Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 709 › Conversation 709-004

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Vietnam War and Student protests

Monday, April 17, 1972 · 8:36 AM–8:58 AM ET · Oval Office · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation709-004 on Tape 709 (tape position 00:10:22–00:15:28)StartMonday, April 17, 1972 at 8:36 AMEndMonday, April 17, 1972 at 8:58 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 709-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the file reflecting on recent communications and his personal schedule. He notes a report from Billy Graham regarding minimal student unrest at the University of North Carolina concerning Vietnam bombing campaigns, as well as a supportive phone call from Nelson Rockefeller. Nixon also records personal reflections on recent calls with his daughters and his intent to take a brief period of rest after a working dinner.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
That's good.
Talk to Billy Graham.
And he said that he had a conversation with the chancellor of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.
And the chancellor said that he did not think there was going to be a student reaction to this bombing.
There had been earlier activities due to the fact that we had withdrawn forces and had to negotiate on her.
I also had a call from Nelson Rockefeller, who was strange to reminisce, and the one I received was the early days of Cambodia.
He said that he is very proud as a friend, he asked.
He opened his audition and asked me what I had done.
But he didn't know anyone else would have done it.
I had people sitting there with him, and she was also very proud.
He used the word, fabulous, to describe the activities.
My guess is that he probably had called Henry and Henry had asked him to give him the call.
But it was probably not too bad an idea to have some calls coming in and he gave them support.
The calls, the talks with Chris and Julie were
Refreshing, both.
I had a great time at the moonshot barricade.
I was unnecessarily barricaded at dinner time.
I appreciated the ride about 6 o'clock.
I left and came over to
decided to get some relief by eating myself.
The closet was closed, so I found half a ham and cheese sandwich and a nice box, which I only left.
Had that for dinner.
It wasn't totally what had happened.
After making a few calls, I'm going to be back.
I'm going to be back at a very early hour.
I'm going to leave at 9 o'clock.
I'm going to sleep until 8.30 the next morning.
I won't even wake up briefly tonight.
I'm going to have to make some notes.
Great.
That's the other power handle they have.

NARA Description

On April 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 709-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 709-4

Date: April 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:36 am and 8:58 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum for the file.

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/12/2023.
3m 36s segment cleared for release. 14s remain closed as 709-004-w001.]
[Personal Returnable]
[709-004-w001]
[Duration: 3m 36s]

     William F. (“Billy”) Graham
          -Conversation with the President
          -Conversation with Chancellor of the University Of North Carolina at Charlotte
                -Student reaction to United States bombing in Vietnam
                      -Troop withdrawals
                      -Negotiations

     Nelson A. Rockefeller
          -Telephone call with the President
               -Compared with previous telephone call
                      -Cambodia operation
               -Support for the President's policies
               -Margaretta ("Happy") Rockefeller
          -Possible telephone call to Henry A. Kissinger
               -Henry A. Kissinger’s request
     Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
           -Telephone calls with the President
                -Moon launch

     The President's schedule
          -Dinner
               -Tricia Nixon Cox
               -Old Executive Office Building [OEOB]

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[709-004-w001]
[Duration: 14s]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

     The President’s schedule
          -Dinner
               -Old Executive Office Building [OEOB]
                      -Meal
          -Evening
               -Telephone calls
               -Rest
               -Notes

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

Also recorded on April 17, 1972

  • 709-001 8:36 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am.
  • 709-002 8:36 AM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am.
  • 709-003 8:36 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am.
  • 709-005 8:36 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am.
  • 709-006 8:36 AM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am.
  • 709-007 8:36 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:58 am.
  • 709-008 8:58 AM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, and William P. Rogers met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:58 am to 9:34 am.
  • 709-009 9:35 AM · 56 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:35 am to 10:32 am.

All 48 conversations from April 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 709-004, April 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/709-004 (accessed October 12, 2026).