The Kissinger Tapes

Tom Wells's The Kissinger Tapes compiles and analyzes transcripts of Henry Kissinger's secretly recorded telephone conversations from his time in the Nixon administration.

Drawing on these primary-source records, Wells illuminates Kissinger's tactics, deceptions, and attitudes toward civilian casualties and geopolitical strategy.

The book situates the tapes within broader debates over Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and U.S.

-Soviet rivalry, revealing both Kissinger's diplomatic skill and moral indifference.

Wells uses the material to reassess Kissinger's public claims, demonstrating instances where he lied or concealed involvement in covert actions.

The work contributes to historical understanding of Nixon-era foreign policy and the personal character of one of its central architects.