Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 27 › Conversation 027-062
Haldeman & MacGregor on Thomas F. Eagleton and 1972 Presidential Campaign
Tuesday, July 25, 1972 · 5:45 PM–5:54 PM ET · White House Telephone · 2 min
AI Summary
H. R. Haldeman and Clark MacGregor discussed the breaking news that Democratic vice-presidential nominee Thomas Eagleton had disclosed a history of hospitalizations for mental health treatment, including electric shock therapy. MacGregor confirmed his prior awareness of Eagleton’s medical records and noted reports of a potential additional hospitalization at Johns Hopkins that Eagleton failed to mention. To manage the political fallout, Haldeman relayed the President's strict instructions for the campaign staff to maintain a policy of silence regarding the matter.
- Thomas F. Eagleton
- 1972 Presidential Campaign
- Mental Health
- George McGovern
- Campaign Strategy
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On July 25, 1972, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and Clark MacGregor talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:45 pm and 5:54 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 027-062 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 27-62
Date: July 25, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:45 pm and 5:54 pm
Location: White House Telephone
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with Clark MacGregor.
[See Conversation No. 753-8F]
Thomas F. Eagleton
-Press conference
-Health
-Treatment
-George S. McGovern's knowledge
-Nomination as Vice President
-MacGregor's awareness
-Documentation
-History of treatment
-1960-1966 period
-Johns Hopkins Hospital
The President's instructions for campaign staff
-MacGregor's forthcoming call to Frederic V. Malek
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 29s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************Also recorded on July 25, 1972
- 027-056 5:25 PM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:25 pm and 5:35 pm.
- 753-008 5:27 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Mrs. George E. Mock, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, Jack D. Maltester, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, Patrick J. Buchanan, Henry A. Kissinger, United States Secret Service agents, and Vice President Spiro T. Agnew met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:27 pm to 6:34 pm.
- 027-057 5:35 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Jack D. Maltester talked on the telephone from 5:35 pm to 5:40 pm.
- 027-058 5:40 PM · 26 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:40 pm and 5:45 pm.
- 027-059 5:41 PM · 39 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:41 pm and 5:45 pm.
- 027-060 5:41 PM · 26 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:41 pm and 5:45 pm.
- 027-061 5:41 PM · 18 sec — the White House operator and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:41 pm and 5:45 pm.
- 027-063 5:55 PM · 55 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and Robert J. Dole talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:55 pm and 5:57 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 027-062, July 25, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/027-062 (accessed October 12, 2026).