Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 721 › Conversation 721-007

Nixon & Kissinger on National Security Council and Ronald Ziegler

Monday, May 8, 1972 · 9:07 AM–9:08 AM ET · Oval Office · 28 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation721-007 on Tape 721 (tape position 00:29:46–00:34:38)StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 9:07 AMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 9:08 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 721-007 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met briefly to address administrative arrangements for an upcoming National Security Council meeting. The conversation touched upon the participation of Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler and concerns regarding potential leaks. No final decisions were reached during this exchange, which primarily served to coordinate internal attendance and security protocols.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Ben, did you go and see Glenn on the meeting?

Because he didn't go and see Glenn?

Yeah, I told him he could listen, so he...

I'm really sorry.

But... Yeah, now that he's in there, I believe him.

I've dropped him off at his, but he doesn't know he can't leave.

But he doesn't say... Oh, he won't leave.

Don't worry about that.

No decisions on the meeting, though.

NARA Description

On May 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:07 am to 9:08 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 721-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 721-7

Date: May 8, 1972
Time: 9:07 am - 9:08 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     National Security Council [NSC] meeting
          -Ronald L. Ziegler's presence
                -Leaks
          -Decisions

Kissinger left at 9:08 am.

Also recorded on May 8, 1972

721-001 8:36 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 8:38 am.
024-001 8:38 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 8:38 am to 8:43 am.
721-002 8:38 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:38 am to 8:43 am.
721-003 8:43 AM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:43 am and 8:54 am.
721-004 8:54 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:54 am to 8:56 am.
721-005 8:56 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:56 am and 8:59 am.
721-006 8:59 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:59 am to 9:06 am.
024-169 10:45 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:45 am and 10:47 am.

All 94 conversations from May 8, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 721-007, May 8, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/721-007 (accessed October 9, 2026).