← 024-022024-024 →

Conversation 024-023

TapeTape 24StartMonday, May 8, 1972 at 10:23 PMEndMonday, May 8, 1972 at 10:42 PMTape start time00:22:22Tape end time00:24:09ParticipantsHaldeman, H. R. ("Bob");  Rebozo, Charles G. ("Bebe")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

H. R. Haldeman called Charles G. "Bebe" Rebozo to gauge public reaction to President Nixon’s televised address announcing the blockade of North Vietnam. Rebozo reported an overwhelming, record-breaking volume of supportive phone calls, including high praise from prominent Democrats. The conversation concluded with Haldeman confirming that the President planned to visit Rebozo over the upcoming weekend.

Vietnam WarNixon administrationPublic opinionBlockadePresidential communication
AudioNARA Description

On May 8, 1972, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:23 pm and 10:42 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 024-023 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 24-23
Date: May 8, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:23 pm and 10:42 pm
Location: White House Telephone

H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo.

[See also Conversation No. 336-69G]

     Greetings

     Vietnam
          -Blockade
               -The President's announcement
                    -Response
                    -Telephone calls
                          -Volume
                          -Sloane McCray
                                -Support for the President
                          -Unknown woman
                                -Telegram

     The President's forthcoming visit with Rebozo
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello.
Hello.
Baby, Bob.
Robert, how are you?
Pretty good.
President wanted to know if you watched TV tonight at all.
You're damn right I watched it.
You did, huh?
Oh, boy.
He figured you probably didn't bother.
Well, I want to tell you, you can tell him that the damn phone's been ringing off the hook.
But all your girlfriends calling you?
I tell you, it's really been remarkable.
Honest to God, you wouldn't... Really?
You always get some calls after speeches.
But this one here...
Really rocked them.
Really?
You're getting more than you usually get?
Much more than usual, yeah.
I'll be darned.
What are they saying?
Well, one fellow who the president knows, Sloan McCray, is a very able fellow.
He doesn't usually call me.
McCray?
Yeah, he tells me later.
But he said, I don't want to take your time because your phone's been busy.
I know you're busy.
I just want to tell you, this has to be the greatest American president in my lifetime.
Here's a fellow who's a lifelong Democrat.
He says he's the greatest president in his lifetime.
The greatest American president in his lifetime.
I'll tell you, it has been.
One woman called, and I didn't have the heart to find out who it was.
I didn't know whether she was drunk or too emotional.
She called and said that she couldn't get Western Union to send him a telegram.
Why, because it was busy?
Yeah.
Good.
I said, well, you keep trying.
She said, well, I've been trying.
I can't get them.
And the goddamn Western Union, that's a real problem.
We had that before.
Yeah.
Tell him to keep trying, though.
I did.
I did.
No, I tell you, this is just unreal, but it's just tremendous.
He said to tell you he'd be down this weekend.
Great.
Great.
Early, I hope.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Probably.
No, it really was fabulous.
Good.
Fabulous.
Good.
Tell him you're...
Okay.
Thanks, B.B.
Bye-bye.
← 024-022024-024 →