Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 19 › Conversation 019-180

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Melvin Laird and Face the Nation

Sunday, January 30, 1972 · 5:32 PM–5:33 PM ET · White House Telephone · 25 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation019-180 on Tape 19StartSunday, January 30, 1972 at 5:32 PMEndSunday, January 30, 1972 at 5:33 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 019-180 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the performance of Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird during his recent appearance on 'Face the Nation.' The President followed up on an earlier conversation with Charles Colson regarding George Shultz's potential involvement in similar media appearances. Haldeman committed to investigating the status of the situation and reporting back to the President.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Bob, I didn't get to see Mal Laird.
Colson told me that Shelby could also go, so I called.
Oh, I did.
I don't have a report on it.
I probably got it out there.
Let me get a check on it.

NARA Description

On January 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 5:32 pm to 5:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 019-180 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 19-180

Date: January 30, 1972
Time: 5:32 pm - 5:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

     “Face the Nation” television appearance
          -Melvin R. Laird
          -The President's previous conversation with Charles W. Colson
                -George P. Shultz
          -The President's recent call to Shultz
          -Laird’s performance
                -Haldeman’s forthcoming check

The recording was cut off at an unknown time before 5:33 pm.

Also recorded on January 30, 1972

  • 019-172 4:53 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 4:53 pm to 4:56 pm.
  • 019-173 4:56 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:56 pm.
  • 019-174 4:57 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:57 pm.
  • 019-175 4:57 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods talked on the telephone from 4:57 pm to 5:03 pm.
  • 019-176 5:07 PM · 18 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 5:07 pm to 5:24 pm.
  • 019-177 5:24 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:24 pm and 5:26 pm.
  • 019-178 5:26 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone from 5:26 pm to 5:29 pm.
  • 019-179 5:29 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:29 pm and 5:33 pm.

All 11 conversations from January 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 019-180, January 30, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/019-180 (accessed October 12, 2026).