Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 853 › Conversation 853-008

Nixon alone in the Oval Office on Vietnam War and Henry Kissinger

Thursday, February 8, 1973 · 9:54 AM–10:31 AM ET · Oval Office · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation853-008 on Tape 853StartThursday, February 8, 1973 at 9:54 AMEndThursday, February 8, 1973 at 10:31 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 853-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates his reflections on the Vietnam settlement, emphasizing the need for caution in dealings with Congress and the press. He discusses the emotional impact of meeting with families of missing soldiers, such as the Nolde family, while warning against allowing personal grievances or political agendas to undermine loyalty. Additionally, Nixon evaluates Henry Kissinger's 'Peace is at Hand' statement, characterizing the resulting media interpretation as a misunderstanding of Kissinger's original intentions.

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 13% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I could tell, and I tried to, and I fell in love with a little 18-year-old, 16-year-old girl who had some, she was missing.
And the first night, she said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said, I said,
A person can spark or can show calm or strength, particularly because motion is so often misplaced.
And also, it's an indication of weakness under pressure.
On the other hand, perhaps the smallest thing together
I hope that their attitude will not be poisoned by the search for money in the U.S. State Congress.
I urge them to go on the U.S. and press.
You should have personal friends, and that is something a personal friend would not do.
Above any personal friendship or a gathering is basic loyalty.
And to this profession, that is to get the story, that is the cost.
Of course, I could mention two or three people.
You could apply the rule of talking frankly with them, but they are so huge.
I'm not beginning that much there.
That would mean that they should bear outside caution and probably be freedom.
On the other hand, YouTube and other people have to be timid, because they are very beholden to it.
And of course, the press would sense that it is a very, very delicate balance, whether it's money, dissension, or a public person.
um and i will say that on the other hand
that he did not intend.
He just dropped the phrase in, but they took it out.
And, frankly, as far as the pieces of the press created, it's one of the problems in getting the piece, which really wasn't him.
And perhaps we'll lay this out in a few months.
He had his name.
It's probably us as well.
We had to go.
He had a name, December, in our email.
It's a better sign to demonstrate to our allies and to our potential armies that we cannot be tribal, that we cannot be a filibuster in our effort to negotiate on a moderate or reasonable terms.
That is the end of this meeting.

NARA Description

On February 8, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:54 am and 10:31 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 853-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 853-8

Date: February 8, 1973
Time: Unknown between 9:54 am and 10:31 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated.

******************************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       Vietnam settlement
             -Cabinet breakfast
             -Nolde family
             -Story
             -Dwight D. Eisenhower
             -Nolde visit with President
                     -Emotional state
             -Attitude
             -Congress
             -Press relations
                     -Obligations
                     -Need for caution
                     -Questions
             -Amnesty
                     -President’s position
                             -Liberal attitude
             -Henry A. Kissinger’s “Peace is at Hand” statement
                     -Kissinger’s intention
                     -Press interpretation
                     -Allies
                     -Negotiation

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
******************************************************************************

The President finished dictating at an unknown time before 10:31 am.
                                                -6-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on February 8, 1973

  • 853-001 9:51 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:51 am and 9:52 am.
  • 853-002 9:51 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:51 am to 9:52 am.
  • 853-003 9:52 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Lyndon K. Allin met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:52 am to 9:54 am.
  • 853-004 9:54 AM · 45 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:54 am and 10:31 am.
  • 853-005 9:54 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:54 am and 10:31 am.
  • 853-006 9:54 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:54 am and 10:31 am.
  • 853-007 9:54 AM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:54 am and 10:31 am.
  • 853-009 9:54 AM · 53 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:54 am and 10:31 am.

All 38 conversations from February 8, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 853-008, February 8, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/853-008 (accessed October 12, 2026).