Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 1 › Conversation 001-039

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Southeast Asia policy

Wednesday, April 7, 1971 · 11:14 PM–11:21 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation001-039 on Tape 1 (tape position 01:25:09–01:27:44)StartWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 11:14 PMEndWednesday, April 7, 1971 at 11:21 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 001-039 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the internal political reaction to the President's recent televised speech regarding troop withdrawals in Southeast Asia. The conversation centers on measuring the loyalty of key administration figures like Clark MacGregor, Donald Rumsfeld, and Robert Finch based on their feedback regarding the policy's boldness. Nixon expresses frustration with staff members who prioritize political optics over supporting the administration's strategic position, leading the pair to evaluate the loyalty of their inner circle while awaiting input from John Connally.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Yeah.
Mr. Haldeman.
Henry just told me that McGregor was disappointed in the speech because he didn't announce more withdrawals.
Now, if he's going to be that kind of a guy, we've got to shuck him off goddamn fast if he can't see this.
Is that what he told you?
No, what he told me is he was very enthusiastic on presentation and that he had hoped that we would withdraw a larger amount, but he said that all along.
Yeah.
But he really doesn't, as shown, he doesn't have much guts.
You haven't heard from Rumsfeld, but you haven't heard from Finch, and this is all you heard from McGregor, so we've now found out who's who, haven't we?
Right?
Yeah, I don't know where Rumsfeld and Finch are tonight.
That's all right.
They'd call if they felt like it.
I have heard from Erlichman, who was very enthusiastic, and it was interesting because he especially liked the clothes, and he generally is one that's opposed to doing that kind of thing.
I know.
Well, Ehrlich would be all right because he's with us, but I just, but Ehrlich, but it seems to me, Bob, that Gregor and Chalderman, and they've been under great pressures, I know, but God damn it, if they don't send them now, I ain't going to talk to them.
Screw them.
I am not going to do it.
They aren't going to come sucking around after they read the polls.
You understand?
Yeah.
Or don't you agree?
Yeah, I do.
I do.
But let me see what the story is on it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All right.
All right.
McGregor actually should have stood up on this sort of thing.
He should stand up and talk, talk up, talk it up rather than screw around.
Jesus Christ, we should have announced a few more.
Well, God damn it, he should say if this is the right thing, I'm for it.
That's what McGregor's job is.
Well, that's what he is saying externally.
He's trying to, he's playing it honest inside, though, and saying what he thinks.
I know.
And what he thinks is that we haven't done enough.
Well, he understands why, though.
He had hoped
Not because he wants to, how good, because he thinks it would do us more good, which, you know, with his...
I understand, yeah.
Harry, it would.
Rumstead, you haven't heard from him, right?
I haven't, no.
Nobody has, so he's playing his own little game.
He may have called in.
No, I've checked it around.
No, Rose hasn't heard from him, and neither has Kissinger, so he hasn't called in.
That's all right.
Did you get a hold of Connolly yet?
No, he was at the F Street Club or somewhere and had left, so he's going to call me as soon as he gets to his house.
Fine.
Let me know what he thinks.
Right.
Bye.

NARA Description

On April 7, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 001-039 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 1-39

Date: April 7, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm
Location: White House Telephone

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President.

     Reaction to President's speech on Southeast Asia
          -Clark MacGregor
                -Henry A. Kissinger
          -Haldeman's conversation with MacGregor
          -Donald H. Rumsfeld
          -Robert H. Finch
          -John D. Ehrlichman
          -MacGregor, Finch
          -Rumsfeld
                -Rose May Woods
                -Kissinger
           -John B. Connally

Also recorded on April 8, 1971

  • 001-036 11:12 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Hobart D. Lewis talked on the telephone at 11:12 pm.
  • 001-037 11:13 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 11:13 pm to 11:14 pm.
  • 001-038 11:14 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
  • 001-040 11:14 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
  • 001-041 11:14 PM · 30 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
  • 001-042 11:14 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
  • 001-043 11:14 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Freeman F. Gosden, Jr. talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.
  • 001-044 11:14 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:14 pm and 11:21 pm.

All 67 conversations from April 8, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 001-039, April 8, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-039 (accessed October 9, 2026).