Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 837 › Conversation 837-005
Nixon White House recording on foreign policy and strategy
Wednesday, January 10, 1973 · 2:24 PM–5:59 PM ET · Oval Office · 22 sec
AI Summary
An unidentified speaker expresses a definitive belief that departure is not possible, highlighting a sense of entrapment or strategic stalemate. The brevity of the statement suggests a tense discussion regarding an ongoing policy or military commitment. No specific action items or further context are provided beyond this assessment of a restricted exit strategy.
- foreign policy
- strategy
- decision-making
- military engagement
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On January 10, 1973, unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:24 pm and 5:59 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 837-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 837-5
Date: January 10, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:24 pm and 5:59 pm
Location: Oval Office
Unknown Secret Service agents met.
President's destination
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
Unknown agents left at an unknown time before 5:59 pm.Also recorded on January 10, 1973
- 837-004 1:20 PM · 1 hr 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:20 pm and 2:24 pm.
- 035-121 2:26 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 3:34 pm.
- 395-002 2:26 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 3:34 pm.
- 395-003 2:26 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 3:34 pm.
- 395-004 2:26 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 3:34 pm.
- 395-005 2:26 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:26 pm and 3:34 pm.
- 035-122 3:34 PM · 56 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy talked on the telephone from 3:34 pm to 3:35 pm.
- 395-006 3:34 PM · 55 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Richard T. Kennedy met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:34 pm to 3:35 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 837-005, January 10, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/837-005 (accessed October 11, 2026).