President Nixon and Donald Rumsfeld met to discuss U.S. foreign policy challenges, particularly the strain on NATO and European allies' criticism of American actions in Vietnam and recent diplomatic overtures to the Soviet Union and China. The President expressed frustration with the lack of European self-sufficiency and the necessity of convincing allies that the U.S. is indispensable to their security. Following this, the conversation shifted to domestic politics, with Nixon offering his support for Rumsfeld’s potential Senate candidacy and criticizing the perceived weakness and lack of leadership in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
On February 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Manolo Sanchez, and Nicholas Rumsfeld met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:11 pm to 1:41 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 854-035 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 854-35
Date: February 13, 1973
Time: 1:11 pm - 1:41 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Donald H. Rumsfeld; this recording began at an unknown time while the
conversation was in progress.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Rumsfeld’s assignment
-Joseph M. Luns
-European national interests
-Prime ministers
-Public opinion
-Great Britain
-Edward R. G. Heath
-December 1972 bombing
-Support
-European allies
-Criticism of US Vietnam policy
-Problems
-US response to criticism
-Threat to NATO
-US interests
-Continued criticism
-US commitment of troops, money
-Effect on US
-Speeches
-Mutual reduction of forces
-European Security Conference
-Great Britain
-Soviet Union
-Weaken NATO
-Self-sufficiency
-US commitment to alliance
-US isolationism
-Vietnam
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 854-35 (cont’d)
-Dangers
-President’s opposition
-December 1972 bombing
-Spending on ghettos
-Defense budget
-Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster
-Staff
-Opposition
-European politicians
-Prime ministers
-Public opinion
-Georges J. R. Pompidou
-Willy Brandt
-Italy
-Prime minister
-Other countries
-Criticism of US
-President’s trips to Soviet Union and People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Bombing
-Vietnam settlement
-Trade
-Shultz’s policy
-Aid
-Dealings with European allies
-Viability of Europe and US without alliance
-Balance of power
-Fortress America
-Dangers
-Europe, Japan, Far East
-Necessity of US alliance
-President’s support of internationalism
-Aid for Greece, Turkey
-Marshall Plan
-Herter committee
-Eisenhower administration
-Mansfield Amendment
-Campaigns
-49-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 854-35 (cont’d)
-Vietnam
-Soviet Union, PRC
-Respect
Internationalism
-Visit to Europe
-Romania
-President’s reelection
-President’s visibility in Europe
-Turnout in Romania
-France
-William P. Rogers
-Communist demonstrations
-Romania
-Rumsfeld’s visit
-Reaction of public
-Television [TV]
-Compared to President’s TV appearance in Soviet Union
-Europe
-France
-Germany
-Radical elements in Europe
-Compared to US radicals
Rumsfeld’s respect for President
-President’s qualities
-President’s appreciation
**********************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Rumsfeld’s political future
-Senate candidacy
-Fundraising
-Philip M. Crane
-William J. Scott
-50-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 854-35 (cont’d)
-State office
-John B. Anderson
-Edward J. Derwinski
-President’s support for Rumsfeld
-Anderson
-Abilities
-House of Representatives leadership
-Speaker of the House
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
**********************************************************************
House of Representatives
-Able members
-Loyalty
-Leadership
-Fear of concentration of power
-Weakness
-Compared to Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield in Senate
-Democrats
-Power
-Leadership
-Fear of power
-Carl B. Albert
-Drinking
Nicholas Rumsfeld entered at 1:29 pm.
Handshake with President
President's chair
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:29 pm.
White House photographer
-51-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. August-10)
Conversation No. 854-35 (cont’d)
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 1:30 pm.
The White House photographer entered at an unknown time before 1:30 pm.
[Photograph session]
Nicholas Rumsfeld
-Joyce (Pierson) Rumsfeld
Donald and Nicholas Rumsfeld and the White House photographer left at 1:41 pm.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.