In this recording, President Nixon reflects on his recent birthday and discusses press relations, the personal impact of media coverage on his family, and his daily work-life balance. He also evaluates the status of Vietnam peace negotiations, expressing skepticism regarding the North Vietnamese and emphasizing the necessity of securing a ceasefire that addresses concerns over POWs and MIAs. The discussion includes considerations of military options and the political challenges of managing congressional relations during this sensitive period of administration reorganization.
On January 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:28 am and 8:56 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 836-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 836-4
Date: January 9, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:28 am and 8:56 am
Location: Oval Office
The President dictated a memorandum.
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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
The President’s birthday
-Birthday greetings
-Washington Times, Washington Post
-Picture
-John McCrary [?]
-Wire service
-Press relations
-Press conferences
-Ronald L. Ziegler
Birthday wishes
-White House staff
Press relations
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Press coverage
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Monseigneur
-Translation
-California
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Press coverage
-News summaries
-1972 election
-3-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 836-4 (cont’d)
-President’s isolation
-White House staff
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-John A. Volpe [?]
-The President’s personality
-Press coverage
Camp David
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Mrs. Nixon
-Secret Service
-Swimming pool
-Moscow trip
-Preston Bush
-Delivery
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Evening habits
-Sleep
Vietnam settlement
-Press coverage
-Protocol
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Arrival
-Pessimism
-Vietnamese
-Rationality
-Option two
-Melvin R. Laird
-Prisoners of War [POWs]
-Missing in action [MIAs]
-Cease-fire
-Laird
-Congress
-North Vietnamese
-POWs
-Aid cut off to South Vietnam
Second-term reorganization
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Mar.-09)
Conversation No. 836-4 (cont’d)
-Herbert G. Klein
-Article in Washington Post
-The President’s personal feelings
-Paris negotiations
-Comparison
[End of segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************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.