Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 228 › Conversation 228-004

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Second Term Reorganization

Monday, November 20, 1972 · 1:46 PM–2:05 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation228-004 on Tape 228StartMonday, November 20, 1972 at 1:46 PMEndMonday, November 20, 1972 at 2:05 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 228-004 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum outlining key strategies for his second-term administration and executive reorganization. He specifically considered implementing a 'Super Cabinet' structure to better navigate relations with Congress. Additionally, the President reviewed John Connally’s proposal regarding the potential retirement and reconfirmation of Supreme Court justices.

Audio

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NARA Description

On November 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 228-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 228-4

Date: November 20, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President dictated a memorandum for the file.

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       The President’s memorandum
            -Date

       Second term reorganization
            -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                                               -27-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 228-4 (cont’d)

            -Super Cabinet
                 -The President’s plans
                 -Congress

       [No dictation]

       Second term reorganization
            -Supreme Court
                  -Reconfirmation
                        -John B. Connally’s recommendation
                              -Retirement

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 64% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

I am talking, dictating this to the 11th, 11th, 20th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 8th, 9th, 8th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th, 9th.

This captain was on a derogation when I was over to Congress in Triana.

I decided one thing, I didn't cover it, and I ran into a giant, giant bomb later that night.

And those tactics, and such as well, we do.

The administration appeared to be all dead and gone.

We're not cool with these events.

Thank you.

Hmm.

I tried out Connelly's idea of, uh, having, uh, my case to the Supreme Court briefed at the time.

Make a recommendation for retirement.

Probably speaking from a too simplistic way of banging my panel.

They've had the president lost all of his set-up today.

Also recorded on November 20, 1972

228-002 1:21 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:21 pm and 1:42 pm.
155-015 1:42 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 1:42 pm to 1:46 pm.
228-003 1:42 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 1:42 pm to 1:46 pm.
155-016 1:46 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm.
228-005 1:46 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm.
155-017 2:05 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:05 pm to 2:21 pm.
228-006 2:05 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:05 pm to 2:21 pm.
155-018 2:21 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 2:26 pm.

All 33 conversations from November 20, 1972 →

Nixon, Colson & Haldeman on Republican Party strategy December 11, 1972 · 25 min
Nixon, Haldeman & Bull on Supreme Court and John B. Connally October 14, 1971 · 1 min
Nixon, Haldeman & Sanchez on John B. Connally January 29, 1972 · 8 min
Nixon phone call with Ehrlichman on Busing and School Desegregation April 29, 1971 · 9 min
White House tour group on White House tours and Cabinet Room December 3, 1971 · 1 min
Nixon & Mitchell on Executive branch and Legal policy October 19, 1971 · 3 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 228-004, November 20, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/228-004 (accessed November 4, 2026).