Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 144 › Conversation 144-004
Cox & Hall on Event planning and Public relations
Tuesday, September 19, 1972 · 8:10 PM–7:10 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 13 min
AI Summary
Edward R.F. Cox and Allen C. Hall discussed Cox's upcoming campaign schedule in upstate New York, focusing on the logistics and strategic value of various proposed events. They debated the merits of a tour of an insurance company headquarters versus a visit to a high school and a school for the mentally retarded, ultimately deciding to cancel the insurance company visit due to lack of campaign benefit. The conversation also covered plans for campaign headquarters openings in Schenectady and Troy, a reception for young voters, and potential conflicts with Senator McGovern's attendance at a Steuben Day event.
- Campaign schedule
- Event planning
- Public relations
- Re-election campaign
- Political strategy
- Media coverage
- Campaign events
Audio
This clip of the conversation was cut from the tape by the National Archives (catalog record ↗).
NARA Description
Edward R. F. Cox and Allen C. Hall talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 144-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 144-4
Date: Unknown between September 19-20, 1972
Time: Unknown between 8:10 pm, September 19 and 7:10 pm,
September 20, 1972
Location: Camp David Study Table
Edward R.F. Cox talked with the Camp David operator.
[See Conversation no. 212-9]
Request for a call to Allen C. Hall [First Family Advance Office]
Cox talked with Hall at an unknown time.
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 07/18/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[144-004-w001]
[Duration: 12m 25s]
Edward R.F. Cox's schedule
-Dinner at Rome, New York
-Utica, New York
-Syracuse, New York
-Utica, New York
-Schedule for September 22, 1972
-Utica re-election headquarters
-Press conference
-Utica Mutual Insurance company headquarters
-New Hartford, New York
-Meeting president of company
-Tour of Utica Mutual Insurance company headquarters
-Meeting with employees
-Public relations for insurance company and chairman
-News value (question of)
-Effect on company's business
-A non-media setting
-Comparison to the norms for touring a warehouse
-Meeting with people
-Opportunity from tour to meet with people
-Number of people to meet
-Lack of press and media settingShow the rest of the log (78 more lines)
-Idea of building up insurance company vs aiding the campaign
-Utilization of the length of time for tour
-Other proposals
-Meeting with Whitesboro, New York high school social studies students
-Meeting with Principle
-Coordinator for high school for Young People for Nixon
-Recognition for the work
-Press coverage
-Colby-King story
-James H. Cavanaugh
-High school
-Departure from Whitesboro high school
-Rome State School
-Meeting with various individuals
Edward R.F. Cox conferred with an unknown person at an unknown time.
Schedule
[End of conferral]
Edward R.F. Cox's schedule
-Rome
-Rome State School Civil Service Employees Association
-Status in union for government
-Supporter of Nixon
-Observation of classes
-Lack of press coverage
-Rome, New York
-Committee to Reelect the President [CRP] headquarters
-Oneida County Airport
-Schenectady, New York
-Reelection headquarters for the President
-Meeting with the chairman
-Congressional candidate John J. Ryan
-Ribbon cutting ceremony for grand opening
-Time
-Noon time crowd
-Analysis of stopping points and their importance to the campaign
-Troy, New York
-Committee to Re-elect the President [CRP] headquarters opening
-Meeting with Congressman Carleton J. King
-Time duration
-Russell Sage College
-Time
-Reception for Young Voters for Nixon club
-Polytech Institute
-Albany State College
-Siena College
-Number of people present
-Albany Airport
-Flight to District of Columbia
-Analysis of the four partisan events
-Fillers for time
-Insurance company chairman
-Meeting
Information on parochial schools
-Background
-Appearance at Jesuit college
Schedule for September 23, 1972
-Possible appearance at Mayflower Hotel by the President
-Conversation with David N. Parker
-Parade (Steuben Day)
-Evening of September 23, 1972 in New York
-Steuben Day dinner
-Steuben Day at Commodore Hotel
-Mayor John V. Lindsay
-Question of accepting or rejecting invitation
-George S. McGovern
-Attendance
-Schedule
-Possible meeting
*****************************************************************Transcript (AI-generated)
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CoxYes, hello. Could you put Al Hall on this line, please?
OperatorAll right, sir. Thank you.
OperatorGo ahead, please.
CoxHello, Al.
HallHi, Ed.
CoxI'm going to be having dinner in Rome, is that right?
HallThe it's at the Trinkaus, it's actually in a little a town outside of Utica.
CoxOh, I see. Is that Is Rome Are Rome and Utica very close together?
HallYes, they are.
CoxOkay, so essentially there's they're they're the same area.
HallThat's right.
CoxOkay, fine.
HallThat's right. They're very close by.
CoxOkay.
HallAnd so you'll overnight after leaving Syracuse on the after tomorrow afternoon you'll drive to Utica.
CoxRight.
HallTomorrow evening, and after you get there, you'll have a just a some personal time, about 30 minutes.
CoxMhm.
HallAnd then you'll have dinner in a small town outside of Utica.
CoxMhm.
CoxMhm.
HallAnd then, Friday morning, we'll begin the day in Utica,
Hallgoing to the Utica re-election headquarters
CoxOkay.
Hallfirst, and we'll do the same
Hallroutine there,
CoxMhm.
Halland we'll have informal press coverage, local press coverage.
CoxOkay.
HallThis is the Utica re-election headquarters.
CoxRight.
HallAnd from there, we will we will drive to to a to the Utica Mutual Insurance Company headquarters.
CoxYes.
HallIn New Hartford,
HallNew York.
HallAnd there we will meet the president and chairman,
Hallthe president of the of the company. And he happens to be the chairman of the Northeastern New York Business and Industry Committee to Re-elect the President.
CoxRight.
HallAnd this gentleman will take you on a tour of part of his of the Utica Mutual Insurance Company headquarters,
Hallwhere you'll have an opportunity to meet a number of his staff members, primarily women women employees in the company.
HallNow, this is a new idea, and I would There's no news value in it per se, but it's an opportunity to meet people.
CoxNo.
CoxWell, people are easy to meet. Unless they're doing absolutely volunteer work for us, it'll do his insurance company a lot of good, I'm sure.
CoxAnd
Coxbut I don't see what it has to do with the campaign, except for for him, the fact that he's head of this business men's group.
HallThat's that's there's some Yes, that's true. I think his
HallIn one way of looking this, that's that's correct, and the other way might be that
Hallit offers an opportunity had to have a to meet you know, a large group of people.
CoxWith no no no media there.
HallNo media. There's no news value in that, per se.
CoxYeah.
HallIt simply offers us an opportunity to
CoxIt They're I don't think it's going to make In other words, uh meeting volunteers, people who are working, yes. But these are just meeting people in the company, a few people. And the only reason for going to a factory is that
Coxuh we will meet the people, but it's a good setting for the media, too. Uh photo opportunity. This This gives us no no media setting.
HallThat's right.
CoxAnd
Coxuh I don't see why how much good it will do, that type of event. Are we already locked into that?
HallNo, these are all This These are proposals.
CoxWhat else did they propose?
HallThey haven't proposed Other than this,
CoxI'm perfectly willing to meet with him over lunch, just to talk with him.
CoxI mean, if that's part of it, that's part of it. But let's see what else they can come up with.
HallOkay.
HallOkay, I think, you know, there is no media value in that event. It's just an opportunity to to meet a number large number of people in a very short time.
CoxHow many people would we meet?
HallYeah, I think we could meet a hundred people.
CoxUh that's No. I mean, forget it. I mean, addressing volunteers with the media there, it's great,
Coxbecause they see there's a volunteer organization, they all see themselves on TV, and they've taken part in a big event, and builds up the headquarters as a center of activity. And, you know, there's a lot of offshoots from it. Doing this,
Coxit does nothing but build up his insurance company, and we don't particularly want to be identified with with, uh you know, building up insurance companies with our campaign.
HallOkay.
CoxNow, of course, he's a contributor, he's helping out, and we'd like to talk with him, and that's good. And we can do that some other way, or I can meet him at the headquarters, or
CoxI could stop by there and say hello to him if he is absolutely vital. But to spend time there doesn't make sense to me.
HallOkay. Yeah, it's it's It's a different event, certainly. And I think the proposal was was made in an effort to use the time as wisely as as
Hallthey thought, you know, as they could with the available events there.
CoxMhm.
HallTheir proposal was, following that, to go to a local high school,
CoxMhm.
Hallthe Whitesboro, New York high school,
CoxMhm.
Halland and meet with a approximately 400 social studies studies students
CoxMhm.
Hallassembled in an auditorium.
CoxMhm. That's fine.
HallYou would be met by the principal, and the social studies teacher, and the president of the student council.
CoxOkay.
HallAnd then they have also have a young gal there who's the Whitesboro high school coordinator for Young People for Nixon.
CoxThat's great. Now, I ought to have a picture with her in advance. They ought to get a photographer out there, and all that, or we can do that at the headquarters if that's if she wants to do it that way.
CoxShe ought to get some some publicity for what the work she's doing.
HallOkay. Now, do you How do you feel about having press coverage there?
CoxNo press coverage inside, especially with social science students.
HallOkay.
CoxI think that can be a bad thing. No press coverage.
HallOkay.
HallIt's suggested that maybe by Jim Cavanaugh that maybe you might want relate the Kobe King story there.
CoxOkay.
HallGetting getting things done.
CoxIs this a black Is this a black college?
CoxRight.
HallAnd we would go to the mentally retarded school, meet with the staff and observe one of their classes in operation.
CoxFor mentally retarded people? Okay. No press coverage, good.
HallRight. And spend 20, 25 minutes there.
CoxOkay.
HallYeah. They have 125 staff members so we could meet many of the staff members and observe one of one class and then leave.
CoxOkay, fine.
HallAnd from there, proceed to Rome, New York for the reelection headquarters drop-by.
CoxDrop by, okay.
HallAnd from there, we'll go to the Oneida County Airport, which is outside of Rome, drive fly by private air aircraft
CoxRight.
Hallto Schenectady. When we arrive in Schenectady, we will proceed to the reelection headquarters there.
CoxYeah.
HallAnd we'll meet the the chairman of the office, as well as one congressional candidate,
HallJohn Ryan.
CoxOkay.
HallAnd that will be a ribbon cutting ceremony, a grand opening ceremony at the Schenectady headquarters.
CoxOkay.
HallThey're They're We're planning a crowd raising effort, and they're going to have a band, I understand,
CoxOh, great.
Halla big ceremony and everything.
CoxOh, great.
HallAnd it'll be They're hoping to capture part of the the noontime lunch crowd.
CoxRight.
HallThis'll This'll take place at 1:45.
CoxOkay.
HallWe'll spend a little over 30 minutes there.
CoxOkay. Now maybe they want to catch the noontime crowd earlier about uh if it's 12:00 crowd.
CoxCan we move that up just a bit?
HallWe'll try.
CoxAnd uh and since we're canceling an event earlier and First of all, the insurance company is a nothing thing.
HallYeah.
CoxThe The mentally retarded school is really uh like it's a zero, it's just a filler, and it doesn't make sense to do that either. The high school makes sense because we're getting volunteers out of it.
HallMhm.
CoxNow it's good to do the mentally retarded, because I like to do things like that, because it's good, [chuckle] just on general principles, but let's see if we can move that the uh Schenectady thing back so we will get the noontime crowd.
HallOkay.
CoxAnd tell them I can be there earlier. Since I'm leaving by private plane, we can leave earlier.
HallThat's fine. Okay.
CoxSo why don't you see if they can do that?
HallBe sure, I'm sure we can.
CoxOkay. And then squeeze out if you have to both of those events and just leave the high school one.
HallOkay.
CoxOkay?
HallFollowing the Schenectady headquarters grand opening, and that'll be a event with a lot of fanfare, we'll go to Troy, New York and we'll participate there in a similar program
Hallfor the grand opening of the Troy reelection headquarters. They have a big crowd and uh the band and similar circumstances.
CoxGood. Okay.
HallAnd there, we'll meet with Congressman Carleton King, the 29th Congressional District.
CoxOkay.
HallAnd spend approximately 40 minutes and then proceed to the Russell Sage College uh about 3:30 for a reception with the YRs,
CoxGood.
Hallyoung voters, the College Republicans,
CoxGood.
Halland from Russell Sage College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Albany State College.
CoxGood.
HallAnd actually, a fourth school called Siena.
CoxGood.
HallSo there's four schools represented.
CoxRight.
HallYRs and young voters from those schools. Now I would recommend we spend approximately 30 minutes there.
CoxRight. How many people will be there?
HallWell, there they're shooting for 150.
CoxOkay, 30 minutes We Maybe we can stretch that out a bit if we Yeah.
HallWe'll be in no real hurry.
CoxRight. So let's stretch that out a bit. Give them enough time that I can get to meet them all, maybe 40 minutes.
HallOkay.
CoxAnd leave a little bit of extra time there so we can we can spend more time if we want.
HallOkay, yeah. We have an open end there, and the airport we proceed to the Albany airport from there.
CoxOkay. Right.
HallWe're trying to arrange to catch a 5:10 flight.
CoxBack to Washington?
HallBack to Washington.
CoxThat sounds great. Now the big three big things are three big openings here.
CoxPlus we have the high school and the Republican So those are really four good partisan events that we've got. Four good partisan events plus the high school,
Coxuh plus the mentally retarded.
HallAdmittedly, you know, there are situations when you when you tend to look for filler, something to keep just to fill the time,
CoxRight.
HallRight.
CoxRight. So that person
HallI think in this case it is, though.
CoxNo, it's not. So let's let's see if we can get that move back to the to noontime so then we get a good crowd there and that can help them out.
HallOkay.
CoxAnd then scratch scratch the insurance company thing. I'll meet with the fellow if he wants to talk with him, briefly,
HallYeah.
Coxuh if if if the finance people think that that's very important. And and then then go on.
HallOkay.
CoxNow I would like some background, if you can get it for me, on parochial schools.
CoxBecause I think at the Jesuit col- college I'll be going to, I'll be asked about that.
HallOkay.
CoxI'm going to that tomorrow, I think.
HallMhm.
HallOkay.
CoxOkay.
HallYeah. And regarding the event for Saturday,
HallSaturday morning at the Mayflower Hotel,
CoxRight.
HallI've talked with Dave Parker, and your participation in that will will be canceled.
HallPossibility the President will go.
CoxOkay.
HallAnd uh Dave said that even if the event if the President does not go, he didn't think it was appropriate that you participate in that.
CoxOkay, fine. Then so I will have Saturday morning essentially off and go to the Steuben Day Parade Saturday afternoon.
HallRight.
CoxAnd then Saturday evening?
HallSaturday evening is the dinner in New York for Steuben Day.
CoxOkay. Now do we know about Mayor Lindsay in that yet?
HallWe're checking. Mayor Lindsay has not accepted
Hallor regretted on his invitation to participate.
CoxOkay.
HallI understand that he normally goes to, you know, activities like that. Last year, he did he did not attend and sent a representative.
CoxRight. Right.
HallUm the question that we're looking into now is whether Senator McGovern is going to attend.
CoxRight.
HallSo we met with the with the chairman of the event today, and he said that McGovern called him personally yesterday and indicated that he would be coming to the evening,
Hallevening reception
CoxRight.
Hallat the Commodore. So we're trying to determine now whether that's if that's the case.
CoxIn which case we will cancel.
HallThat's right. Okay. So we're sort of
Hallwavering on for night now.
CoxRight.
HallAnd I'll I should know later this evening.
Also recorded on September 19, 1972
- 144-002 7:46 PM · 23 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 7:46 pm to 8:10 pm.
- 212-004 7:46 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 7:46 pm to 8:10 pm.
- 144-003 8:10 PM · 10 sec — William Hirsch and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972.
- 212-005 8:10 PM · 9 sec — William Hirsch and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972.
- 212-006 8:10 PM · 13 sec — Julie Nixon Eisenhower and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972.
- 212-007 8:10 PM · 58 sec — Julie Nixon Eisenhower and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972.
- 212-008 8:10 PM · 8 min — Julie Nixon Eisenhower, unknown person(s), and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972.
- 212-009 8:10 PM · 7 min — Edward R. F. Cox, Camp David operator, and Allen C. Hall met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 8:10 pm on September 19, 1972 and 7:10 pm on September 20, 1972.
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Cite this conversation
Conversation 144-004, September 19, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417175369). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/144-004 (accessed November 3, 2026).