Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 854 › Conversation 854-018

Nixon & Ziegler on Prisoners of War and Flag Proclamation

Tuesday, February 13, 1973 · 10:53 AM–10:57 AM ET · Oval Office · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation854-018 on Tape 854StartTuesday, February 13, 1973 at 10:53 AMEndTuesday, February 13, 1973 at 10:57 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 854-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler coordinated a public relations strategy surrounding the return of American prisoners of war (POWs). They discussed issuing a presidential proclamation to raise flags to full staff upon the arrival of the POWs on U.S. soil, a gesture intended to serve as a positive national event. Additionally, they consulted with Lady Bird Johnson regarding the announcement and reviewed talking points prepared by staff, including David Gergen, while noting concerns about potential controversies regarding the conduct of some POWs during their imprisonment.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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I talked to Dick Moore, and Dick thought it was a good idea.

He talked to Gergen, and he thought it was a great idea.

He talked to Holm, and he thinks it's a good idea.

And so Gergen has been putting some material together.

Both the statement and some talking points, if you would like to do this before camera.

I was talking to Al this morning.

Well, one thing.

I was talking to Hayden this morning on a different subject, and I just bounced this off of him.

I think he would trust me.

He said, sounds fine to me.

He said, but keep in mind, Ron, that they're bound to me.

After they're all back, he said, they're bound to me, and they have very good reason to believe this.

I'm sure you're briefed on this.

Well, that's what's going on.

He said that there are bound to be some situations that are not healthy, in other words, the conduct of some of the guys who are coming back while they were in the camps.

He said that anything that we do— While they were in the camps, yes, sir.

And he said anything that we do, although this is a time of relation and a time where America is happy, that we should have in mind this fact.

Now, he's—

He said, obviously, the gesture of raising the flag does not fall into that category.

I'm not too concerned about that.

I'm not bad at it.

Well, I'm taking this in a hurry now.

Let me sit.

Yes, I know.

I want to sit.

Yeah, sure.

Sure.

I just want to give you a report.

You all right?

No.

I just want you to get it.

I don't need to talk to you.

We'll just do it.

I need to sit down.

Would this issue a statement?

statement, but let's check it.

As soon as I get to get the statement to me to check, that you can call Ms. Johnson.

Call Ms. Johnson.

As soon as I get her suggestions, she might want to add something to the statement.

Okay.

But I've heard it doesn't happen yet.

No, he had some talking points.

I'm going to have him transferred.

He's right beside me now, too.

Appreciate it.

All right.

Bye.

And then I would issue my briefing.

Okay, sir.

I mean, it would take us some time here, wouldn't you disagree?

No running.

What Gergen came up with a good idea is that the proclamation, which we would issue later, would have the flags moved to full staff at dawn on Thursday, sunrise on Thursday, which is the day that the first group of prisoners would be landing on U.S. soil.

So that's a very good way to point out that the anniversary would be landing on U.S. soil.

Oh, yeah, there's something.

Don't move.

This door is overriding.

That's going to be annoying for a long time.

Maybe, maybe not.

Well, yeah.

Four fellows down there.

Well, you're right.

Picture the Schultz.

That's fine.

Anytime you want.

You determine when you want a picture.

We'll do it at the start of the meeting.

All right.

1105.

Yes, sir.

NARA Description

On February 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:53 am to 10:57 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 854-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 854-18

Date: February 13, 1973
Time: 10:53 am - 10:57 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

       Press relations
               -Ziegler’s conversation regarding flying flag
                                            -19-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                            Conversation No. 854-18 (cont’d)

                     -Richard A. Moore
                     -David R. Gergen
                     -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                     -Gergen
                             -Statement and talking points for President
              -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                     -Prisoners of war [POWs]
                             -Conduct during imprisonment
                     -View of flying flag
              -George P. Shultz
                     -Statement about flying flag
                             -Telephone call to Claudia A. (“Lady Bird”) Johnson
                                    -Suggestions
                                           -Lyndon B. Johnson
                             -Gergen
              -Proclamation
                     -Flying flags
                             -Return of POWs to US soil
                     -Watergate
                             -Diversion
                             -Testimony
              -Shultz’s meeting with President
                     -Photograph
                             -Arrangements

Ziegler left at 10:57 am.

Also recorded on February 13, 1973

854-015 9:41 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:41 am and 9:48 am.
854-017 9:48 AM · 48 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Manolo Sanchez, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:48 am to 10:52 am.
854-019 10:59 AM · 44 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Stephen B. Bull, George P. Shultz, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:59 am to 11:42 am.
043-063 11:13 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:13 am and 12:55 pm.
043-064 11:13 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:13 am and 12:55 pm.
854-020 11:42 AM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:42 am to 11:43 am.
854-021 11:43 AM · 34 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John A. Scali, and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:43 am to 12:25 pm.
043-065 11:47 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:47 am and 12:55 pm.

All 55 conversations from February 13, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 854-018, February 13, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/854-018 (accessed October 1, 2026).