM–10:06 AM ET · Oval Office · 8 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the media strategy and public reception surrounding Nixon’s recent trip to the People’s Republic of China. The conversation focused on managing journalistic access and potential news coverage, including specific deliberations over which reporters and networks to include in upcoming briefings. Nixon and Kissinger also evaluated the success of the President's recent televised speech and its positive impact on the American public's perception of his foreign policy efforts.
- PRC Trip
- Media Relations
- Press Coverage
- Public Diplomacy
- Television Appearances
- Journalistic Access
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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I don't know.
Well, it's unbelievable.
I picked up the phone last night and said, wake me at 7.30.
And the operator, the soldier said, I just wonder how proud I was to be able to wake up every morning at 7 and try to see the President and all you people on television working for peace.
I mean, they dropped dead, you know, these are not...
Right, yeah.
And working for peace.
Oh, Mr. President, I think... We changed the mood in that respect.
I think these intellectuals can say, well, the knick-knack has already subsided.
It's like it has subsided so much that I was beginning to wonder whether I should have my back on it, whether I think I should.
Well, I don't know.
Well, I don't agree.
I think it gives, because the writing press is probably by tomorrow looking for an excuse to come aboard.
I think I'd like to see you once again.
I think I'd like to see you, but I have to not say it.
I'm not having it.
I'll have it.
And, uh, well, uh, uh, the part of the bull is he gone?
He did go again.
Yeah.
She's always to be included when they have, they have 18 staff members there and it's always, she will always be there, you know what I mean, for the consumer.
All right, bye.
Uh, Ethan Connell began to go the other way today.
None of you saw that.
But he's not coming to the meeting?
Well, one problem you have, Mr. President, is that the way it's being organized is that Lithgow is doing the inviting.
And Lithgow says, as a matter of principle, he can't exclude anybody.
I just have to repeat, report this to you.
I can't exclude.
Well, no, if Karno gets it promised, to abide by it.
Now, my frank conviction is, and Bill, I'll abide by whatever you say, but I just want you to hear it.
My conviction is that Karno can't do any worse.
That if he's not there, he's got a vested interest to break the background, and then they will all have an excuse to break the background after he's broken it.
And it will look vindictive.
Well, I think they're all going to cut it the other way.
You were...
It's a candle, but I think these guys are looking...
But Kano, I don't feel so strongly about, except that if these passes break the background, then everything will have been broken.
Then the others can excuse the trace.
Saidi, my judgment of Saidi is that it was true it was sitting there and peaking.
No one was telling him what to think.
That's his basic complaint.
Uh, that he's got this reputation as a duck holder.
No, I agree.
Well, because if he can, it breaks.
That's true.
I don't give a damn.
They would take me to Cronkite.
It would be Cronkite with Cedric as the alternate.
We set an alternate on each network.
Reed here with Smith as the alternate there, even though he wasn't on the trip.
Cronkite with Cedric as the alternate, and Chen here with Cedric as the alternate.
Good.
Now my analysis of Friday is, a third of the time he tenses on us, a third of the time he supports us, and a third of the time he's sort of in degree.
Time makes a difference in an analysis type thing.
If Schecter were here, there wouldn't be a question.
Schecter would be much better if we were.
I agree.
On that I agree 100%.
I think you've got to look at having someone in this thing not as any reward to them, but as hopefully a way of using them in this situation.
Cracked?
What the hell's he done for us?
Yeah, we had some.
No, we did.
We had Buckley.
That is not important.
I know, but we had him as a, not as a reward to him, but we had him as a balance to crack.
No, you see, I don't think Buckley's happy if you back down there, because there's nothing conceivable that can come out of Buckley.
And, uh... All right.
Well, you didn't crack down because he was back, so you can leave Buckley out because Buckley was on the balance crack.
I saw the film of your speech.
Did you see that?
I think this is one of the best television things we've done.
You delivered it magnificently, and they showed on the newsflips this morning that last phrase that you wrote in at the end, and we hope tonight that our children can live.
And they back to the children sitting there.
Great job.
It was a beautiful television production.
It was magnificent.
And they focused right.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Are they gonna come?
I feel that way.
NARA Description
On February 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Stephen B. Bull, Michael J. ("Mike") Mansfield, and Hugh Scott met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:55 am and 10:06 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 675-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 675-8
Date: February 29, 1972
Timing: Unknown between 8:55 am and 10:06 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
President’s forthcoming meeting
-William P. Rogers
-Questions
The President’s recent rip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Kissinger’s and the President’s health
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/29/2022.
9s segment cleared for release. 12s remain closed as 675-008-w001.]
[Personal Returnable]
[675-008-w001]
[Duration: 9s]
The President’s recent trip to the People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Henry A. Kissinger’s and the President’s health
-The President’s health
-Rest
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[675-008-w001]
[Duration: 12s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
******************************************************************************
The President’s schedule
******************************************************************************
President’s schedule
-Florida
-Timing
-Kissinger’s schedule
President’s trip to PRC
-Communiqué
-Press reaction
-Washington Post
-Reception by Congress
-Reception
-Television summaries
-Dan Rather
-Comments
-Washington Post
-Kissinger’s forthcoming briefing
-Backgrounder
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr., [Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-Rather
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Quoted statement
-Sevareid
-Communiqué
-Left’s response
-Taiwan, Republic of China
-Kissinger’s forthcoming briefing
-President’s forthcoming briefing
-Possible responses
-President’s meeting with Chou En-lai
-Number of hours
-Description of leaders
-Mao Tse-tung
-Public statements
-Appearance
-Personality
-US role in Asia
-Japan
-Foreign aid
-President’s talks with PRC officials
-Charles W. Colson, William L. Safire
-Preparation
-Taiwan
-Taiwan
-Kissinger’s conversation with Barry M. Goldwater, February 28, 1972
-Communiqué
-President’s conversation with William P. Rogers, February 28, 1972
-Rogers’s forthcoming congressional testimony
-PRC
-Goldwater
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Support
-Goldwater
-Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Kissinger’s forthcoming meetings
-Goldwater
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Possible argument
-Communiqué
-President’s opponents
-Left
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters’s forthcoming meeting with North Vietnamese
-March 20, 1972 invitation to Kissinger
-Forthcoming actions
-Michael J. Mansfield, Hugh Scott
-Announcement
-Talks on exchanges
-Le Duc Tho
-President’s speech, February 28, 1972
-Report to the nation
-Praise from Kissinger
-Kissinger’s conversations with New York conservatives, February 28, 1972
-William F. Buckley, Jr.
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-William L. Safire , Raymond R. Price, Jr.
-Work
President’s forthcoming trip to Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Safire
-Compared to Price
-Working relationship with Safire
-Writing style
-Buchanan
-Drafts
-Quality
-Work by the President
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Buchanan, Price
President’s trip to PRC
-The President’s and Kissinger’s efforts
-Hangchow
-Communiqué
-Rogers
-Mood
-Meeting with PRC Foreign Minister
-Importance
-Kissinger’s conversation with John B. Connally, February 28, 1972
-Importance
-Potential world events
-Peace
-President’s forthcoming briefing
-Mansfield, J. William Fulbright
-US role in Asia
-Nixon Doctrine
-Kissinger’s forthcoming conversation with Stewart J.O. and Joseph W. Alsop
President’s schedule
-Florida
-Timing
President’s trip to PRC
-Outcome
-President’s return
-White House reception
-Kissinger’s conversation with telephone operator, February 28, 1972
-Reaction
-National mood
-Intellectuals
-Writing press
-Kissinger’s backgrounder
Haldeman entered at 9:10 am.
-Hugh S. Sidey
An unknown woman entered at an unknown timing after 9:10 am.
Stephen B. Bull’s location
Stanley Karnow
President’s forthcoming briefing
-Virginia H. Knauer
-Location
The unknown woman left at an unknown timing before 9:18 am.
President’s trip to PRC
-Press backgrounder [by Ronald L. Ziegler]
-Karnow
-Sidey
-Buckley
-Peter Lisagor
-Invitations
-Possible exclusions
-Karnow
-Leaks
-Sidey
-Karnow
-Sidey
-Ziegler’s comments
-Kennedy
-President’s view
-Ziegler’s forthcoming backgrounder
-Rather
-Haldeman
-Cronkite, Sevareid
-Harry Reasoner, Howard K. Smith
-John W. Chancellor, David Brinkley [?]
Sidey
-Kissinger’s view
Public relations
-Time
President’s trip to PRC
-Forthcoming backgrounder
-Jerrold L. Schecter
-Sidey
-Press contingent
-Buckley, Joseph C. Kraft
-Balance
-Forthcoming backgrounder
-Buckley
Kissinger’s schedule
-Agnew
President’s trips to PRC
-President’s February 28, 1972 speech
-Television coverage
-Praise from Kissinger
-Content
-Children
-Color
-Crowds
-Colson
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Content
-Crowds
-PRC
-Correspondents’ stories
-Cronkite
-Remarks
-Return to US
Kissinger’s schedule
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Telephone numbers
Kissinger’s schedule
-Stewart and Joseph Alsop
Kissinger left at 9:18 am.
President’s trip to PRC
-President’s forthcoming briefing
-Knauer
-Alexander P. Butterfield
-The President’s previous conversation
-Robert J. Brown
-Haldeman’s list
Harry S. Dent
President’s schedule
-News summaries
-President’s instructions
-Cambodia
White House staff
-Preferring criticism
-The President’s position
-Need for positive mood
-Program
-View of the President
-Buchanan, Colson
-Safire
-Buchanan
-Negativity
-Memoranda
-1968 campaign
-John P. Sears
-News reporting
-Colson
-Safire
-Washington Post
President’s trip to PRC
-Taiwan
-Headline
-Alleged withdrawal
-Alaska
-Karnow
-Relationship with the Administration
-Haldeman’s possible calls to California
-President’s February 28, 1972 arrival and speech
-Press coverage
-Chancellor
-Camera angle
-President’s conversation with unknown man [Thompson?]
-Crowd reaction
-Audibility
-Cabinet meeting
-Television coverage
-Arrivals and children
-Atmosphere
-President’s arrivals from South America and USSR
-Comparisons
-Agnew’s statement
-Length
-Content
-Television coverage
-Kissinger
-Unknown children
-Camera shot
-Crowd reaction
-America The Beautiful
Commentators
-Reading
-Length
-Content
-James L. Buckley’s comments
-Taiwan
-John G. Tower’s comments
-Possible reaction
-Buckley
-The President’s re-election
Bull entered at an unknown timing after 9:18 am.
The President’s schedule
-Forthcoming briefings
-James Buckley
Bull left at an unknown timing before 9:56 am.
-Gifts
-Leaders meeting
-Cabinet meeting
-Tea cups
-Staff
-Wives
-Jewel boxes
-Carved elephants
-Rose Mary Woods
Bull entered at an unknown timing after 9:18 am.
-Woods
-Gifts
-Cabinet meeting
-Jewel boxes
-Wives
-Staff
-Tea cups
-Agnew, Rogers
-Kissinger
-Location
Bull left at an unknown timing before 9:56 am.
-Woods
-Dwight L. Chapin
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 08/29/2022. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[675-008-w006]
[Duration: 23s]
The President’s schedule
-Rose Mary Woods
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s forthcoming talk with Walter R. Tkach
******************************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-Florida
-White House staff
-Accommodations
-Possible locations
-Paradise Island, Disneyworld
-Ronald H. Walker
-Woods
-Buchanan
-Shelley A. (Scarney) Buchanan
-Walker
-Ziegler
-Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
-News summaries
-Transportation
-Timing
-Accommodations
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/29/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[675-008-w007]
[Duration: 8s]
The President’s schedule
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-February 28, 1972 conversation with the President
-Camp David
-Weather
******************************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-Weather in Florida
-Camp David
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/29/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[675-008-w008]
[Duration: 30s]
The President’s schedule
-Tricia Nixon Cox’s schedule
-White House
-February 29, 1972 dinner
-Camp David
******************************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-Swearing-in
-Peter G. Peterson
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-Timing
-Possible comments by the President
-Peterson
-Cabinet meeting
-Haldeman’s conversation with John D. Ehrlichman, February 28, 1972
-Ehrlichman’s view
-Peterson’s schedule
Bull entered at an unknown timing after 9:18 am.
-Timing
-Oval Office
-Talking points
-Attendance
-William E. Timmons
-Maurice H. Stans
-White House staff
-Congress
-Press
-Photograph opportunities
-Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
-Kleindienst
-Warren E. Burger
-William H. Rehnquist, Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
-Relationship with Rehnquist
-Justice Department
-Arizona
-Timing
Bull left at an unknown timing before 9:56 am.
-Calls from Woods
-Woods’s conversation with Mrs. Nixon
-Direct line to the President
-Lawrence M. Higby
-Chapin
-President’s conversation with Woods
-Higby, Chapin
-Call hierarchy
Woods
-Preparation of President’s speech, February 28, 1972
-Kissinger
-Views concerning President’s trip to PRC
-Comments concerning rooms in Hawaii
-Guam
-Possible problems
-Views about President’s February 28, 1972 speech
-President’s meeting with Kissinger
-Communiqué
-Buchanan
-Kissinger
-Communists
Buchanan
-Work
-Quality
-President’s standards
-Role on White House staff
-Press conference
-Safire
-John Sears
-Safire
-Research
Woods
-Views concerning President’s PRC trip
-Communiqué
-Kissinger
-The President’s February 28, 1972 speech
-Tone
-Maj. Gen. James D. Hughes
-Chief of Staff
-L. Nicholas Ruwe
-Chief of Protocol
-Mrs. Nixon
-Loyalty
-Possible view of the President
-Attendance at meeting
-Haldeman
-Roles of Higby and Chapin
-Relationship with Woods
-Bull
-Relationship with Butterfield
-Role on White House staff
-Gifts in PRC
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Mrs. Nixon
President’s trip to PRC
-President’s forthcoming briefings
-Gifts
-Republicans
-Elephants
Woods
******************************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/29/2022.
Segment will remain closed.]
[Personal Returnable]
[675-008-w009]
[Duration: 17s]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 9
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Rose Mary Woods
-Behavior
Buchanan
-Conversation with Kissinger
Kissinger
Buchanan
-Political views
-Communists
-Nuclear weapons
World political situation
-Number of communists
-PRC and USSR
-Eastern Europe
-Nuclear weapons
-Will to fight
-US
-Buchanan’s possible view of President’s role
-Administration view [?]
President’s forthcoming trip to USSR
President’s trip to PRC
-President’s February 28, 1972 speech
-Preparation
-Work involved
-Woods
-Rogers
-President’s arrival and speech February 28, 1972
-Presidential image
-Handshakes
-Necessity
-Haile Selassie, Gen. Charles A.J.M. DeGaulle
-Selectivity
President’s schedule
Bull entered at an unknown timing after 9:18 am.
-Scott, Mansfield
-President’s forthcoming briefing
Bull left at an unknown timing before 9:56 am.
President’s trip to PRC
-Mansfield’s and Scott’s statements
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/29/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[675-008-w011]
[Duration: 21s]
The President’ schedule
-Camp David
-Forthcoming telephone call to Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Departure
-February 29, 1972 dinner with the President
******************************************************************************
Mansfield and Scott entered at 9:56 am.
Greetings
President’s trip to PRC
-Forthcoming announcement
-Communiqué
-Exchanges
-Journalists
-Political leaders
-Channel of communications
-Taiwan
-President’s conversation with Chou En-Lai
-Exchanges by political leaders
-Mansfield and Scott, et. al
-Formalities
-Revelation of substance of talks
-Allen J. Ellender
-Life and death
-Mao Tse-tung
-Politics
-Bi-partisanship support
-Criticism
-Exchanges by political leaders
-Mansfield and Scott
-Invitation
-PRC knowledge
-Work on communiqué
-Kissinger
-Chiao Kuan-Hua
-United Nations [UN] representative
-Kissinger
-President’s conversation with Chou En-lai
-Exchanges of political leaders
-Mansfield and Scott
-Timing
-Conventions
Bull entered and left at an unknown time before 10:06 am.
The President’s schedule
PRC
-Forthcoming trip by Mansfield and Scott
-Announcement
-Channel of communication
-Chou En-lai
-Maureen (Hayes) Mansfield and Marian Huntington Chase Scott
-Presence of women at functions
-Official capacity
-Mrs. Nixon
-President’s conversations with Chou En-lai
-Mansfield
-North Vietnamese
-Schedule
-Channels of communication
-Confidentiality
-Canada
-Paris
**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-034. Segment declassified on 05/24/2019. Archivist: MAS]
[National Security]
[675-008-w012]
[Duration: 4s]
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
President’s conversations with Chou En-lai
-Channels of communication
-Paris
-British Ambassador
**************************************************************************
People’s Republic of China
-President’s conversations with Chou En-lai
-Channels of communication
-Lt. Gen. Vernon A. Walters, Kissinger
-Political exchanges
-Duration of trip
-Senate recess
-Conventions
-Forthcoming congressional leadership meeting
-The President’s efforts
-Chou En-lai
-Recent trip
-The President’s health
The President, Haldeman, Mansfield, and Scott left at 10:06 am.Also recorded on February 29, 1972
- 675-001 8:10 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-002 8:10 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-003 8:10 AM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-004 8:10 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 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-005 8:10 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-006 8:10 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-007 8:10 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:10 am and 8:55 am.
- 675-009 10:06 AM · 29 sec — Manolo Sanchez and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:06 am and 11:45 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 675-008, February 29, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/675-008 (accessed October 10, 2026).