Conversation: 388-004
Prev: 388-003 Next: 388-005Start Date: 8-Nov-1972 1:00 AM
End Date: 8-Nov-1972 3:00 AM
Participants:
Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob"); [Unknown person(s)]; White House operator; Colson, Charles W.; Sanchez, Manolo;Recording Device: Old Executive Office Building
NARA Description:
On November 8, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), White House operator, Charles W. Colson, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:00 am to 3:00 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 388-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid:
Conversation No. 388-4
Date: November 8, 1972
Time: 1:00 am - 3:00 am
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
1972 election
-Latest returns
-Network coverage
-California
-Prediction
-Minnesota
-Rhode Island
-Projection
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time.
[See Conversation No. 388-4A]
-Request for phone calls
-Rhode Island
-Minnesota
-CBS
-Projections
-Rhode Island
-Delaware
-Senate
-Projection
-Robert Teeter
[End of telephone conversation]
-Teeter
-Rhode Island
-Projections
-Wire services
-Results
-Delaware
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
The President talked with Frank L. Rizzo between 1:00 am and 1:10 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4B]
[See Conversation No. 33-56]
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Democrats
-Nelson A. Rockefeller’s call
-Time
-Return call
The President talked with the White House operator between 1:10 am and 1:12 am
[Conversation No. 388-4C]
[See Conversation No. 33-57]
1972 election
-Rockefeller
-Return call
-Minnesota
-Problems
-Projection
-[George S. McGovern]
-Wisconsin
-The President’s chances
-Senate races
-J. Caleb Boggs
-Margaret Chase Smith
-Possible loss
-Jack R. Miller
-Projection
-Iowa
-Smith
-Seats gained
-Pete V. Domenici
-6-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Jesse A. Helms
-Dewey F. Bartlett
-Rhode Island
-John H. Chafee
-The President’s race
-Lead
-Minnesota
-Alaska and Hawaii
-Importance
-Utah
-Washington state
-Oregon
-Minnesota
-Alaska and Hawaii
-Importance
-Minnesota
-Lead
-Polls
-Accuracy
-Hubert H. Humphrey
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:10 am and
1:12 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4D]
[See Conversation No. 33-58]
The President talked with Nelson A. Rockefeller between 1:12 am and 1:16 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4E]
[See Conversation No. 33-59]
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Minnesota
-Projection
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
-7-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Colorado
-Gordon L. Allott
-Boggs
-Concessions
-Republican Party
-Candidates
-Complaints about the President’s support
-Response
-Publicity
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Plan
-Defeats
-Allott
-Boggs
-Smith
-[Unknown person]
-Louie B. Nunn
-Robert W. Hirsch
-Miller
-Allott
-Wesley Powell
-Charles W. Colson
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4F]
1972 election
-New Hampshire
-Thomas J. McIntyre
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Results
-New Hampshire
-McIntyre
-Figures
-Nebraska
-8-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Carl T. Curtis
-Age
-NBC
-The President’s lead
-Congressional races
-The President’s influence
-Chafee
-Nunn
-Oklahoma
-North Carolina
-Helms
-Hugh Scott
-Domenici
-Rhode Island
-Herbert F. DeSimone
-California
-Time of day
-Results
-Franklyn C. (“Lyn”) Nofziger
Haldeman talked with Ronald L. Ziegler at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4G]
1972 election
-California
-Call
-Results
-Wire services
-Analysis
-Projections
-NBC
-CBS
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-California
-Projections
-The President’s lead
-9-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Voter turnout
-Nation
-Projections
-California
-Problems
-Polls
-Votes for the President
-Comparison to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Projections
-Actual figures
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4H]
1972 election
-Percentages
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Minnesota
-Projections
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
-NBC
-McGovern
-Telegram from the President
-Statement
-Tone
-The President’s telegram
-Wording
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Guidelines
-1972 campaign
-Eleanor (Stegeberg) McGovern
-Rest
-Price’s speech drafts
-Problems
-Support
-Peace
- 10 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-The President’s remarks
-Price
-Well-wishes
-Price
-Patrick J. Buchanan
The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 1:16 am and
1:28 am.
The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger between 1:28 am and 1:30 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4I]
[See Conversation No. 33-60]
Charles Colson entered at 1:28 am.
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Telegram to McGovern
-Buchanan
The President talked with Hubert H. Humphrey between 1:31 am and 1:35 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4J]
[See Conversation No. 33-62]
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Voter turnout
-Computer output
-Accuracy
-CBS projection
-McGovern
-The President’s telegram
-Wording
-Rest
- 11 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Mrs. McGovern
-Well-wishes
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Ziegler’s briefing
-Washington Post
-Life
-The President’s telegram
-Minnesota
-Humphrey’s projection
-Results
-Dwayne O. Andreas
-Teeter
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4K]
1972 election
-Rhode Island
-Minnesota
-California
-Results
[End of telephone conversation]
-McGovern
-The President’s view
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.
1972 election
-McGovern’s concession statement
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Sanchez’s opinion
-Fina Sanchez
-The President’s opinion
-Ziegler’s opinion
-Reaction of Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.
- 12 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-The President’s response
-Price’s draft
-The President’s criticism
-The President’s wording
-Tone
-Robert H. Finch
-Media relations
-California
-Unknown person
-Effectiveness
-Oval Office
-Victory rally
-Crowds
-“God Bless America” quote
-Personal appeal
-Congressional races
-Criticism of the President
-Media relations
-Handling
-Strategy
-Smith race
-Maine
-Offer of the President’s help
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Defeat
-Reasons
-Age
-Boggs
-Age
-Miller
-Nunn
-Defeat
-Smith
-North Carolina
-Helms
-Scott
-Margin of victory
-Harry S. Dent
-Comparison with the President’s margin
- 13 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Virginia
-Georgia
-Fletcher S. Thompson
-Ranking privileges
-Sam Nunn
-George C. Wallace endorsement
-Black vote
-Democrats
-John G. Tower
-Thompson
-Atlanta
-South Dakota
-Projections
-[Unknown person]
-New York
-The President’s lead
-Rockefeller’s report
-New York City
-Brooklyn
-Queens
-Myles J. Ambrose
-Bronx
-Staten Island
-California
-Projections
-Pennsylvania
-Projections
-Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
-Texas
-Percentages
-John B. Connally
-New Jersey
-New York
-Percentages
-Comparison to Rockefeller
-New York Daily News contact
-Telephone call
-Robert Teeter
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
- 14 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
[Conversation No. 388-4L]
1972 election
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Telephone call to New York Daily News
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-The President’s recent telephone conversation with Connally
-Idanell (“Nellie”) Connally
-Family
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-The President’s victory speech
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Mrs. Nixon
-Women
-Youth
-[Dwight] David Eisenhower II
-Oval Office
-McGovern
-Statement
-The President’s victory speech
-Location
-Desk
-Flags
-“God Bless America” quote
-Public response
-Iowa
-Price’s draft
-Use of Bible
-Messages
-Crowd response
-Agnew
-Timing
-Contrast with McGovern
-Media coverage
-John W. Chancellor
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
- 15 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-David Brinkley
-New York results
-Edwin Newman
-California
-Results
-Telephone call
-Editor, Wittier News
-Teeter
-Franklyn C. (“Lyn”) Nofziger
-Editor, Los Angeles Times
-Finch
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4M]
Instruction
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-The President’s victory speeches
-Democrats
-Shoreham Hotel
-Albert E. Singlinger
-Results
-Labor vote
-Labor legislation
-The President’s recent conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
-Administration’s work with George Meany
-Catholic vote
-Blue collar vote
-Media analysis
-NBC
-CBS
-Catholic vote
-Roger H. Mudd
-Michael Wallace
-Vietnam
- 16 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-California
-Projection
-Los Angeles
-Dr. Benjamin (MacLean) Spock
-John G. Schmitz
-Vote count
-San Francisco Bay area
-Projections
-Key precincts
-Congressional delegation
-House of Representatives races
-Republican gains
-Gerald Ford
-Media coverage
-Congressional races
-Republicans
-Boggs
-Miller
-Maryland
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 6s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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1972 election
-The President’s schedule
-Dental appointment
-Senate races
-Results
-Media coverage
-Landslide
-Chancellor
-Comparison to 1968 election
-Comparison to Johnson landslide
-John F. Kennedy assassination
- 17 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
Refreshment
-Breakfast
1972 election
-The President’s victory speech
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.
Breakfast
-Food orders
-White House mess
1972 election
Breakfast
-Orders
-Eggs
-Preparation
Dogs
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.
1972 election
-Results
-Support for the President
-McGovern
-Statements on peace
-The President’s response
-R. Sargeant Shriver
-New York McGovern headquarters
-Statement
-Television coverage
-Minnesota
-Minneapolis report
-The President’s chances
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4N]
- 18 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
1972 election
-Minnesota
-Network projections
-Clark MacGregor report
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Massachusetts
-Results
-Paul W. Cronin
-Defeat of John F. Kerry
-Projections of networks
-Alabama
-Alaska
-Arizona
-Arkansas
-California
-Colorado
-Connecticut
-Delaware
-Florida
-Georgia
-Hawaii
-CBS
-Idaho
-Illinois
-Indiana
-Iowa
-Kansas
-Kentucky
-Indiana
-Maine
-Maryland
-Massachusetts
-Michigan
-Minnesota
-Mississippi
-Missouri
- 19 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Montana
-Nebraska
-Nevada
-New Hampshire
-Powell’s race
-McIntyre
-New Jersey
-New Mexico
-New York
-North Carolina
-Helms
-North Dakota
-Ohio
-Oklahoma
-Bartlett
-Oregon
-Pennsylvania
-Pittsburgh
-Heinz family
-Rhode Island
-South Carolina
-South Dakota
-Tennessee
-Texas
-Utah
-Vermont
-Virginia
-Washington state
-West Virginia
-Wisconsin
-Milwaukee
-Wyoming
-Washington, DC
-Method of calculation
-Results
-California
-Mountain states
-South
-New York
-Labor vote
- 20 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Big states
-California
-Iowa, Illinois
-Blue collar votes
-Nebraska
-Indiana
-Old South
-Georgia
-Mississippi
-Louisiana
-Connally
-Wallace
-Maryland
-Virginia
-California
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4O]
1972 election
-Results
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-California
-Time of day
-Results
-Projections
-Networks
-Senate races
-Smith
-The President’s influence
-New Hampshire
-McIntyre
-Powell
-Maine
-Problem
-Rhode Island
- 21 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Value of visit
-The President’s margin
-TV
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.
Breakfast
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.
The President’s schedule
1972 election
-California
-Nofziger
-[First name unknown] Collins
-Missouri
-Landslide
-Shoreham Hotel
-New York
-Minnesota
-California
-New York
-Percentages
-New York City
-McGovern
-Queens precincts
-Michael J. O’Neill
-Manhattan
-Queens
-Brooklyn
-Bronx
-Richmond
-Suburbs
-State
-Suffolk County
Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.
-Westchester County
- 22 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Minnesota
-New York
-California
-Changes in percentages
-Midwest
-Illinois
-Ohio
-New York
-Pennsylvania
-New Jersey
-Connecticut
-Massachusetts
-Suburbs
-California
-The President’s margin
-[First name unknown] Collins
-Nofziger
-Los Angeles
-Orange County
-San Diego
-San Francisco Bay Area
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.
1972 election
-Results
-Rockefeller’s reactions
-New York
-The President’s margin
-New Hampshire
-Powell
-Congratulations
-Messages
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Telephone call
-Altouise Davis
-Shoreham Hotel
-Howard [last name unknown]
-Antique elephant
-Judge Andrew Hauk
- 23 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-McGovernites
-Polls
-Edmund G. (“Pat”) Brown
-Ralph Cake
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth
-Greetings
-The President and First Family
-Radios, TVs
-Thomas E. Dewey
-Senate candidates
-Quality
-Colorado
-Allott
-Defeat
-Blame on the President
-The President’s visit
-Weather
-Miller
-Allott
-Alaska
-[William E. Egan]
-Ticket splitting
-Governors
-Daniel J. Evans
-Victory
-Washington state
-Pennsylvania
-Arch A. Moore, Jr.
-John D. Rockefeller, IV
-Herbert F. DeSimone
-James E. Holshouser
-Texas
-Republican
-Henry C. Grover
-Connally
-Dolph S. Briscoe
-Bircher
-Republican gains
-Missouri
-Christopher S. (“Kit”) Bond
- 24 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Grover
-Rhode Island
-Richard B. Ogilvie
-Indiana
-Russell W. Peterson
-Delaware
-Morris Kay
-Robert Docking
-Bond
-Missouri
-North Carolina
-Holshouser
-New Hampshire
-Meldrim Thomson, Jr.
-Number
-Republican losses
-Vermont
-DeSimone
-Grover
-Briscoe
-Utah
-Calvin L. Rampton
-Vermont
-Thomas P. Salmon
-Evans
-Moore
-Grover
-Connally’s view
-Allott
-Defeat
-Boggs
-Defeat
-Certainty
-Fletcher W. Thompson
-Defeat
-James A McClure
-Victory
-Charles H. Percy
-Victory
-Senate
- 25 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Balance
-Smith
-Boggs
-Nunn
-South Dakota
-Allott
-Analysis
-Allott
-Peter H. Dominick
-Incumbents
-Allott, Miller
-Republican National Committee
-Florida
-Results
-Number of votes
-Congress
-Net gains
-Report
-Instruction to call Harry S. Dent or Richard K. Cook
Colson talked to an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4P]
[See Conversation No. 33-65]
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-Maryland
-Virginia
-Number of votes
-Timing
-The President
-Compared to McGovern
-Percentages
-Projections
-Errors
-Polls
-California
- 26 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-Latest reports
-The President’s schedule
The President’s schedule
-Meetings in the morning
-Time
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
[Conversation No. 388-4Q]
1972 election
-California
-Telephone calls
-Greenberg
-Los Angeles Times
[End of telephone conversation]
1972 election
-California
-Secretary of State
-Democratic allegiance
-Release of figures
-Problems
-Collins, Nofziger
-Projections
-Networks
-Greenberg
-Information
-Press coverage
-Commentary
-Historic landslide
- 27 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
-1968 election
-1962 election
-Complaints
-Congress
-Press reports
-“Penance vote” [ticket splitting]
-Low voter turnout
-Polls
-Republicans
-Colorado
-The President’s margin
-Allott
-Advantages
-The President’s support
-TV, letter, telephone call
-Defeat
-Republican defeats
-Smith
-Allott
-Miller
-Reasons
-White House
-Smith
-Boggs
-Miller
-Allott
-Other gains
-Net loss
-Percent of vote
-Miller
-Smith
-Boggs
-Allott
-The President’s victory
-Senate
-House of Representatives
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
- 28 -
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY
Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)
Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)
Haldeman and Colson left at 3:00 a.m.