President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and briefly John Ehrlichman to strategize on public relations, presidential travel, and the administration's political narrative. The discussion focused on how to improve the President's approval ratings amidst economic concerns and domestic policy issues, with a specific emphasis on effectively communicating accomplishments and countering media criticism. Key decisions included planning future travel to Latin America and regional locations to dominate the public dialogue, as well as refining the President's upcoming schedule and appearance strategy to maximize political impact.
On March 12, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:33 pm to 3:02 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 419-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 419-8
Date: March 12, 1973
Time: 2:33 pm - 3:02 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
John E. Nidecker
-Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-State Department
-Deputy Inspector general
-Travel
-Bicentennial
-[First name unknown] Roosevelt [?]
-Travel the nations
President's schedule
-Associated Press [AP] appearance
-Paul Miller
-Henry A. Kissinger’s appearance
-American Society of Magazine Editors [ASME] [?] function
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Sept-2010)
Conversation No. 419-8 (cont’d)
President's press conference [?]
-Format
President’s schedule
-ASME function
-Date
-Latin America trip
-Timing
-Africa trip
-President's meeting with Giulio Andreotti
-Vacation planning
-One-day stops
-Compared to Europe
-Meetings
-Dinners
-Luncheons
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Africa
-Length of stay
-State dinner
-Brazil, Venezuela
-Peru [?]
-Mexico City
-Americans
-Radicals
-Argentina
-Central America
-Guatemala
-Nicaragua
-Costa Rica
-Panama
-Honduras
-El Salvador
John D. Ehrlichman talked with the President between 2:38 pm and 2:41 pm
[Conversation No. 419-8A]
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 419-8 (cont’d)
[See Conversation No. 37-96]
[End of telephone conversation]
Congressional relations
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Appearance before joint session of Congress
-Value
-Publicity for President
-Appearances before Congress
-Public relations [PR]
-Richard A. Moore
-Utility
-Ehrlichman’s view of Congressional appearances
-Symbolism
-Publicity
-Television [TV] audience
-President’s tax proposals
-Congressional response
-Timing
-National press conference
-President’s appearance before Congress
-Issues
-Foreign and domestic
-Ehrlichman’s choice
-Presidential staff viewpoint
-Patrick K. Buchanan
-Problems compared to opportunities
-Negatives
-Indians
-Impoundment
-Executive privilege
-Repression of press
PR
-Haldeman’s study
-President’s public appearances, speeches, press conferences
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Sept-2010)
Conversation No. 419-8 (cont’d)
-President’s approval rating
-Polls
-George H. Gallup poll
-President’s desire for conclusiveness
-Lead stories in press
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-“Lucky break”
-Impact of President’s policies
-Economic suffering
-Food prices
-Negative compared to positive increase in approval rating
-POWs
-Role of domestic issues
-President’s approval rating
-Economic conditions
-Prices and wages
-Press distortion
-Perfection
-Fault and blame
White House staff
-Charles W. Colson
-Contact with President
-Election campaign period
-Post-election period
-Utility to President
-Arrangements
-Frequency
-Forthcoming meetings with Haldeman
-Value
-Good ideas
-Balance
-Domestic issues
-Credit
-Colson
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Praise for Howard J. Phillips
-Rhetoric
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Sept-2010)
Conversation No. 419-8 (cont’d)
-Office of Economic Opportunity [OEO]
-“Great Society” programs
-Publicity for President's domestic programs
-Conservatives
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Centrists
-Taxes compared to social services
-Concern for poor, cost
President's public appearances
-National Press Club
-Establishment of dominance of dialogue
-Methods
-Travel
-Periodic stops in localities
-South Carolina
-Mississippi
-John C. Stennis
-Midwest
-Watergate
-End of Vietnam War
-Foreign travel
-State visits
-Latin American travel
-Value
-Colombia
-Venezuela
-Brazil
-Jamaica
-Caribbean
PR
-Domestic issues
-Ehrlichman
-Trade
-Inflation
-Compared to Vietnam War
-US News and World Report article
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. Sept-2010)
Conversation No. 419-8 (cont’d)
-Survey, predictions
-Housewives
-Public complaints
-Prices, quality, services
-Crime
-Administration's strategy
President's schedule
-Vacation
-August
-Travel
-Congressional recess
-Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] convention
-New Orleans
-Arrangements
-Congressional recess
-California
-Labor Day appearance
-Vacation
-August
-Weather
-July schedule
-Preparation
-Compared to State of the Union
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 2:41 pm.
President's meeting with Col. Robinson Risner
-Risner’s location
-West Wing
Bull left at an unknown time before 3:02 pm.
Unknown person’s staff position
-Extension
-July
-Camp David
-Haldeman’s opinion of staff member
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
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Conversation No. 419-8 (cont’d)
-Aspen Lodge
-Maitre d’ hotel
-Successor
-Civilian employment
Spiro T. Agnew
-President’s return to Oval Office
-Office space [?]
-Roy L. Ash [?]
Haldeman left at 3:02 pm.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.