Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 2 › Conversation 002-060
Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Press conference and Public opinion
Thursday, April 29, 1971 · 10:15 PM–10:25 PM ET · White House Telephone · 10 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman reviewed public and media reaction to the President's recent televised news conference. They discussed positive feedback regarding his performance on contentious domestic and foreign policy issues, including the Vietnam War, busing, and diplomatic overtures toward the People's Republic of China. The conversation concluded with a discussion on the frequency of future presidential press conferences, with Nixon expressing a desire to maintain a consistent, effective media presence.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 24% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
What do you hear from Colson, sir?
Well, got some of the reactions in.
President Cheek of Howard says, particularly impressive composure, correct in the manner in which he's handling the Vietnam War with Donald.
Huh?
Carl Cheek?
Yeah.
Check the whole range out.
I don't want to peer to it, but they're sucking it out.
They're not really.
Okay.
He makes a point.
He supports the concept of a neighborhood school, which is kind of interesting.
Kenneth Brown, the president of the Lithographers and Printers Union, felt the China questions were handled very well, agreed with the president.
Still has difficulty on the POW question.
John Oswald, President Penn State, said handle the demonstrator questions very positively with his willingness to listen to those coming peacefully and to deal firmly with those coming with violence.
The fires at present consistently came across as great assurance.
John Watlington, the president of Wachovia Bank in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, says, Better than ever.
Very forthright.
Smiles more.
Bussing question could not have been answered better.
The bussing question.
Pretty good from North Carolina.
Gordon Edwards, the chairman of Crafts Corporation, great, tremendous, well-prepared, couldn't agree with it more.
Answers regarding demonstrators, very solid.
Here's an interesting, Mayor Kramer of Patterson, New Jersey, says he was through with publicity.
Quite impressed with the effective delivery of the President, particularly on the questions of Red China.
Blessing's question was the most difficult one asked this evening, to which the President gave an outstanding answer.
He was delighted to see the President in a different colored suit, about life and action.
The light suit, yeah, that was amazing.
And he says the lectern was an asset because it gave him something to do with his hands.
and we got the funds.
He liked that.
Charlie Lanigan, the state chairman of New York, said the firmness was good.
He was too legalistic on the busing issue.
He liked the reasonableness the president projected on the demonstrator issue.
Mayor Tate of Philadelphia said he liked the phrase that once we break the ice, we can test the water with regard to Red China.
He thought his answers about the Chinese situation were very good.
The mayor is personally quite discouraged about the demonstrators in Washington and their behavior.
And Tom Boardman, Cleveland Press, felt he defended the position of Vietnam.
Very persuasive and logical tone.
I believe it was the strongest point in his whole administration.
Felt he was concluding that China was good.
Sorry that we're not more than asking questions, particularly on Vietnam.
They never asked him.
No.
Reg Murphy at the Atlanta Constitution does a very, very good show.
I had a feeling he was being quite cautious about the communist Chinese situation, which I think is appropriate.
The prisoner thing is a very good step.
If we continue to take that kind of initiative, we'll change the mood and cure many of the things that are wrong.
I agree that we should have no terminal date on the war.
I buy that.
I absolutely disagree with what he says on the gun count.
All in all, a very, very effective affair.
John Colburn is the wish of God.
You know, we've got to expect someone.
Sure.
That's good.
Gotcha.
We're having these terribly difficult issues.
But they still exist.
You know, I think one of the most effective things I did, which nobody has mentioned, is that I realized that many of you in this room are grieving.
Right.
What did you think?
That was great.
I understand.
I respect you.
I won't tell you why I think I did.
You know?
That was good to get them, didn't you think?
I sure did.
John Coburn, Wichita Beacon, says, Good explanation of policy, especially on POWs and on China policy.
Clarified the Cali case very well.
Better than the April 5th case.
Better than the April 5th case.
Robert Collier, Houston Chronicle, says, Especially good for the Texans' viewpoint on busing and peace demonstrations.
Martin Hayden of Detroit News says, excellent, ought to do it more often, but the press doesn't lay a hand on it.
If only there were three more Sarah McLintons.
Bussing comment, excellent.
Handle Agnew's off the record thing fairly well.
No, that didn't give it any money.
Yeah.
Robert Watkins, the head of the National Medical Association of the Blacks, felt those comments on the war make sense.
He was disappointed that reporters didn't mention any domestic issues.
But Livermore, who's now the state chairman of California, has commanded the issues 100%, felt the questions this time were unusually difficult and as well.
and the Steadman of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Tonight, I thought the President sounded like the President of all the people, not an echo of the Pentagon.
He was in complete charge.
I can't remember when he's been more effective than the Pentagon.
But you liked him because he was returning.
Yup.
I thought he made very clear the U.S. position on POWs, along with the country to which the country will go to return these men.
He really communicated with the American people.
And as you know, I don't hesitate to criticize, which is right.
He's a good friend because he isn't really with us.
He's not against the person.
Here's an interesting one.
Mayor Allen of Columbus, Georgia.
President Telecast was great overall.
Really liked his answers on Vietnam, especially with regards to not getting out right now because we needed to ensure peace for our children and our children's children.
I think the president should continue to emphasize it's not Nixon's war.
He should carefully make it clear to the mayor that he particularly liked the gentlemanly way that he did not blame either LBJ or JFK.
That was beautiful.
Didn't you think that was pretty good?
Because you clearly did blame them both by saying you didn't.
What would I have said?
Well, no, it's not their fault.
I bet it was good that we did.
Yeah, it was great.
On Cali, you thought it was wise for the president to defend his position to review the case on the basis of the concern the American people have.
That was a good line.
Yeah, nobody is above the law, including the President.
The POW is very important to continue emphasizing the President.
We can't pull out to all of them.
In return, this statement offers the American people real hope.
The Mayor, like the President's firm, stand by not setting a date for withdrawal.
Mayor Allen says the Deep South is bugging him more than ever.
Let's go to Columbia.
Yeah.
Mike O'Neill, New York Daily News.
I thought the President tonight clarified for Hanoi the conditions under which we will maintain a residual force in Vietnam.
There should be no confusion now on the POW issue.
I was not aware that Ambassador Bruce Fogel of the Liberation Front stayed in North Asia for the first three days of his stay in North Asia.
I think he made some news on that.
I didn't know that.
News?
Hell, we didn't know that.
The way the President walked through the intricacies on the Supreme Court decision on busing was beautiful.
Some thought that was too legalistic.
But I had to go to legalistic attention.
It was incredible that people knew what the hell it was all about.
You would?
Sure.
And you're never going to give an answer that everybody likes.
You know, if you hadn't been legalistic, the other people would have advised that.
But we didn't.
I could have taken 30 minutes.
You did it.
Well...
I think...
The main thing is...
Let's say a few more.
How much will the market spend?
Well, if it will stand every two weeks, I'll do it every two weeks.
I don't think it will, but I'm sure if it will, let me say, I've got a more time off to do it.
Oh, yeah.
What's your time off?
Once a month.
Not once every two weeks.
Or every three weeks.
No more than every three weeks.
I don't think you can do it twice a month.
Every two weeks.
No, I do.
I think you can do this and then something else.
It's interesting that so many people favor different industries.
Well, remember our coal?
Many people even ask us beautiful people that prefer these types of stuff.
It's more interesting.
That's right.
You don't know what's going to happen next.
It's a speech, it's a logical building up, and you know, basically, that what contains does have and does not exist, except for the people who really care about the subject.
Okay.
Fine.
Very good.
NARA Description
On April 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 10:15 pm to 10:25 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 002-060 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 2-60
Date: April 29, 1971
Time: 10:15 pm - 10:25 pm
Location: White House Telephone
Back to Top
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Reaction to President's news conference
-Charles W. Colson
-James E. Cheek, Howard University
-Schools
-Kenneth Brown, Lithographers-Printers Union
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-John W. Oswald, Kent State University
-Demonstrators
-John F. Watlington, Jr. Wachovia Bank, Winston-Salem
-Busing
-Gordon Edwards, Kraft Corporation
-Demonstrators
-Lawrence Kramer, Mayor, Paterson, N.J.
-Busing, PRC
-Charles T. Lanigan, Republican State Chairman, New York
-Busing, demonstrators
-James Tate, Mayor of Philadelphia
-PRC, demonstrators
-Thomas L. Boardman, Cleveland Press
-Vietnam, PRC, domestic issues
-Reg. Murphy, Atlanta Constitution
-PRC, prisoners of war [POWs], Vietnam, Lt. William L. Calley, Jr.
-John H. Colburn, Wichita Eagle and Beacon
-POWs, PRC, Calley
-Everett D. Collier, Houston Chronicle
-Busing, demonstrators
-Martin S. Hayden, Detroit News
-Busing, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Robert Watkins, National Medical Association
-Vietnam, domestic issues
-Putnam Livermore
-Emmett Dedmon, Chicago Sun Times
-POWs, effectiveness
-James R. Allen, Mayor, Columbus, Georgia
-Vietnam, Calley, busing
-Michael J. O'Neill, New York Daily News
-Vietnam, POWs, busing
Back to Top
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Press conferences
-Timing, frequency
-Interest
-Poll
-Compared to speechAlso recorded on April 30, 1971
- 002-059 10:08 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:08 pm.
- 002-061 10:25 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:25 pm and 10:31 pm.
- 002-062 10:25 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:25 pm and 10:31 pm.
- 002-063 10:25 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:25 pm and 10:31 pm.
- 002-064 10:31 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 10:31 pm.
- 002-065 10:36 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan talked on the telephone from 10:36 pm to 10:39 pm.
- 002-066 10:39 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Marjorie P. Acker talked on the telephone from 10:39 pm to 10:40 pm.
- 002-067 10:40 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 10:40 pm to 10:49 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 002-060, April 30, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/002-060 (accessed October 12, 2026).