Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 902 › Conversation 902-004

Nixon & Kissinger on Dennis Bassett and Briefing

Thursday, April 19, 1973 · 11:08 AM–11:09 AM ET · Oval Office · 19 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation902-004 on Tape 902StartThursday, April 19, 1973 at 11:08 AMEndThursday, April 19, 1973 at 11:09 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 902-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger held a brief meeting to discuss a recent conversation Kissinger had with Dennis Bassett. Kissinger expressed his high regard for Bassett, describing him as a gentleman. The discussion served as a short briefing regarding these personal interactions rather than a substantive policy matter.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I just wanted to tell you, I talked to Dennis last night.
He really led us into it.
Dennis?
Dennis.
Oh, Dennis Bassett.
Oh, yeah.
He's a gentleman.
I should be able to tell you.
Why?
He really is a gentleman.

NARA Description

On April 19, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:08 am to 11:09 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 902-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 902-004

Date: April 19, 1973
Time: 11:08 am - 11:09 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.

       Kissinger
              -Conversation with William E. Timmons
              -Briefing

Kissinger left at 11:09 am.

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

Also recorded on April 19, 1973

  • 038-105 9:36 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:36 am and 12:29 pm.
  • 902-002 10:12 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:12 am.
  • 902-003 10:12 AM · 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry E. Petersen, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:12 am to 11:07 am.
  • 902-011 11:07 AM · 8 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:07 am and 11:08 am.
  • 902-012 11:08 AM · 10 sec — Stephen B. Bull and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:08 am and 12:48 pm.
  • 038-106 12:29 PM · 1 min — Ronald L. Ziegler, White House operator, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 12:48 pm.
  • 038-107 12:29 PM · 1 min — Ronald L. Ziegler and John W. Dean, III talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 12:48 pm.
  • 902-005 12:29 PM · 20 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, White House operator, and John W. Dean, III met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:29 pm and 12:48 pm.

All 54 conversations from April 19, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 902-004, April 19, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/902-004 (accessed October 5, 2026).