← 720-014720-016 →

Conversation 720-015

TapeTape 720StartFriday, May 5, 1972 at 12:34 PMEndFriday, May 5, 1972 at 12:41 PMTape start time02:20:23Tape end time02:27:31ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Woods, Rose Mary;  Sanchez, ManoloRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods and Manolo Sanchez to coordinate his upcoming weekend schedule at Camp David and discuss Tricia Nixon Cox’s recent television appearance. The President focused on the logistical preparations for his highly sensitive, impending announcement regarding a naval blockade of Haiphong, Vietnam. He emphasized the necessity of the blockade despite the risk of canceling the upcoming Soviet Summit and maintained strict secrecy regarding the plan.

Vietnam WarHaiphong blockadePresidential schedulingCamp DavidTricia Nixon CoxSoviet Summit
AudioNARA Description

On May 5, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:34 pm to 12:41 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 720-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 720-15

Date: May 5, 1972
Time: 12:34 pm - 12:41 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

     Tricia Nixon Cox
           -Television appearance
                -Follow-up call
                      -Tricia Nixon Cox's schedule

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 12:34 pm.

                                        (rev. Jan-02)
     President's schedule
          -Executive Office Building [EOB]

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 12:41 pm.

     President's viewing of interview videotape

     President's schedule
          -Camp David
                 -Time
                 -Woods's schedule
                      -Speech draft

     Julie Nixon Eisenhower
           -Schedule
                -Trip to Camp David
                -Time with the President

     President's schedule
          -Blockade of Haiphong
                 -Forthcoming announcement
                      -Timing
                      -William P. Rogers and Melvin R. Laird
                            -The President’s view
                      -Number of people

     Vietnam
          -Blockade
               -Necessity
               -Soviet Summit
                    -Cancellation

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 17s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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

                                         (rev. Jan-02)

     Tricia Nixon Cox’s television appearance
           -Call from Woods
           -Call from Carol (Crothers) Finch
           -Barbara Walters
                 -Possible letter
                      -Anonymity
           -Appearance

     Camp David trip
         -Woods's preparation
         -Time of departure

Woods left at 12:41 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.

Parcel.
Parcel.
That doesn't happen.
We're flying.
You know, she's not thinking across a lot of the screen.
Probably.
Probably.
Well, she changed it quite late.
Did you move it across the screen?
Yeah, I moved it across the screen.
That's right.
And you really should see it.
It doesn't take long.
I think it, I think you would, you know, it isn't that long a take.
I will want to see it.
I'll try to see it when I get through it.
I think you want to probably go up.
You might as well.
I don't want to decide to go, but I decide to go.
Oh, I know that.
I know that.
Is Julie back?
I want her to do whatever she wants.
She's so good that she may feel that she ought to go because I need to work.
I can't.
I really won't be able to see her much.
I mean, this is going to be a rough weekend.
Well, rough, not rough in the sense that I'm just going to be working very hard on something.
Chair, I'll talk to her when she gets back.
Let me tell you what it's
I'm going to announce Monday a blockade of my phone.
So this is a big deal.
And I'm going to close it.
And I'm going to drop you back in town.
God, you know what I'm saying.
Anyway, we'll work it out.
That's what we're going to be working on over the weekend.
But it's only known about three people.
Yeah, I think you really have to do something.
But I apologize.
Yeah, I'm right.
I don't know.
We'll see.
But of course, we're going to do what is necessary.
You couldn't have much of a summer there?
Well, I'll put in a talk to her either after 3 or here.
Talk to her.
Because the girl's one of those parents called me and said she had done everything and that it was just a lot of work.
Good.
And it wasn't.
She was great.
Barbara Walters was terrible.
You just aren't smart enough to be a lawyer.
She made me look like an amateur.
And so I sent a copy to her.
Well, there's no reason for that to be like that.
If they're going to have these programs, they should be because people who are deaf, deaf-sensitive cells don't make them ask all terribly tough questions.
← 720-014720-016 →