Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 894 › Conversation 894-005
Nixon, Luns & Rumsfeld on NATO and Diplomacy
Thursday, April 12, 1973 · 11:44 AM–12:28 PM ET · Oval Office · 4 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with NATO Secretary General Joseph M. A. Luns, accompanied by Donald Rumsfeld and Henry Kissinger, to conduct diplomatic discussions regarding the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The meeting commenced with a formal photograph session and included an exchange of gifts, specifically cufflinks. While the majority of the policy discussions remain classified, the interaction served as a high-level engagement to maintain relations with the NATO leadership.
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On April 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Joseph M. A. Luns, Donald H. Rumsfeld, Henry A. Kissinger, White House photographer, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:44 am to 12:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 894-005 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 894-5
Date: April 12, 1973
Time: 11:44 am - 12:28 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Joseph Marie Luns, Donald H. Rumsfeld, and Henry A. Kissinger. The
White House photographer and members of the press were present at the beginning of the
meeting.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
Introductions
Photographs
-Arrangements
[Photograph session]
Fashion
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National security]
[Duration: 39 m 45 s ]
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION [NATO]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
-15-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 894-5 (cont’d)
An unknown woman entered at an unknown time after 11:44 am.
Presentation of gifts
-Cufflinks
Rumsfeld
-Appearance
-Spouse
Luns, Rumsfeld, Kissinger, and the unknown woman left at 12:28 pm.Also recorded on April 12, 1973
- 894-004 11:30 AM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:30 am to 11:43 am.
- 894-006 12:28 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:28 pm and 12:29 pm.
- 894-007 12:29 PM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Oscar Berger, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:29 pm to 1:06 pm.
- 894-008 1:06 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:06 pm and 1:10 pm.
- 894-009 1:06 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:06 pm and 1:10 pm.
- 894-010 1:06 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:06 pm and 1:10 pm.
- 894-011 1:10 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:10 pm to 1:16 pm.
- 894-012 1:16 PM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 1:16 pm and 1:19 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 894-005, April 12, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/894-005 (accessed October 5, 2026).