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On the other hand, Haldeman’s notes of a meeting that afternoon noted “Vietnam crisis deal – go
for win – all lost otherwise – including election. US is not going to lose – cave in to communists” (H.R.
Haldeman Notes, April 10, 1972). Nixon’s actual statements capture the same sentiment using a phrase
about going down the “tube” that he would use throughout the crisis. Nixon reasoned to Haldeman that if
Saigon collapsed, which he didn’t think likely, he would have to cancel the Russian summit since he
could not go there in a weak bargaining position. “From a political standpoint, putting everything on the
line, we could be right down the tube …The important thing here is that we’ve got to put all the chips in
the pot and try to win it. If we win it, then everything is fine. If we lose it, frankly it would put us down
the tube but that is the way the game has always been anyway.” Beyond his own political fortunes, Nixon
saw South Vietnam’s collapse as threatening the entire foundation of American foreign policy. Nixon
concluded they needed to take risks because “If we lose here, this office is not going to be worth a
goddamn to whoever is stuck in it because the United States will no longer have any credibility on foreign
policy. And that is the god’s truth….That is what these goddamned doves don’t understand. It’s over”
(Conversation 705-15, April 10, 1972, NWHT).
Interestingly, Nixon told his subordinates that he did not wish to have information about
the current political environment at the same time he indicated that maybe they should take
advantage of the current permissive attitudes. Nixon told Haldeman to cut off political
information to him and not bother him with domestic politics. Since he had so much riding on
Vietnam, he told Haldeman “I don’t give a crap” about polls, trial heats, and other “bullshit.” “I
have to keep my mind absolutely clear, and unfettered for what could be critical decisions.”
With not a hint of drama in his voice, Nixon wanted Haldeman to tell the staff, “Now for the
next three weeks, the decisions that are made are going to decide the whole damned future of this
country.” While he felt he would be criticized, the main thing Nixon needed to focus on was
winning. Cutting off the flow of political information had an additional political benefit. Nixon
concluded, “The main thing is now, don’t go around polling now. I don’t want you to poll. . . . I
Convention