Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 799 › Conversation 799-014

Nixon & Haldeman on Vietnam War and POWs and MIAs

Monday, October 16, 1972 · 10:27 AM–10:28 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation799-014 on Tape 799StartMonday, October 16, 1972 at 10:27 AMEndMonday, October 16, 1972 at 10:28 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 799-014 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to finalize the language for a forthcoming public statement regarding ongoing negotiations over the Vietnam War. They specifically discussed framing the administration's position to avoid creating false expectations while reaffirming commitment to critical conditions, including the release of POWs/MIAs and the protection of U.S. honor. Nixon confirmed his intention to state that the U.S. would not impose a specific government on South Vietnam, seeking to balance diplomatic caution with the preservation of allied interests.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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I just wanted to check one line and see if you don't mind.

Can I say we shall not impose requirements of Vietnam against their will?

Certainly.

That doesn't bother you?

No.

Okay.

Right.

Let me get this clear and exact.

I'm going to say that since we last met, there's been a negotiation, a series of negotiations have been underway.

I do not want to raise false hopes that any comment might jeopardize the chance of success.

That's all I'm going to say in the negotiation.

Good, fair enough.

Good.

But we have conditions.

We have three, four conditions for settlement.

We will not betray our allies.

We will insist on that.

We have our, in turn, our view that is becoming our MIA.

We will not oppose the communist government of the people of South Vietnam.

We will not stand in the honor of the United States.

Fair enough.

Thanks.

NARA Description

On October 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:27 am to 10:28 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 799-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 799-14

Date: October 16, 1972
Time: 10:27 am - 10:28 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

         National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
             -The President’s forthcoming statement
                  -Negotiations
                      -Imposition of Communist government in South Vietnam
                      -Tone
                      -Settlement conditions
                           -Prisoners of war [POWs], missing in action [MIAs]
                           -Communism in South Vietnam
                           -US honor

Kissinger left at 10:28 a.m.

Also recorded on October 16, 1972

031-049 9:33 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:33 am and 10:12 am.
799-010 10:13 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:13 am to 10:19 am.
799-011 10:22 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:22 am to 10:23 am.
799-012 10:24 AM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:24 am to 10:25 am.
799-013 10:25 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:25 am and 10:27 am.
799-015 10:28 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:28 am and 10:47 am.
031-052 10:47 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Barry M. Goldwater talked on the telephone from 10:47 am to 10:48 am.
799-016 10:47 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Barry M. Goldwater, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:47 am to 10:48 am.

All 97 conversations from October 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 799-014, October 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/799-014 (accessed October 1, 2026).