Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 15 › Conversation 015-179
Nixon phone call with Harvey on Election reform legislation
Wednesday, December 1, 1971 · 12:15 PM–12:20 PM ET · White House Telephone
AI Summary
President Nixon and Representative James Harvey discussed the status of pending election reform legislation, focusing specifically on amendments and the implications of the Section 315 compromise. The conversation centered on coordinating congressional support and leveraging administration figures, including Vice President Spiro Agnew and various cabinet members, to advance the White House’s legislative agenda. Nixon sought to ensure the administration remained informed and strategic regarding emerging proposals, such as the network television time initiatives and check-off provisions promoted by John Anderson and others.
- Election reform legislation
- Section 315 compromise
- Congressional relations
- Campaign finance
- Political strategy
Audio
Download MP3 (part 1) · 112.0 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 112.1 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 112.0 MB ·Download MP3 (part 4) · 12.5 MB
This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 04:46:39 into the tape and ends around 04:49:53.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
NARA Description
On December 1, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and James Harvey talked on the telephone from 12:15 pm to 12:20 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 015-179 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 15-179
Date: December 1, 1971
Time: 12:15 pm - 12:20 pm
Location: White House Telephone
The President talked with the White House operator.
James Harvey
The President talked with Harvey.
[See also Conversation No. 627-9B]
Election reform legislation
-Amendments
-Expression of appreciation for support
-Conference outcome
-Section 315 compromise
-Max L. Friedersdorf
-Gerald R. Ford
-Conversation with Friedersdorf
-1968 election
-Ford and Hugh Scott
-Richard K. Cook
-Attorney General's officeAlso recorded on December 1, 1971
- 627-007 11:36 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Richard W. Mallary, Raymond H. Nutter, Harry S. Dent, Alexander P. Butterfield, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:36 am to 11:42 am.
- 627-008 11:42 AM · 48 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:42 am and 11:46 am.
- 627-009 11:46 AM · 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, John D. Ehrlichman, White House operator, and James Harvey met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:46 am to 12:26 pm.
- 015-180 12:21 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 12:21 pm.
- 015-181 12:27 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Clarence J. Brown talked on the telephone from 12:27 pm to 12:37 pm.
- 627-010 12:27 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Clarence J. Brown met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:27 pm to 12:37 pm.
- 627-011 12:37 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:37 pm and 1:15 pm.
- 627-012 12:37 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:37 pm and 1:15 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 015-179, December 1, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/015-179 (accessed October 9, 2026).