Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 202 › Conversation 202-015

Nixon phone call with Haig on Pentagon Papers and Richard Helms

Wednesday, August 16, 1972 · 8:21 AM–8:29 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 7 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.; [Unknown person(s)]Conversation202-015 on Tape 202StartWednesday, August 16, 1972 at 8:21 AMEndWednesday, August 16, 1972 at 8:29 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 202-015 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directs Alexander Haig to instruct CIA Director Richard Helms to conduct a rigorous, sworn investigation into the involvement of individuals associated with the Pentagon Papers and Daniel Ellsberg. Nixon emphasizes the need for a sanitized, restrictive approach when dealing with outside inquiries, explicitly ordering that no sensitive information be leaked to the press or unauthorized parties. Additionally, the President critiques Henry Kissinger’s negotiation strategy regarding the Vietnam War, arguing that minor concessions should not distract from the necessity of securing a favorable political settlement.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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No.
Al, I just wanted to be sure that you had the signals correct on this launchy thing.
And Buol McGovern's statement that he didn't find them useful.
Have you done any reading yet?
Has he called you?
That's the order.
You mark it down.
Any information they have.
Now, there has been an investigation.
He's been involved.
They are asking him about that and asking all the tough questions on that.
Who does security clearance?
Hey, the helms.
All right, order helms.
That's an order that I want to report from him as to the questions he asked.
I shall expect that report of my death at the end of the day.
It should be nothing.
Because it should be East City.
They're not useful and so forth.
And you're just giving total, I mean, I don't want you to just tell them that.
Just tell a thing that isn't in the newspapers.
You understand?
They said that's the way it is.
So just give them nothing.
They come to these newspapers.
Call State.
Call Defense.
Call Health.
We're not going to allow that.
But I want it to be very, very, I mean, really sanitized out.
Just don't give him anything.
But now you can understand, Helms, this is an order.
Helms, just ask the questions that are pertinent with regard to the Pentagon Papers.
And that's, you can go into that.
It is because there had been stories of the effect that he was involved.
And it's to be under oath.
Is that clear?
Under oath.
But under oath.
Now we have to have this because the Pentagon Papers
Have you ever, do you know Ellsberg?
He used to ask, do you know Ellsberg?
And the name of the principal's on it.
I guess it was the son of a bitch right through the ringer.
Okay.
Okay.
Henry's on his way, I see.
Yeah.
Well, what?
Yeah, lots of spirits, too.
Unfortunately, it's going to be much because it's quiet now, pretty clear from reading that, too.
They just take seven and a half hours and then say we want a political settlement.
Well, really nothing has changed.
When you really come down to it, sure, they'll agree on this.
We worked out this problem.
We worked out that problem.
See, none of those mean anything to them.
Henry doesn't really understand.
Those are debating points.
I mean, you can always agree on a little thing.
Then you hold them the big one.
I mean, hell, I've done this so often in conversations with people.
I say, well, we'll concede that and make them all feel good.
But then don't give them the big one.
And that's what Henry's got to realize.
The only thing that matters is the political sentiment in them.
As long as they hang in tight on that, we've got no chance.
What's that?
Heaven.
What do you mean?
Like, how are they talking to us?
Oh, I agree.
The talks are fine.
I just mean, I think we are in no illusion.
30th of October at 150 Matters is there.
And that's a brilliant game we're playing.
I just have in mind the fact, though, that because of the way these assholes are stirring things up, they're delaying the end of this war.
And get all that out.
But I must say, I really can't believe it.
Oh, what happened on that side?
Oh, they saved him.
Oh, he got out.
He didn't get out.
Right.
He still got it.
Well, he still is a candidate for the FBI.
That's all the way from that.
They're flailing around and figuring the press is going to play their game.
But I think the press, if you're speaking in the NFL, is a little god that feels they've been taken into the sun's face.
Oh, I know temporary, but not
The battlefield thing feels about the same, isn't it, I noticed.
Yeah.
The big attack in the way that everybody predicted a month ago, what's the matter with it?
Maybe they're waiting a lot longer to do it.
I'm not sure they can do it then.
What do you think?
It means you're fighting pretty well.
Is that your view?
be very tough very polite but very tough on this breed on this thing i've got to know i'm not going to give him any confidential information that he was involved in the silver thing now i'll just ask those questions okay all right

NARA Description

On August 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:21 am to 8:29 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 202-015 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 202-15

Date: August 16, 1972
Time: 8:21 am - 8:29 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 140-5]

An unknown person entered and left at an unknown time before 8:29 am.

Also recorded on August 16, 1972

  • 140-004 8:15 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:15 am and 8:21 am.
  • 202-014 8:15 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:15 am and 8:21 am.
  • 140-005 8:21 AM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:21 am to 8:29 am.
  • 140-006 8:29 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:29 am and 2:11 pm.
  • 202-016 8:29 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:29 am and 2:11 pm.
  • 140-007 2:11 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:11 pm to 2:19 pm.
  • 202-017 2:11 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:11 pm to 2:19 pm.
  • 202-018 2:19 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:19 pm and 3:45 pm.

All 33 conversations from August 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 202-015, August 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/202-015 (accessed September 20, 2026).