Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 715
Nixon White House Tape 715 (April 26, 1972 – April 27, 1972)
6 conversations · Oval Office · about 1 hr 48 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Butterfield, White House photographer, Haldeman, Kissinger
President Nixon met with South Korean officials Kim Yong-sik and Dong Jo Kim, along with Alexander Haig, to reaffirm U.S. security commitments to the Republic of Korea (ROK) amidst the ongoing North Vietnamese invasion. The discussion centered on maintaining a strong defense posture, the modernization of ROK forces, and coordinating strategy ahead of Nixon's upcoming summit in Moscow. Nixon assured the delegation of continued U.S. support despite domestic congressional opposition and emphasized the strategic importance of resisting communist aggression in both Vietnam and Korea.
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss the press strategy and distribution of materials regarding an upcoming televised speech on Vietnam. They decided against releasing the full text of the speech in advance to avoid critical early reporting, opting instead to provide journalists with a summary of key decisions to shape the media narrative. The discussion also touched on the role of Henry Kissinger, the influence of columnist James Reston, and the administration's policy toward dealing with anti-war demonstrators and campus unrest.
President Nixon met with Assistant Secretary of Transportation Herbert F. DeSimone and special counsel Charles W. Colson to express appreciation for DeSimone's service and conduct a brief photograph session. The discussion shifted toward political strategy, specifically leveraging DeSimone’s background to court ethnic voters and mobilize support for the Republican Party. Nixon encouraged DeSimone to campaign in states like New Jersey and New York to help secure electoral success and broaden the party's appeal among traditionally Democratic-leaning demographics.
President Nixon met with Alexander Butterfield and Henry Kissinger to manage his immediate schedule and finalize administrative tasks, including the signing of official documents. The participants coordinated logistics for upcoming appointments, such as a meeting with George Shultz and Herbert Stein, and discussed preparations for a congratulatory call to the Apollo XVI astronauts. This brief session served to organize the President’s agenda and facilitate communication with key staff and external officials.
President Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate the media strategy and final preparations for the President’s upcoming speech on the Vietnam War. They discussed the administration's decision to withhold advance copies of the speech from the press, opting instead to have Kissinger personally brief television networks to ensure control over the narrative regarding North Vietnamese aggression and South Vietnamese resilience. Additionally, the participants reviewed the status of Soviet diplomatic relations, including the status of strategic arms limitation talks and the logistics for the President's upcoming Moscow summit.
President Nixon delivered a televised "Address to the Nation on Vietnam" from the Oval Office to brief the public on the ongoing conflict and U.S. strategy. During the speech, he condemned the North Vietnamese invasion, announced the continued withdrawal of 20,000 American troops, and reaffirmed his commitment to the Vietnamization program while resuming Paris peace talks. Following the broadcast, the President engaged in casual conversation with the press and television crew, distributing gifts such as cufflinks and pens.