Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 859 › Conversation 859-025

Nixon & Ziegler on Policy Strategy and Henry Kissinger

Wednesday, February 21, 1973 · 11:16 AM–11:17 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation859-025 on Tape 859StartWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 11:16 AMEndWednesday, February 21, 1973 at 11:17 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 859-025 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald Ziegler briefly consulted on a strategic decision regarding a previously discussed policy matter. The President expressed a firm stance on rejecting a proposal, citing concerns raised by Henry Kissinger about its potential negative impact on established metrics. The discussion concluded with a brief internal agreement to proceed with this rejection.

Policy Strategy
Henry Kissinger
White House Communications
Decision Making

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 really feel that we should come down against the thing that we all decided now.

And the fact that, for example, Henry's point was that it would just raise the metric for our level and so forth.

Much agreed.

Now, the other point is you get the other ball in.

Now, the other point is, though, they can't.

Now, the other thing is, I love it for me.

I would have to be sure.

NARA Description

On February 21, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:16 am to 11:17 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 859-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 859-25

Date: February 21, 1973
Time: Between 11:16 am and 11:17 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 43-147]

Also recorded on February 21, 1973

043-147 11:16 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 11:16 am to 11:17 am.
043-148 11:17 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:17 am and 11:19 am.
859-026 11:17 AM · 25 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:17 am and 11:19 am.
043-149 11:19 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:19 am.
859-027 11:19 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:19 am.
859-028 11:19 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:33 am.
859-029 11:19 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:33 am.
859-030 11:19 AM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:19 am and 11:33 am.

All 88 conversations from February 21, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 859-025, February 21, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/859-025 (accessed October 11, 2026).