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Conversation 725-013

TapeTape 725StartTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 9:48 AMEndTuesday, May 16, 1972 at 9:50 AMTape start time01:52:06Tape end time01:57:39ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed the positive reception among military cadets at West Point to the President's recent speech announcing a naval blockade in Vietnam. Haig reported that the cadets were enthusiastic and buoyed by the administration's decisive stance against the conflict. The two also coordinated administrative details regarding upcoming announcements and meeting logistics for later that day.

Vietnam WarMilitary moraleWest PointNaval blockadePublic opinion
AudioNARA Description

On May 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 9:50 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 725-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 725-13

Date: May 16, 1972
Time: 9:48 am - 9:50 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Gen. Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

       Vietnam
           -President's previous speech on the blockade
                 -West Point
                       -Haig's son's [Brian Haig’s] report
                            -President's retelling to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                 -[Dwight] David Eisenhower II's report
                       -USS Albany
                 -West Point
                       -Response
                            -Duration
                            -Reasons

       President's schedule
           -Forthcoming meeting with Henry A. Kissinger

Haig left.

                                         (rev. Jan-02)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I mean, you need the guys for assistance.
First, this is the most enthusiastic gung-ho that they ever saw.
Everybody was ready to say, thank God we're doing something.
These guys, these bearded wolves, bearded wolves, now they're scared in the name of these things.
It was terrific.
These were the best that I've listened to in a long time.
That's right.
Well, let's say that.
As you were speaking, they all knew from the beginning of the speech the way it was going to come out that they knew you were going to take strong action.
And he just sat there, and the minute he was asked, he said, the barracks just exploded all over the whole campus.
In fact, they exploded the cheering, yes.
And the cheering went on until 3 o'clock in the morning.
The kids, nobody went to bed.
They all just had total rejoicing.
That's great.
Yes, sir.
Because they liked the actions of the strongmen.
They liked the speech, and they liked the decisive action.
You know, these kids, that's been a hell of a problem for them over the years, to keep their morale up.
They knew what the...
I wonder whether the United States is still going to face up to its problem or whether they're going to crawl.
That's right.
So, it was a very... Oh, hell, he was just elated.
That's where we're doing the whole thing.
Good.
All right.
I'm going to get this back up in a minute.
Yes, sir.
Could I ask you this?
There's one thought.
You give Bill Rogers a call to tip him off and say that the president will announce him at the conclusion.
That would be very thoughtful.
If he, Bill, would make the first statement and send him off to the secretary, would you be sorry to see him go?
He's probably a job to be done.
Just tell him, tell him that you're not passing this to anybody else because we don't know how the others handled it.
The rest of us like him to take the lead and then if others want to say something, fine.
The meeting will be recorded.
The other thing is with regard to this thing, when would you think that I could go to a creation meeting?
It can't be right at lunch hour.
But we've got to go when the crowds are out here.
Right after the announcement.
But after they get out, walk over with the three of them.
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