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Conversation 854-003

TapeTape 854StartTuesday, February 13, 1973 at 8:27 AMEndTuesday, February 13, 1973 at 8:33 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Risner, RobinsonRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned Mrs. Robinson Risner to express his profound gratitude and pride regarding the return of her husband, Colonel Robinson Risner, a recently released prisoner of war. Nixon praised the Colonel's heroism and acknowledged the critical role that the families of POWs played in maintaining national resolve during the conflict. The President urged the family to prioritize the Colonel’s rest and recovery before any formal recognition ceremonies, even offering lighthearted advice on his post-captivity diet.

POW repatriationVietnam WarRobinson RisnerPresidential outreachMilitary families
AudioNARA Description

On February 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Col. Robinson Risner met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:27 am and 8:33 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 854-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 854-3

Date: February 13, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:27 am and 8:33 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Mrs. Robinson Risner.

[See Conversation No. 43-57]
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. August-10)
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello?
Hello?
Mr. Reisner?
I wanted to know that, uh, how very proud I was of your husband and all of the others as they came off that plane, and how much I appreciated the call he made to me from Clark Field.
I know that you and his family and all of your children know that, uh,
What a real hero he is.
I mean, I haven't parted with this order, I'm sure, but I was never proud of being American.
He called it.
My son will spend some of that money.
That's what he said when he called me.
for a man who's an ace in Korea and all the rest to say that was a very, it made me feel very humble, but we do want you to know, as I told him, of course, that they had to be very careful what they said, but I said that without the genuine faith and support of the wives and mothers and children of our POWs in this connection,
we could never have achieved the peace and honor that we have.
So you're also a heroine, and your children too.
Uh, yeah, I hope when you get back now, you'll be sure, uh, I, I, you know, I, I said, I don't bother these men.
Let them get home, get, get, you know, get, get rid of their families again.
And after that, why, uh, we'll, uh, we'll have a chance to pay our respects.
But, uh, you just get him home and, uh, get him a good rest.
What does he like to eat?
Is he a, is he a chocolate cake, an ice cream?
He could use a little.
He looks a little thin.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's right.
Well, you, well, you, uh, you just pour that into a truck of cake and I can give him all the amount, too.
All right.
All right.
Good luck to you and to all your children.
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