Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 833 › Conversation 833-013

Nixon, Haig & Kissinger on Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Thursday, January 4, 1973 · 11:37 AM–11:48 AM ET · Oval Office · 12 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; Laird, Melvin R.; Rogers, William P.; Kissinger, Henry A.; Moorer, Thomas H. (Adm.); Froehlke, Robert F.; Abrams, Creighton W., Jr. (Gen.); Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.); Golden, William L. (Lt. Col.); Haig, Alexander M., Sr. (Mrs.); Haig, Patricia; Fox, Alonzo; Haig, Alexander M., Sr.; Haig, Brian; Haig, Barbara; Haig, Frank; Meredith, Edward B.; Meredith, Edward B. (Mrs.); Meredith, George (Mrs.); Woods, Rose Mary; Bull, Stephen B.; Atkins, Oliver F. ("Ollie")Conversation833-013 on Tape 833StartThursday, January 4, 1973 at 11:37 AMEndThursday, January 4, 1973 at 11:48 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 833-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon hosted a ceremony in the Oval Office to honor General Alexander M. Haig, Jr. with the Defense Distinguished Service Medal. The event, attended by Haig’s family and high-ranking administration officials, served as a formal recognition of Haig’s significant contributions to national security and his diplomatic efforts, including his work supporting Henry Kissinger. The gathering concluded with photo opportunities and brief discussions regarding Haig's transition out of his White House role.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 6% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Joe, you stay over here.
You can stand on the other side of the secretary there and see if you can read the citation.
This woman's been dead?
The other side, please.
Oh, is that me?
Not that.
That's...
I don't know if it's on the video.
I don't know if it's on the video.
I don't know if it's on the video.
I don't know if it's on the video.
I don't know if it's on the video.
I don't know if it's on the video.
All right.
Well, it's a great opportunity.
All right.
All right.
All it takes, too, is to make a good drink.
from January 1969 to December 1972.
General Haig occupies a particularly vital position in political and military fighting, and decisions-making at the presidential level can make exceptional contributions to national security policy.
General Haig's significant diplomatic mission, his rare talents in selfless devotion to duty, clearly constitute an extraordinary distinguished servant.
is in the highest possible position of military service to the United States of America.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Four years, and I'll take his word for it, he's a pilot.
He's a four-star pilot.
He's a service star for each year.
He's in great condition of the soldier's base in the United States.
We can be proud of our military leaders throughout our history in the United States.
Of course, this is a piece of general David's decision to take it to the end.
He's driven it.
He had his comment written.
But they've also been outstanding at working because of building a world in which we can have true and lasting peace.
General David's worked in that cause for 40 years.
He's made 10 trips abroad on diplomatic means, on military missions.
including the advance step for our journey to .
And I would say that if no one serves today who surpasses General Day, having the qualities of first a superb military commander, field commander or commander of higher up, and also the qualities of being a safe
We've got a little door up here.
I've got a mess of them all.
We'll start over here.
This is number one.
I've got divine eyes.
Congratulations.
You've already spent the money.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
I didn't see the last board.
Thank you very much.
That's where you got your brain.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Okay.
Get them all out.
Get them all out.
All right.
I know those long hours that Al was not in his office.
Because with Al, I know, I know so often, in terms of problems, day and night, you know, with Henry running around the world, somebody had to run me down.
And so, in a certain sense, it had to be a loyal, devoted wife.
And it touched her very moment.
So I have something for this image.
Take a shot at us with the group here, too.
You've got General Abrams.
Can you put the military people on this side?
And you come over here.
Fire one so he can have one for each of them.
Put us on the smile of this handsome fellow.
Thank you, Mr. President.
President, you're making me feel like I was very attractive.
Well, anyway, the one thing about leaving the White House is that you know that
When we took the Mrs. Hayden to El Nel River in Sequoia, in fact, the last time I was on it, December, and they found those quarters over at Fort Myers.
We get this, we get a little help with it too.
I said, no wonder you're leading the White House.
We need a car.
We'll get a car, sir.
Is there a secretary here?
Yes, sir.
Mail, of course.
Mail.
Thank you very much.
We'll see you around.
Have a good time.
Bye.
Thank you.
Let's move out of the way.
Bye.
We'll see you.
Enjoy your house.

NARA Description

On January 4, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Melvin R. Laird, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Robert F. Froehlke, Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, Lt. Col. William L. Golden, Mrs. Alexander M. Haig, Sr., Patricia Haig, Alonzo Fox, Alexander M. Haig, Sr., Brian Haig, Barbara Haig, Frank Haig, Edward B. Meredith, Mrs. Edward B. Meredith, Mrs. George Meredith, Rose Mary Woods, Stephen B. Bull, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 11:48 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 833-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 833-13

Date: January 4, 1973
Time: Unknown between 11:37am and 11:48 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with the following persons at 11:37 a.m.: Alexander M. Haig, Jr., Melvin R.
Laird, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, Robert F. Froehlke,
Gen. Creighton W. Abrams, Jr., Brig. Gen. Brent G.Scowcroft, Col. William L. Golden, Mrs.
Alexander M. Haig, Sr., Patricia Haig, Lt. Gen. Alonzo Fox, Ret., Alexander M. Haig, III, Cadet
Brian Haig, Barbara Haig, Father Frank Haig, Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. Meredith, Mrs. Geroge
Meredith, Rose Mary Woods, Stephen B. Bull, members of the press and the White House
photographr were present at the beginning of the meeting.

       [General conversation]

       Photographs
            -Positions
                  -Moorer
                  -Rogers
                  -Laird
                        -Citation reading
                  -Haig family

       Defense Distinguished Medal
            -Haig
            -Reading of citation
            -Congratulations

       [Camera noise]

       Haig’s achievements
            -White House work
            -Four stars
            -Soldier statesman tradition
            -Trips abroad
                  -Peoples Republic of China [PRC]
            -Qualities
                  -Military command
                  -Statesmanship
                                            -34-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                         Conversation No. 833-21 (cont’d)

       [Applause]

       [General conversation]

       Introductions
             -Haig Family

       Photographs

       Haig’s responsibilities
            -Kissinger’s travel

       Patricia Haig
             -Presidential gift

       Photographs
            -Placement of guests
                  -Abrams

       Haig’s departure
            -Trip on the Sequoia
            -Quarters
                  -Fort Myer
            -Car
            -House

Haig et al. left at 11:48 am.

Also recorded on January 4, 1973

  • 833-012 11:33 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:33 am and 11:37 am.
  • 833-014 11:48 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:48 am and 11:51 am.
  • 833-015 11:51 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 11:55 am.
  • 833-016 11:51 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 11:55 am.
  • 833-017 11:55 AM · 46 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Elliot L. Richardson, Henry A. Kissinger, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:55 am to 12:42 pm.
  • 833-018 12:42 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:42 pm and 12:45 pm.
  • 833-019 12:42 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:42 pm and 12:45 pm.
  • 833-020 12:45 PM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Gerard C. Smith, Stephen B. Bull, and Oliver F. ("Ollie") Atkins met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:45 pm to 1:01 pm.

All 47 conversations from January 4, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 833-013, January 4, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/833-013 (accessed October 13, 2026).