Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 30 › Conversation 030-014
Nixon phone call with Haldeman on John C. Lungren and L. Patrick Gray III
Thursday, September 21, 1972 · 4:36 PM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the urgent need to address the burglary of John C. Lungren’s office to avoid the appearance of a cover-up. They express concern that failing to report the incident promptly or waiting too long could lead to public suspicion regarding the administration's involvement or potential tampering with presidential files. Ultimately, Nixon directs Haldeman to obtain a quick report from FBI Director L. Patrick Gray III and insists that the matter must be disclosed immediately if it is to be handled properly.
- John C. Lungren
- H.R. Haldeman
- L. Patrick Gray III
- Burglary investigation
- White House internal procedures
- Public relations
- FBI
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On September 21, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at 4:36 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 030-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 30-14
Date: September 21, 1972
Time: 4:36 pm
Location: White House Telephone
H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman talked with the President.
Investigation of break-in of John C. Lungren’s office
-Progress report
-Timing
-Perception
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Federal Bureau of Investigation
-Lungren
-Timing
-Burglary
-Reporting
-The President's files
-Perception
-Responsibility
-Lungren
-L[ouis] Patrick Gray, IIIAlso recorded on September 21, 1972
- 030-013 2:16 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:16 pm and 3:15 pm.
- 357-007 2:16 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:16 pm and 3:15 pm.
- 357-011 3:15 PM · 56 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, Manolo Sanchez, unknown person(s), and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:15 pm to 5:02 pm.
- 030-015 4:38 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 4:38 pm.
- 357-012 5:02 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:02 pm and 5:25 pm.
- 357-013 5:02 PM · 50 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:02 pm and 5:25 pm.
- 357-014 5:02 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:02 pm and 5:25 pm.
- 357-015 5:02 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 5:02 pm and 5:25 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 030-014, September 21, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/030-014 (accessed October 1, 2026).