Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 677 › Conversation 677-016

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on People's Republic of China

Monday, March 6, 1972 · 1:28 PM–1:38 PM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation677-016 on Tape 677 (tape position 03:48:53–03:53:27)StartMonday, March 6, 1972 at 1:28 PMEndMonday, March 6, 1972 at 1:38 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 677-016 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417180927 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum to the Secretary of State and other key agencies to establish strict guidelines regarding the recent summit with the People's Republic of China. He emphasized the need for a disciplined, restrained public messaging strategy across the bureaucracy to protect the delicate nature of the new bilateral relationship. Consequently, he ordered an immediate halt to any further commentary or elaboration on the substance of the talks or the official communiqué.

Audio

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NARA Description

On March 6, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 677-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 677-16

Date: March 6, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to the Secretary of State et al.

     The People’s Republic of China [PRC] trip
          -Domestic and foreign reactions
               -Concern
               -Approval
          -Need for leadership
          -Relationship with PRC
               -Public statements
                     -Bureaucracy
                     -White House
                     -State Department
                     -Defense Department
                     -Comments on substantive talks
                     -Communiqué
                     -The President’s remarks at Andrews Air Force Base, February 28, 1972
                           -Administration position
          -Directions to typist

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 26% 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.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

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this memorandum, the first paragraph will read as follows.
Over the weekend, I've had an opportunity to evaluate the initial results of the China summit and
It is encouraging to note that some initial strains of concern have now been successfully delayed and the positive accomplishments are, for the most part, being generally recognized.
I'm sure all of you would realize, all of us, I'm sure all of you would agree.
It's very, it's very, it's I'm sure all of you would agree.
It was required.
leadership on all fronts.
We are to avoid the erosion of our present position.
It is particularly essential for our delicate and complex relationship with the People's Republic of China.
that not only those of us who may make public statements, but that everyone throughout the bureaucracy and the White House and the State Department and the Defense Department adopt a very restrained and disciplined public approach
of a very extreme and distant approach in our on or off the record comments.
For your guidance and the guidance of your staff,
There should be no further public commentary or elaboration on the substance of these talks or the communication of the channels.
I believe that my arrival remarks in Amherst Air Force Base on February 28th should be
And that pickup where it says, uh, these guidelines are particularly important in the following areas.
And a copy of the office.

Also recorded on March 6, 1972

  • 677-011 1:28 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-012 1:28 PM · 57 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-013 1:28 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-014 1:28 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-015 1:28 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-017 1:28 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-018 1:28 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:28 pm and 1:38 pm.
  • 677-019 1:38 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:38 pm to 1:40 pm.

All 36 conversations from March 6, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 677-016, March 6, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417180927). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/677-016 (accessed November 2, 2026).