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Conversation 893-012

TapeTape 893StartWednesday, April 11, 1973 at 11:51 AMEndWednesday, April 11, 1973 at 12:02 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Lopez Bravo de Castro, Gregorio;  Kissinger, Henry A.;  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Spanish Foreign Minister Gregorio Lopez Bravo de Castro, accompanied by Henry Kissinger, met to reaffirm the U.S.-Spain relationship and discuss integrating Spain more fully into the Atlantic community. The conversation focused on establishing a working group to proactively address geopolitical crises and security cooperation, moving beyond historical legacies to recognize Spain's modern economic and political status. Nixon emphasized his desire to facilitate Spain's greater role in European affairs and expressed his personal commitment to maintaining strong bilateral ties.

U.S.-Spain relationsAtlantic communityForeign policyGeneral Francisco FrancoSecurity cooperation
AudioNARA Description

On April 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Gregorio Lopez Bravo de Castro, Henry A. Kissinger, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:51 am to 12:02 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 893-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 893-12

Date: April 11, 1973
Time: 11:51 am - 12:02 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Gregorio Lopez Bravo de Castro and Henry A. Kissinger. The White
House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Greetings

     President’s schedule
           -US Congress
                 -Vetoes

     Relations with Spain
           -Friendship over the past four years
                                              -28-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                     (rev. February-2011)

                                                            Conversation No. 893-12 (cont’d)

           -President’s previous visit to Madrid
                 -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon

     Arrangements for photograph

[Photograph session]

     Establishment of working group
           -Crisis aversion
                 -European community
           -Talks
           -US Senate action

     Spanish trade relations
          -Rise in Spanish wealth

     Spain’s role in Atlantic community
          -Gen. Francisco Franco
          -Spanish reaction to communism in Europe
          -Security
                 -United States
          -Legacy of the Spanish Civil War
          -Current conditions in spain
                 -Improvements
                 -European involvement
                       -Geographically
                       -Economically
                       -Politically
                 -Update of US – Spain relations

An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 11:51 am.

     President’s schedule
           -Meeting with Roger E. Shields

The unknown man left at an unknown time before 12:02 pm.

     Spain’s role in the Atlantic community
          -Practicality
                                              -29-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                    (rev. February-2011)

                                                               Conversation No. 893-12 (cont’d)

           -Franco
           -Relations with US
           -Relations with Europe
           -President’s conversation with Edward R. G. Heath
                 -Great Britain relationship with Franco
                       -Domestic pressures
                 -France
           -Legacy of the Spanish Civil War
                 -US relations with Japan
                       -Attack on Pearl Harbor
           -Spain’s development
                 -Economic power
                 -Improving political landscape
           -Working group
           -Breakthrough
                 -President’s visit
                 -Europe

     Morocco

     Lebanon

     Franco
          -Health

     Future visits to Spain
           -Vacation

Lopez-Bravo and Kissinger left at 12:02 pm.
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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We'll never forget that day when we were at the dinner, you know, on our visit there.
That's the best welcome we've had in four years.
So we appreciate that relationship we've had.
And I hope in the next four years we can continue to see a breakthrough in some of the directions you and I have covered up.
I hope we have a relationship.
What?
I hope we have a relationship.
Ah, no.
It's on Monday, Monday, Monday.
Well, it's a great day.
Yes, it is great.
I like the idea of starting now.
In other words, the thing to do is to start now so that we don't come up with a big crisis later and so that we can set up the right kind of working group now and decide where we're going to go.
We've also got to do it in terms of what the rest of Europe is going to do and so forth.
So what kind of a plan do you have in mind as to what we're going to do?
um,
in the capital, he lost $100.
In 75, he was paid close to $2,000.
Really?
Really.
That's great.
And General Franco and the Spanish government, we have decided to share more in the common responsibilities of defense.
In Europe?
In Europe and the world.
In the world.
Yeah, I know, I know.
So, in this case, we are not asking for money.
We are not
I object, one of my objectives in this administration, and one of my predictions as far as the future is concerned, is that Spain, the time has come for Spain to play a full role in the Atlantic community.
Now, the question is how that can be worked out.
You know, there's still the problems of, we all know,
Anyone who visits Spain as I have, so sees the modern Spain.
in that spirit, not just simply for the purpose of trying to renew on the same...
and the US.
Now, two-thirds of all the people living in Spain
been born since the war was over.
And he was ridiculous.
He was a boy.
He was a boy.
Of course.
But I mean, that's my point.
And my point is that just like our new policies that we're developing toward, it's a very different situation because after all, you're our friends.
But our policies toward Egypt and the rest
for over 29 years.
So there's a whole new world.
We'll communicate and see what we can work on.
In the meantime, I hope in the next four years we can make the breakthrough, not just our relations with Spain, which was complicated by my visit there, but...
You take care of her.
Does he feel well?
All right.
He's so nice to us.
And don't forget, if you have any possibility to visit Spain again, do it with us.
But we want to have something.
We'll find a way to get there one way or another.
Of course, I'd love to come with you.
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