Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 32 › Conversation 032-029

Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Jackie Robinson and H.R. Haldeman

Wednesday, October 25, 1972 · 8:20 AM–8:22 AM ET · White House Telephone · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ziegler, Ronald L.Conversation032-029 on Tape 32StartWednesday, October 25, 1972 at 8:20 AMEndWednesday, October 25, 1972 at 8:22 AMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 032-029 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon directed Ronald Ziegler to emphasize his prior public praise of Jackie Robinson's athletic versatility, specifically requesting that Ziegler highlight these comments to the press. The two also coordinated a rebuttal to negative news coverage regarding H.R. Haldeman and the Watergate investigation, aiming to challenge the accuracy of reports concerning FBI questioning. Finally, Nixon instructed Ziegler to launch a "vicious" public attack against George McGovern, accusing the candidate of sabotaging ongoing Vietnam peace negotiations.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Mr. Ziegler, sir.
Hello.
Yes, sir.
With all your other problems, one thing I didn't have a chance because our, you know, these little things they don't usually study it.
The most, the best thing that I've ever said about Jackie Robinson, you've probably forgotten, is in the little thing I wrote on baseball.
Do you remember where I pointed?
Right.
And basketball.
Yes, sir.
That was picked up again by AP.
I mean, but it wasn't in my statement.
But they picked that up from the previous comment.
Put it out.
I mean, what I meant is just, you might just point that out.
Yes, sir.
Because I was reading some of the sports things, and they didn't, that's the most significant thing, that he was probably the greatest all-around athlete in time, at that time.
Right.
Okay.
Okay, sir.
We're going to, well, this thing this morning is an opportunity.
Sorry.
Which one is that?
Von Haldeman.
Oh, yeah.
I mean, this is just, we just nailed him to the wall on this one.
What are you going to say about it?
We're working that out now, but it's just full of just absolutely, you know, they have statements.
It was learned that all five men had been questioned by the FBI about disbursements from the fund.
Hell, Haldeman was never even asked to
The FBI's never talked about it.
That's right.
Referred a sworn testimony in their lead and federal investigators, and then they support that later.
I mean, they don't support it later.
They later say the Post was told that Sloan testified and sources close to.
And we know that Sloan didn't prove it.
Right.
I mean, it's going to make a very good speech sometime.
This other situation...
Vietnam had a long session, I noticed, with them yesterday.
The main thing is today be vicious.
I think you've got to be vicious on McGovern.
Just to say this, shocking, he's trying to sabotage the peace efforts.
That's what I'd say.
I think it has to be done.
I know you haven't paid attention, but if it gets to that, I think it's now time to, don't you think so?
Somebody's got to crack that hard.
Well, what he's saying, of course, is that where are we?
He's talking out of both corners of his mouth.
Right.
Well, anyway, you know what I mean?
I'd be pretty tough today.
It's got to come from somebody.
It's got to be tough.
Right.
Okay.
He says that if we get peace, it would destroy Nixon.
Right.
Okay.
Okay, sir.
We'll work on it.

NARA Description

On October 25, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 8:20 am to 8:22 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 032-029 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 032-029

Date: October 25, 1972
Time: 8:20 pm - 8:22 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 372-2]

        John Roosevelt (“Jackie”) Robinson
            -The President's article on baseball

       Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542

                 -Robinson's records
                     -Football, track and basketball
                 -Associated Press [AP] coverage
                 -Public release
             -Career
                 -Significant points

        Watergate
           -News story on H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                -White House rebuttal
                   -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] investigation
                   -Disbursement of funds
                   -Sources
                   -Hugh W. Sloan, Jr.

        Vietnam negotiations
            -Briefing
            -George S. McGovern statement
                -Ziegler statement
                     -Counterattack
                         -The President’s view

Also recorded on October 25, 1972

  • 372-001 7:42 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:42 am and 8:20 am.
  • 032-028 7:47 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:47 am and 8:20 am.
  • 372-002 8:20 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:20 am to 8:22 am.
  • 372-003 8:20 AM · 1 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 8:20 am and 9:05 am.
  • 372-004 8:20 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:20 am and 9:05 am.
  • 372-005 8:20 AM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 8:20 am and 9:05 am.
  • 032-030 8:22 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:22 am and 9:05 am.
  • 032-031 9:05 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 9:05 am.

All 59 conversations from October 25, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 032-029, October 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/032-029 (accessed October 9, 2026).