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Conversation 866-014

TapeTape 866StartThursday, March 1, 1973 at 10:57 AMEndThursday, March 1, 1973 at 11:00 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  White, William L.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon held a brief, cordial exchange with journalist and author William L. White to reminisce about their past acquaintance and exchange personal pleasantries. Beyond the social nature of the call, Nixon briefly touched upon his aggressive approach to foreign policy negotiations, highlighting his use of leverage—specifically regarding mine clearing and troop withdrawals—to force concessions from adversaries. Nixon concluded the conversation by encouraging White to maintain his fighting spirit and praising his past literary contributions.

William L. WhiteForeign policyNegotiation tacticsPersonal correspondenceNixon administration
AudioNARA Description

On March 1, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William L. White met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:57 am to 11:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 866-014 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 866-14 (cont’d)

                                                                     Conversation No. 866-14

Date: March 1, 1973
Time: 10:57 am - 11:00 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with William L. White.

[See Conversation No. 37-18]
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
You know, I wanted to tell you that yesterday I saw the governor's name, our mutual friend, Governor Don, and that he told me that you had some very kind words to say about me a few days ago, and that he was talking to you, and that I told him I reciprocated it, and I only wish to God you were here in the Washington corner now because we need you.
I remember those times, you know, when I was out of office, when you and Hope Lewis and I would sit around and talk, remember, in New York.
And let me say that those braided articles you wrote for the Digest and so forth, boy, that kind of writing is rare now.
And I just want you to know we're thinking about you and we're praying for you, and you just keep an old spirit of it.
Well...
I'll tell you.
Right, right.
Well, I'll tell you.
The main thing is that that stuff is fighting.
You just keep that spirit up and we're working like the hickors on this game.
One day it's going to break.
But it's always a value that Billy managed to know.
We got the list for today by, you know, I just told him when they turned the horse around, he said, saying they weren't going to give us the next list.
I just said, all right, we stopped clearing the mines.
We stopped withdrawing horses.
Boy, they came around $48.
That's the only way these people can be held.
That's right.
Well, I'll tell you now, you just keep your spirit up and remember you've got this lead in the ground so it's all good.
Okay?
You still wear that very, you were the best dressed man with the vest and everything.
You still do that?
Okay.
I don't, I don't, I don't know.
Good luck to you.
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