Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 900 › Conversation 900-011

Nixon & Kissinger on Jewish emigration and Soviet Union

Wednesday, April 18, 1973 · 12:22 PM–12:25 PM ET · Oval Office · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation900-011 on Tape 900StartWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 12:22 PMEndWednesday, April 18, 1973 at 12:25 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 900-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to coordinate their strategy regarding Jewish emigration and relations with the Soviet Union, specifically aiming to address political pressure from figures like Senator Henry Jackson. Concerned about potential confrontations with activists, the President decided to cancel a scheduled meeting with Jewish leaders to avoid hostile criticism. They also discussed managing the schedule of Rainer Barzel to prioritize meetings with Congressional leaders over ceremonial press opportunities.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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What your assessment is about what Ron can say about this meeting?

The Vice President was caught sitting in this shop, this festival.

I was revolted, revolted.

Frankly, I was glad I was talking to him.

I laid it out there and made it sound.

I said, all right now, boys, you're going to take this for all she can.

Because I couldn't be to be right.

Look, Mr. President, first of all,

They have given us everything about which this issue started.

Oh, I know.

They say it's nothing.

Jackson sits there, son of a bitch.

He wants the issue.

He doesn't want something.

That's right.

Now, the question is, should Iran say, we've had some communications from the Soviet government this weekend?

Are very constructive.

And we've discussed it with the leaders.

With the leaders.

Further discussions will take place.

I wouldn't have a meeting with the Jewish leaders.

Well, that's what I was wondering.

No, I wouldn't.

I don't want, I don't put in it.

I will not say, look, that's the point.

That's for God damn sure.

Because I'm not going to sit there and have some of these people tell me things like that.

I'm not going to do it anymore.

They ought to be ashamed of themselves.

I'm inclined to think also they should be canceled.

But I'm going to call in the Israeli ambassador and I'm going to tell him now.

They've already called.

They've been called to come to meet me.

Yeah.

Well, we can cancel it.

That's easy enough, Mr. President.

In fact, I asked Carmen to take a few sound days and see me at 2.15.

There's no sense exposing you to this.

All right.

And don't let Carmen give you any bullshit.

No, no.

He tends to agree that we shouldn't have it.

I think it's going to be a confrontation.

Well, on the other hand, it is just insane.

Here there are... You told me that it's been great and all that.

Well, it's the same people there, Manfield, Scott, the non-Jewish people.

Well, we have to thank Barso.

Oh, my God.

I can't have time for him today.

I know.

That's all.

We'll get married in 10, 15 minutes.

to get a press picture, which is what he's most after.

Well, then, you just tell him he has to be at a meeting with the legislative leaders, turn to the court of meetings, and, God damn it, he's got to understand, you know, I just can't see every German leader who comes over here.

The only problem with him is he's the pro-American.

Let me, I'll talk to Siegler quickly, and then I'll talk to Lantz a little bit later.

All right, bring him in.

NARA Description

On April 18, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:22 pm to 12:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 900-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 900-11

Date: April 18, 1973
Time: 12:22 pm - 12:25 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

     Statement by Ronald L. Ziegler
                                             -22-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 900-11 (cont’d)

      Spiro T. Agnew’s conversation with President

      Jewish emigration
           -President’s April 18, 1973 meeting with congressmen
                 -Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
           -Statement by Ziegler
                 -Communications with Soviet Union leader
           -Meeting with Jewish leaders
           -Kissinger meeting with Yitzhak Rabin
           -Meeting with Jewish leaders
                 -Cancellation
                 -Leonard Garment
                       -Meeting with Kissinger
                 -Constructiveness
           -Soviet Union
           -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
           -Hugh Scott

      President’s schedule
            -Rainer Barzel
                  -Press photographs
                  -Meeting with Congressional leaders
                  -US support

      Kissinger’s schedule
            -Ziegler
            -Barzel

Kissinger left at 12:25 pm.
                                           -23-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on April 18, 1973

900-029 12:11 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:11 pm to 12:12 pm.
900-009 12:12 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John A. Volpe, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:12 pm to 12:20 pm.
038-096 12:20 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at 12:20 pm.
038-097 12:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew talked on the telephone from 12:20 pm to 12:21 pm.
900-010 12:20 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:20 pm to 12:21 pm.
900-012 12:25 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:25 pm to 12:33 pm.
038-098 12:33 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:48 pm.
900-013 12:33 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Rainer Barzel, Erich Feldweg, White House photographer, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:33 pm and 12:48 pm.

All 48 conversations from April 18, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 900-011, April 18, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/900-011 (accessed October 5, 2026).