Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 893 › Conversation 893-005

Nixon & Graham on Political strategy and Vietnam War

Wednesday, April 11, 1973 · 10:00 AM–10:08 AM ET · Oval Office · 8 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Graham, William F. ("Billy")Conversation893-005 on Tape 893StartWednesday, April 11, 1973 at 10:00 AMEndWednesday, April 11, 1973 at 10:08 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 893-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Richard Nixon met with evangelist Billy Graham to discuss personal correspondence and the President's perspective on the political climate. Nixon dismissed recent political opposition and criticism as temporary setbacks, emphasizing his administration's focus on Vietnam and foreign affairs. The President also expressed concerns regarding an upcoming appearance by Dr. Hill, cautioning that religious forums should not be used for political propaganda related to civil rights.

Audio

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NARA Description

On April 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:00 am and 10:08 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 893-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 893-5

Date: April 11, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:00 am and 10:08 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Billy Graham.

[See Conversation No. 44-143]
                                              -6-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, I finally caught up with you.
I'm just fine.
But I guess it was about Sunday.
I called you, and you were on your way.
And then you were on your way.
They said, oh, no, you were on your way from Montcrete to Charlotte.
And after that, you got to Charlotte.
They told me you were on your way to Pittsburgh.
I called you.
You said, next time you're on your way from Pittsburgh to Charlotte again.
So I said, all right, I'll try.
You get my two tables on your press card?
Well, well, I'll be out of that.
I was surprised that the press here didn't even see through, you know.
And he does that.
I can't believe they could let me have my new receiver.
Yeah, yeah.
I remember, yeah, when I was there, 53.
And I've been there since 67 again.
Well, I appreciate it very much.
Well, I appreciate it.
We will continue to hammer away.
We've got to expect, Billy, you know, you have to expect the opposition to sort of take away because you're not beating them so badly in November.
They've just got to recover.
So that's all right.
We've got East and Vietnam moving along with some other things, and that's what history's going to remember us for.
Yeah.
Sure.
Oh, we'll let him know.
He'll take away, he'll make, there's a lot of headlines, he'll irritate a lot, but those things also pass.
The main thing about those, of course, is you know that they're campaign people, I'm sure you're quite honest with me, but they sometimes do silly things.
Yeah, no, I know that.
I know.
I got a higher regard to that.
Tell me this, Billy, is he a lawyer, you know?
Yes, I know it works for our manner.
But he said he would.
When did he tell you this?
About a month ago, wasn't it?
Yeah.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Great.
Incidentally, we're having Dr. Hill Sunday.
And we just hope he doesn't try to make us make a civil rights call.
The point is, I don't think he should talk about, naturally, about equal rights and such, but nobody should ever use that forum for the purpose of propaganda and all.
Yeah.
Tell him that we've got...
and everybody be watching him.
Yes, sir.
Okay.
Well, it's good to talk to you.
Appreciate your help and your support.
Maybe hers a little more, you know.
He'll be great, though.
He's a great fellow.
Great guy.
Right?
I know he was...
And, you know, it was hard for me, I can tell you, but I knew we had to do it.
Or Ramsey Black, either.
Well, it's really good to talk to you.
And we did try to reach an audience.
Why don't you know it?
The White House operator was calling in, and I'd be at the dinner or something.
But anyway, we'll be seeing you.
I appreciate the knowledge, but you need to call now.

Also recorded on April 11, 1973

  • 893-001 9:40 AM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:40 am and 9:42 am.
  • 893-002 9:42 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:42 am to 9:50 am.
  • 044-142 9:50 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:50 am and 10:00 am.
  • 893-003 9:50 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:50 am and 10:00 am.
  • 893-004 9:50 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and William F. ("Billy") Graham met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:50 am and 10:00 am.
  • 044-143 10:00 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 10:00 am to 10:08 am.
  • 893-006 10:11 AM · 1 hr 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, [Dwight] David Eisenhower, II, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:11 am to 10:59 am.
  • 893-007 10:59 AM · 40 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:59 am and 11:05 am.

All 31 conversations from April 11, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 893-005, April 11, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/893-005 (accessed November 2, 2026).