Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 5 › Conversation 005-167

Nixon, Flanigan & Haldeman on John S.D. Eisenhower and Diplomatic assignments

Monday, June 28, 1971 · 11:50 AM–11:51 AM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Flanigan, Peter M.; Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation005-167 on Tape 5 (tape position 04:54:35–04:55:53)StartMonday, June 28, 1971 at 11:50 AMEndMonday, June 28, 1971 at 11:51 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 005-167 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon, Peter Flanigan, and H. R. Haldeman discuss the retirement of John S.D. Eisenhower and address a misleading New York Times report regarding the appointment of his successor. The President expresses frustration over the lack of initiative from the State Department and Secretary William P. Rogers concerning diplomatic assignments. To address the leaks and administrative delays, Nixon directs Flanigan to have someone follow up with Rogers to clarify the situation regarding personnel appointments.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Yes, Bob.
Oh, Mr. President.
Yeah.
Oh, Pete, what is the situation on John Eisenhower?
I didn't name any successor for him.
Those are, you have not.
In fact, he has just sent in a letter.
Yeah, but I mean, I noticed this New York Times piece says a successor has been named for him.
Oh, I had understood from Bob that you had a...
I want to hold that for somebody, yeah.
I understand.
And no successor has been named, and I'm trying to find out for John, subject to your convenience, when we should announce his retirement.
I think I want you to give Bill, have you been talking to Rogers about these or who's been talking about these assignments?
I have not.
I've just come.
You have not?
Well, no one's talking to Bill about it because there are assignments and he's not coming up with recommendations to take the non-career spots.
I have a long memorandum to you as to how we should go and assuming you agree with it, then I'd go over and clear it with State.
But state is not taking the initiative.
Well, then how do they have a story out saying about, talking about all these assignments?
Mr. President, on that I can't.
Yeah.
Have you talked to them about these names or somebody has?
I haven't read this.
Well, then apparently Holloman has.
Okay.
Well, then I'll have him call Rogers.
That's swell.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Bye-bye.

NARA Description

On June 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Peter M. Flanigan, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 11:50 am to 11:51 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 005-167 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 5-167

Date: June 28, 1971
Time: 11:50 am - 11:51 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Peter M. Flanigan; H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman can be heard in the
background.

[See Conversation No. 529-23D]

     John S.D. Eisenhower
          -Successor
          -Retirement
          -New York Times article
          -Haldeman
          -Timing of announcement

     Diplomatic assignments
          -Role of State Department and William P. Rogers

Also recorded on June 28, 1971

  • 529-022 11:38 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:38 am and 11:46 am.
  • 529-023 11:39 AM · 1 hr 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Donald G. Brotzman, Henry A. Kissinger, White House operator, Peter M. Flanigan, Jack H. McDonald, unknown person(s), John B. Connally, John D. Ehrlichman, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:39 am to 1:40 pm.
  • 005-165 11:46 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Donald G. Brotzman talked on the telephone from 11:46 am to 11:47 am.
  • 005-166 11:47 AM · 5 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:47 am and 11:50 am.
  • 005-168 11:51 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 11:55 am.
  • 005-170 11:51 AM · 3 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, Rose Mary Woods, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 1:40 pm.
  • 006-001 11:51 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:51 am and 2:47 pm.
  • 005-169 11:55 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Jack H. McDonald talked on the telephone from 11:55 am to 11:56 am.

All 69 conversations from June 28, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 005-167, June 28, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/005-167 (accessed October 11, 2026).