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Conversation 854-004

TapeTape 854StartTuesday, February 13, 1973 at 8:35 AMEndTuesday, February 13, 1973 at 8:37 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Denton, Jeremiah P. (Mrs.)Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with Mrs. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr. to offer his gratitude and support following the imminent return of her husband, a Vietnam prisoner of war. The President praised the resilience of POW families in helping secure an honorable end to the conflict and assured Mrs. Denton that returning servicemen would be reunited with their families as quickly as medical evaluations permitted. Nixon emphasized the importance of the men readjusting to civilian life after their long captivity.

Vietnam WarPrisoners of WarPOW familiesJeremiah Dentonrepatriationmilitary reintegration
AudioNARA Description

On February 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. Jeremiah P. Denton met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:35 am to 8:37 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 854-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 854-4

Date: February 13, 1973
Time: 8:35 am - 8:37 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Mrs. Jeremiah A. Denton, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 43-58]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I wanted you to know how very proud we all were when we saw your husband come home and what he said from that point.
And, uh, we're just, uh, yeah.
Well, I said the main thing is that, uh, that all of you, uh, that you, uh, wives and children, the fact that you, uh, you sort of kept the faith that, that made it possible for us to get an honorable end to this war, and that's, that's what, what all mattered.
They didn't, uh, they didn't suffer in vain.
Right?
Well, you just, uh, you, when they get back there now, you,
I remember one of the things I recall was that it was nice to be able to applaud that kid again.
And I think I was in the Pacific.
I mean, it wasn't much, but I remember there was that.
And just real potatoes again.
That was something.
Then the other guy.
So, well, you're going to be there.
Well, that's fine.
I know your children are all right and everything.
Right.
We wish you just the very best.
And you'll be, when do you see him?
About two or three days, you'll be back.
Maybe a week.
I think what they want to do, I think, is to give them a chance to, you know, get a hot bath and get all their physicals and all that sort of thing.
And then, you know, they'll get them home.
But I've issued instructions to keep them just only as long as is necessary.
But you know what?
When we send our men to the moon, we have to, we put them in, you know, try to wash off all that moon dust.
And I guess they want to get all that, get all that North Vietnam dust off of them before they go home.
After seven and a half years, my goodness.
Well, now you make up for it, okay?
That's your line.
Take a nice trip, okay?
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