Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 887 › Conversation 887-005

Nixon & Scowcroft on Vietnam settlement and Aircraft carrier deployment

Thursday, March 22, 1973 · 10:59 AM–11:02 AM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Scowcroft, Brent G. (Gen.)Conversation887-005 on Tape 887StartThursday, March 22, 1973 at 10:59 AMEndThursday, March 22, 1973 at 11:02 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 887-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and General Brent Scowcroft discussed the strategic deployment of an aircraft carrier to the Philippines and the potential psychological impact of this move following the Vietnam settlement. They analyzed reports of North Vietnamese foot-dragging, specifically regarding Pathet Lao activity in Southern Laos, and deliberated on the effectiveness of existing communication channels. Nixon instructed Scowcroft to coordinate with Henry Kissinger to address these developments and evaluate the Defense Department's notification requirements.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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The only key would be one carrier, which is probably now starting to come back up to the Philippines.
The defense had asked the 24-hour notice before.
Why don't you get that reaction?
And I thought it would have any particular psychological effect.
Well, suppose I pass this on to him.
I don't think that the path of love part is really there.
Well, the path of love part, if he wants to read this, it's a very assertive one.
You see, the point is, the path of love part does have a sense of the day.
That's right.
It does in that case.
And it's another indication of foot dragging on there.
That's right.
That's right.
That's right.
Well, it's just an open line.
It's just an open line, so no, I don't want to do that, but I do.
You've had communications with the agency, and I'll... Well, you could have talked to him.
Well, I'll send him to you.
Okay, but we can get him out of here as soon as possible.
Oh, okay.
I would like to get out of here as soon as possible.
It might be a good reason to get another call.

NARA Description

On March 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:59 am and 11:02 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 887-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 887-5

Date: March 22, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:59 am and 11:02 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft.

       Vietnam settlement
            -Deployment of aircraft carrier
                  -Philippines
            -Notification of Defense Department
            -Henry A. Kissinger's reaction
            -Pathet Lao
            -Southern Laos
            -Psychological effects
            -Transfer of information
            -Pathet Lao
            -Obligations
            -Delay
            -Telecommunications
                  -Embassy
                  -Cable
                  -Transfer of information

Scowcroft left at an unknown time before 11:02 am.

Also recorded on March 22, 1973

  • 422-022 10:35 AM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:35 am and 10:56 am.
  • 887-006 11:04 AM · 41 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Carlos Sanz de Santamaria, William J. Jorden, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:04 am and 11:44 am.
  • 887-007 11:45 AM · 27 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush, William E. Timmons, William Brock, and Robert H. Michel met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 12:12 pm.
  • 887-008 12:12 PM · 34 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:12 pm.
  • 887-009 12:12 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Geoffrey C. Shepard met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:12 pm.
  • 887-010 12:12 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Raymond P. Shafer, Geoffrey C. Shepard, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Henry Brill, Jane Cooney, Charles O. Galvin, John A. Howard, Maurice H. Seevers, J. Thomas Underleider, Mitchell Ware, and Dona L. Farnsworth met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:12 pm to 12:27 pm.
  • 887-011 12:27 PM · 51 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Michael J. Farrell met in the Oval Office of the White House at 12:27 pm.
  • 887-012 12:27 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Michael J. Farrell, and Mrs. Bruce Bedford, III met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:27 pm to 12:32 pm.

All 71 conversations from March 22, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 887-005, March 22, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/887-005 (accessed October 12, 2026).