--- title: Richard Nixon Assigns a Reporter to Watch Panda Sex description: A new book details the former president’s keen interest making sure his new panda’s got busy canonical: https://time.com/3048944/richard-nixon-panda/ author: Denver Nicks article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-07-28T21:24:59.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T08:57:56.629Z og:title: Richard Nixon Assigns a Reporter to Watch Panda Sex og:description: A new book details the former president’s keen interest making sure his new panda’s got busy og:url: https://time.com/3048944/richard-nixon-panda/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt853dd2c9e2835dea/69869d8b3bc999a3aa1a4b72/ap7401010777.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3135 og:image:height: 1763 og:image:alt: WASHINGTON GIANT PANDA og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Richard Nixon Assigns a Reporter to Watch Panda Sex twitter:description: A new book details the former president’s keen interest making sure his new panda’s got busy twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt853dd2c9e2835dea/69869d8b3bc999a3aa1a4b72/ap7401010777.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Richard Nixon Asked a Reporter to Watch Panda Sex > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=a0551aac-19e2-4ab3-b4c5-b9f380f20e6a&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Nixon Talks Panda Sex (March 13, 1972) [Watch (HLS stream): Nixon Talks Panda Sex (March 13, 1972)](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/kVHPJq4E.m3u8) (3:01)  _Published 2014-07-28. Nixon Talks Panda Sex (March 13, 1972)_  by [Denver Nicks](https://time.com/author/denver-nicks/)  ## Denver Nicks Jul 28, 2014 9:24 PM UTC  by [Denver Nicks](https://time.com/author/denver-nicks/)  ## Denver Nicks Jul 28, 2014 9:24 PM UTC When former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai gave the United States two pandas in 1972, the result, as captured in a pun-perfect turn of phrase by first lady Pat Nixon, was “panda-monium,” [report](http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/28/here-is-a-clip-of-richard-nixon-discussing-panda-sex/) the authors of the new book _The Nixon Tapes: 1971-1972_. And that panda-monium–something which we here at TIME, progenitors of our very own replacement [panda-cam](http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/10/01/the-government-shut-down-its-panda-cam-so-we-made-our-own/), know all about–has continued, once more proving that we are but one nation, under panda. But the very first panda lover of all of us–the prototypical panda pursuer, the panda panderer to rule them all–was none other than bowling enthusiast and nearly two-term President Richard M. Nixon. Nixon’s interest in his new Chinese pandas, Ling Ling and Hsing Hsing, was such that he was touchingly concerned with their sex lives. Here’s Nixon’s exchange with Washington _Star_ foreign editor Crosby Noyes, courtesy of The Washington [_Post_](http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2014/07/28/here-is-a-clip-of-richard-nixon-discussing-panda-sex/). **Nixon**: The problem, however, with pandas is that they don’t know how to mate. The only way they learn how is to watch other pandas mate. You see? **Noyes**: \[laughs\] **Nixon**: And, so they’re keeping them there a little while—these are younger ones— **Noyes**: I see. **Nixon**: —to sort of learn, you know, how it’s done. **Noyes**: Sure, learn the ropes— **Nixon**: Now, if they don’t learn it, they’ll get over here and nothing will happen, so I just thought you should just have your best reporter out there to see whether these pandas— You get the picture. In exchange for the pandas, the U.S. gave China two musk oxen, which are neat enough, sure, but it’s pretty clear who got the better end of that deal. ## Transcript You get me, Mr, Crosby Noyes, of the Washington Star. Hello Mr Crosby Noyes, Mr President. How are you. Fine, thank you Sir. I don't have anything of earthshaking importance enough for your column, but I thought you'd be interested to know that, Most of your readers will be more interested in this, I'm afraid than what I say on International Ferret, or you say in your column, but I notice the Star had an editorial about our Pandas, Yes, And I think you'll be interested to know that I just told, Ziegler, at the morning briefing, so that it could make the afternoon edition of the Star, that Mrs Nixon and I. I decided that the pandas should go to the the zoo. Now, that's very good news indeed. Now I, I think you should know too that we've as you can imagine the requests from all over the country, that, that San Diego has a spot in the zoo, St. Louis, New York. Yeah. But we the, basically the this is the place for them from the standpoint, first it's a national zoo rather than a local and second, and this was the key thing, the reason we were waiting on it. The key thing is climate. the, the panda, of course we want to be sure they don't come up here and die and we find that the Larsham climate is somewhat more mild. In their usual habitat. But, but nevertheless, cold enough for, we think, for what they are. So. Yeah. So, in any event, you're, you're gonna get the, you're gonna get the pandas. We're gonna get both of them. Yeah, oh yes. Now, as a matter of fact. Let me tell you an interesting thing about their, you, you must know. [ LAUGH ] You can, you can [ UNKNOWN ] use on your own, if you want. [ INAUDIBLE ]. I was just talking to Bob [ UNKNOWN ], who talked to his Chinese hosts. And [ INAUDIBLE ] mating is very interesting. These are. It is a male and a female. huh. The problem with, the problem however with pandas is that they don't know how to mate. The only way they learn how is to watch other pandas mate, you see. [ LAUGH ] And so they're keeping them there a little while, leave your younger ones to sort of learn, you know, how it's done. Learn the ropes. Now. If they don't learn it, they'll get oer here, nothing'll happen. So, I guess what you should, should have your best reporter out there, to see. We certainly will. What we, what we have learned, and now that I've given you the story of pandas, let me let you get back to your more serious questions. [ LAUGH ] When are they arriving? April 1st. huh, when we, when we. Think about it the first. I just saw him sit there and he'd been you know, shrouded in mystery. As kind of the pandas are. And I kind of do know, the head of the nationals and took the muscots, and oxen over, and were trying to work it out. Although, I don't know whether he's bringing them back, or whether somebody else is. But, hi ho, there they are. But I can imagine that, that lou will get the biggest play in history. Yes, it will. They let in a lot of Fredos. Big deal . >> Yes sir . >> Okay . >> Thank you Mr. President . >> And I just want you to know we do pay attention to the editorials in the star. 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