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Conversation 003-204

TapeTape 3StartMonday, May 31, 1971 at 6:38 PMEndMonday, May 31, 1971 at 6:42 PMTape start time05:12:16Tape end time05:15:32ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss a strategic plan to dominate media coverage throughout the summer of 1971 by scheduling regular radio and television statements on weekends. Nixon directs Haldeman to develop a program that utilizes Saturday and Sunday for public appearances and statements to avoid competing with weekday news cycles. They also address the logistical coordination of drafting materials with Patrick Buchanan and Raymond Price for upcoming events, including a presidential trip to Tulsa.

Media strategyPublic relationsPresidential communicationsSummer 1971 schedulingRadio and television policy
AudioNARA Description

On May 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 6:38 pm to 6:42 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-204 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 3-204

Date: May 31, 1971
Time: 6:38 pm - 6:42 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

[See Conversation No. 254-21]
                                              122

                            NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                        Tape Subject Log
                                           (rev. 9/08)



     President's call

     President's speech
          -Patrick J. Buchanan's work

     [Pause]

     A Saturday/Sunday operation                                 Conv. No. 3-204 (cont.)
          -Radio, press statements
          -President's West Point trip
          -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
          -Summer 1971 events
          -Audience
          -Holiday weekends
          -Radio and television
                -President's statements
                -President's speeches
                -President's Tulsa trip
                      -Publicity
          -Compared with weekday operation
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
I have Mr. Haldeman now, sir.
Yeah.
Hello.
Hello.
Did you call me?
No, sir.
No.
I was returning your call.
They said you had called at 6 o'clock.
Oh, yes, yes.
I think I covered everything in the other one.
I think it's the same call, you know, which we had at the office.
Okay.
Okay.
Pat's going to have the stuff, I guess, by 7.
Oh, seven now.
Yeah, I was just waiting for it.
Well, he said he was still humping when I left, and he said he'd have it in by seven.
It's all right.
Just hold just a minute.
One thing I was going to suggest is this, that it's, I think it's very important to start immediately with regard to that Saturday operation.
Saturday or both, and incidentally you can use both days to use Saturday and Sunday for purposes of radio or major statements.
that we don't want to elevate to the other side.
Or, as a matter of fact, for appearances, as we did at West Point, that do elevate to the other side.
But will you develop a program?
Because Ray's stuff comes in a little slow.
But I think there's no reason, Bob, we can't be on every Saturday for Sunday or every Sunday for Monday or both for the whole summer months.
And that's a hell of a big audience.
It is, and it's just so easy to dominate.
You can dominate both on radio.
And take these holiday weekends.
You realize anything we do, any statement I make, you can put on radio.
So you put the radio statement out.
You have radio, and you have the TV.
Possibility, if we do a speech.
Unfortunately, looking at this week...
All we've got is Tulsa.
That ain't particularly good.
No, but you'll get TV on that.
Well, it might not be too bad because it'll be friendly.
But what I meant is it isn't an upbeat forum.
Yeah.
No, it's not bad.
It's not bad, though.
But let's try to figure out right down the line every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, throw it in there, you know, and not compete during the week.
I mean, let that go the other way.
Yep.
It sure is wide open then, isn't it?
Yeah, it really is.
And we've got plenty of things in the rest of the week that we can put out.
Well, we inevitably have stuff during the week, no matter what.
We have to make appearances.
There's just no way to avoid it.
But Saturday and Sunday, we should make up appearances.
That's the whole point.
Yeah.
Right.
Okay.
Okay.
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