President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Ron Ziegler to coordinate political mobilization strategies following his March 4, 1971, press conference. The discussion focused on leveraging the President's recent media performance to promote his domestic agenda—specifically revenue sharing—while coordinating briefings with Nelson Rockefeller, George Romney, and John Connally. Additionally, they evaluated press reactions to the President's stance on the war in Laos and reviewed polling data regarding Democratic challengers.
On March 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Manolo Sanchez, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:49 am to 11:06 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 462-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 462-12
Date: March 5, 1971
Time: 10:49 am - 11:06 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
Nelson A. Rockefeller
-Schedule
-Possible briefing
-Unemployment
-Revenue sharing
-Congressional approval
President’s schedule
-Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
-Military action in Vietnam
Public relations
-Leonard Garment
-Haldeman’s forthcoming call to Garment
-Press release on President’s musical interest
-Compared with revenue sharing
-Charles W. Colson’s efforts
-Work with Senate and House
-J. William Fulbright
President’s press conference
-Mobilization of President’s supporters
-Call from John C. Stennis
-Cabinet officers
-Mobilization of President’s supporters
-Clark MacGregor
-White House staff efforts
-Colson
-Labor
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.’s staff
-Herbert G. Klein
-Colson
-President’s statement about the press
-Laos
Polls
-David R. Derge [?]
-Laos
-Statistics
-Compared to 1968 campaign polls
-Democrat candidates
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Hubert H. Humphrey
President’s press conference
-William P. Rogers
-Follow-up press conference
-Laos (Lam Son)
-Middle East
-Melvin R. Laird
-Follow-up press conference
President’s schedule
-Rockefeller meeting
-Possible attendees
-John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz
-Press briefing on revenue sharing
-President’s appearance
-Ziegler
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 10:49 am
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 15s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Sanchez left at an unknown time before 11:06 am
Mobilization of President’s supporters
-The President’s press conference
-Effect on troops
-Compared to a campaign
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 4s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 10:49 am
President’s March 4, 1971 press conference
-Possible press response
-Ziegler’s assessment
-Robert B. Semple, Jr.’s comments
-Martin Schram’s question
-The President’s response
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Attitude of press
-Semple
-Eugene V. Risher
-Response
-Lead story
-Laos (Lam Son)
-Vietnamization
-South Vietnam
-Possible invasion of North Vietnam
-The President’s position
-Response
President’s schedule
-Quadriad meeting
-National Security Council meeting
-Topics discussed
-John B. Connally briefing
-Comments on the economy
-Time
-Rockefeller meeting
-Photo coverage
-Shultz
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Edwin L. Harper
-Public relations options
-Possible press briefing on revenue sharing
-Responses
-Warren E. Hearnes
-Patrick J. Lucey
-Popular support
-Photo
-Location
-Press briefing
-President’s possible appearance
-Forthcoming message to Congress
George W. Romney
-Briefing on revenue sharing
-Possible joint briefing with Rockefeller and Agnew
-Possible meeting with Ehrlichman, Shultz, and Agnew
-Talk with Ziegler
President’s schedule
-Rockefeller
-Time
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 11:06 am
Vietnam
-Prisoners of War [POWs] and Missing In Action [MIAs]
-Number, definition
Ziegler left at 11:06 amThis 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.