Conversation 809-001

TapeTape 809StartSaturday, October 28, 1972 at 8:45 AMEndSaturday, October 28, 1972 at 9:00 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Woods, Rose Mary; [Unknown person(s)]Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon met with his personal secretary, Rose Mary Woods, and unidentified staff to finalize revisions for a radio address scheduled for October 29, 1972. The discussion focused on crafting a critique of his opponent's national defense proposals by contrasting the status of U.S. nuclear forces in 1962 against the state of affairs in 1969. Nixon emphasized the necessity of highlighting the Soviet Union's nuclear buildup during a period of American inaction, directing staff to incorporate these points into the final speech draft.

Radio broadcastNational defenseNuclear superioritySoviet UnionSpeechwriting1972 election

Audio

NARA Description

On October 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:45 am to 9:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 809-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 809-1

Date: October 28, 1972
Time: 8:45 am - 9:00 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Rose Mary Woods.

        Speech draft revisions for October 29, 1972 radio broadcast
            -National defense
                -Opponent’s proposals
                -1962 compared to 1969

An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 8:45 am.

        Instruction

The unknown person left at an unknown time before 9:00 am.

        Speech draft revisions for October 29, 1972 radio broadcast

An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 9:00 am.

        Speech draft revisions for October 29, 1972 radio broadcast
            -Status of U.S. nuclear forces
                 -January 1969
                 -Size of US superiority
                 -Soviet Union's nuclear buildup
                      -US inaction
                 -Compared to Soviet Union
            -Page notation
            -Instructions on draft changes

Woods left at 9:00 am.

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

It says here, we're going to be in pain.

Here, these are the specific proposals they have made.

These are the specific proposals.

I'll wear one.

All right.

Thank you.

Okay.

No, no, that ain't the test.

That's what we're on.

All right, from 1962 to 1969.

Before...

January 1969, when I came into office.

However, when I came into office in January 1969, I found that this movie of superiority no longer existed.

This massive movie of superiority

No longer, I was no longer, no longer just.

For seven years, for six years.

And.

Move forward.

Imagine a nuclear buildup.

Imagine a buildup over there, nuclear forces, while the United States is standing still.

As a result, today, the United States and Soviet Union are on the heels of nuclear capabilities.

Today, it's not.

Thank you.

Yeah.

Thank you.

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