Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 812 › Conversation 812-004
Nixon, Keldysh & Dobrynin on US-Soviet relations and Scientific cooperation
Friday, November 3, 1972 · 10:19 AM–10:37 AM ET · Oval Office · 18 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin and Soviet scientist Mstislav Keldysh to discuss the expansion of U.S.-Soviet cooperation in non-military sectors, including science, health, space, and trade. The participants emphasized that fostering these positive collaborative ties was essential for building a lasting peace beyond mere arms control agreements like SALT I. Nixon also highlighted his intent to further develop these relationships and pursue productive diplomatic engagements, including a potential visit to the Soviet Union, during his anticipated second term.
- US-Soviet relations
- Scientific cooperation
- Diplomacy
- Arms control
- SALT II
- Trade agreements
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
NARA Description
On November 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Mistislav V. Keldysh, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, Dr. Edward E. David, Jr., Henry A. Kissinger, Philip Handler, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:19 am to 10:37 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 812-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 812-4
Date: November 3, 1972
Time: 10:19 am - 10:37 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Mistislav V. Keldysh, Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, Edward E. David, Jr. Henry
A. Kissinger, and Philip Handler. The press and photographers were present at the beginning of
the meeting.
Greetings
-Introductions
Photograph session
-Seating
-Arrangements
-Dobrynin’s visit to the Oval Office
-Frequency
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 812-13 (cont’d)
[Photograph session]
-[General conversation]
US-Soviet Union relations
-Space, science agreements
-Health agreement
-The President’s Radio Address on Foreign Policy, November 4, 1972
-Radio Address on Foreign Policy
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT]
-European Security Conference
-The President’s speeches
-Reading
-Dobrynin
-Arms control
-Importance
-Nonmilitary areas
-Science, space, health, trade
-Importance
-Diplomacy, arms control
-Peace
-Absence of war
-Expansion of cooperation
-Nonmilitary areas
-Publicity
-Importance
-The President’s relationship with Dobrynin, Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Trade
-Brezhnev
-Talks with the President
-Science, space, health
-Scientific cooperation
-Population, facilities
-Global problems
-Environment
-Health
-Agreements
-May 1972
-Enthusiasm for US scientists
-Elements
-Recent discovery
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 812-13 (cont’d)
-Nobelium
-Importance
-Reference by the President
Chemistry
-Kissinger’s study at Harvard University
-George Kistiakowsky
US-Soviet Union relations
-Cooperation
-Moscow summit
-Kelydysh’s forthcoming message to Brezhnev
The President’s schedule
-November 3, 1972
-Keldysh’s schedule
-Chicago
-Oklahoma
-Rhode Island
-Washington, DC
-November 4, 1972
-North Carolina
-New Mexico
-California
-North Carolina
-Greensboro, Tri-city area
-The President’s meeting with Keldysh
-Kissinger’s call
US-Soviet Union relations
-Receptions of visitors
-Dobrynin’s visits
-Frequency
-San Clemente
-Keldysh’s visit
-Reception
-Number on tour
-New York
-Kissinger’s schedule
-Reception
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 812-13 (cont’d)
-Timing
-1972 election
-Second term
-The President’s recent speech, “Look to the Future”
-Phrase
-Confidence
-Peace
-Second term
-The President’s possible to trip to Soviet Union
-Brezhnev’s possible visit to US
-Scientific cooperation
-[SALT I]
-Importance
-Difficulty
-SALT II
-Meetings with Kissinger and Dobrynin
-Brezhnev, the President
-Importance
-SALT I
-Complexity
-Compared to SALT II
Presidential gifts
-Mementos
-Cuff links
-Presidential seal
-Flag
-Pins
[General conversation]
Dobrynin’s forthcoming contact with Kissinger
-Kissinger’s conversations with the President
-Subjects
-Presidential approval
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Dobrynin [?]
-Timing
-1972 election
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 812-13 (cont’d)
Keldysh, et al. left at 10:37 am.Also recorded on November 3, 1972
- 032-169 10:01 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Jack R. Miller talked on the telephone from 10:01 am to 10:04 am.
- 032-170 10:08 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William L. Scott talked on the telephone from 10:08 am to 10:10 am.
- 812-001 10:15 AM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:15 am to 10:16 am.
- 812-002 10:16 AM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
- 812-003 10:16 AM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:16 am and 10:19 am.
- 812-005 10:37 AM · 27 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am.
- 812-006 10:37 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am.
- 812-007 10:37 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Russell E. Train, Beatrice ("Bettie") Willard, John C. Whitaker, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:41 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 812-004, November 3, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/812-004 (accessed October 12, 2026).