Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 918 › Conversation 918-024

Nixon & Kissinger on Haile Selassie and Diplomacy

Tuesday, May 15, 1973 · 12:21 PM–12:24 PM ET · Oval Office · 56 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.Conversation918-024 on Tape 918StartTuesday, May 15, 1973 at 12:21 PMEndTuesday, May 15, 1973 at 12:24 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 918-024 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Henry Kissinger met to discuss the logistics and morale surrounding Kissinger’s upcoming diplomatic trip to Paris. The President reflected on his recent meeting with Haile Selassie and offered encouragement to Kissinger, emphasizing the significance of his mission despite the administration's broader political stresses. The exchange served primarily to bolster Kissinger’s confidence and confirm the scheduling for his departure.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Well, here's the track for your trip.
I want you to know just what a tremendously and profound meaning to her.
I listened to a 45-minute speech on His Majesty.
I think it was 55.
You know, when the scope call came in, I said, where's Kirsten?
Where's Kirsten?
He said, well, he's very busy right now.
I said, the hell he is.
Then he said, oh, yes, he's going to Paris tomorrow.
But I know you were avoiding that thing.
But I want you to know that in these days, the readers worry about crap, and the rest have a few laughs.
Yeah.
Everything's going to go wrong.
Huh.
Not sure.
Have it happen to me always.
That's right.
All right.
Don't be down.
You've got a big, important mission.
OK.

NARA Description

On May 15, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:21 pm and 12:24 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 918-024 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 918-24

Date: May 15, 1973
Time: Unknown between 12:21 pm and 12:24 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger.

     President’s previous meeting with Haile Selassie
           -Delivery of prepared remarks
                 -Duration
           -President’s statement to Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft
                 -Kissinger’s schedule

Also recorded on May 15, 1973

  • 918-018 12:13 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:13 pm and 12:19 pm.
  • 918-019 12:13 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:13 pm and 12:19 pm.
  • 918-021 12:19 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stanford E. Parris, Robert G. Goodnough, Harry Parrish, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:19 pm to 12:21 pm.
  • 918-022 12:21 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 12:21 pm and 12:24 pm.
  • 918-023 12:21 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:21 pm and 12:24 pm.
  • 046-052 12:24 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:24 pm and 1:00 pm.
  • 918-025 12:24 PM · 36 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:24 pm to 1:00 pm.
  • 918-026 12:24 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:24 pm and 1:00 pm.

All 67 conversations from May 15, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 918-024, May 15, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/918-024 (accessed October 1, 2026).