Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 42 › Conversation 042-075

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Presidential optics and Press conferences

Wednesday, April 28, 1971 · 9:35 PM–9:36 PM ET · White House Telephone · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation042-075 on Tape 42 (tape position 01:56:32–01:57:42)StartWednesday, April 28, 1971 at 9:35 PMEndWednesday, April 28, 1971 at 9:36 PMRecording deviceWhite House TelephoneSourceNixon Library record for 042-075 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the logistics and optics of an upcoming press conference, specifically focusing on the President's physical positioning relative to the media. Nixon expressed concern about camera angles and the potential for a downward angle to diminish his appearance of authority. Ultimately, they decided to maintain the existing stage platform to preserve the presidential "mystique" and avoid a lower vantage point.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
Yeah.
I have Mr. Haldeman.
There you are.
One other fact that must be considered with regard to that dropping the floor, however, is the camera.
I don't want the camera shooting down on me.
Right.
Well, that's what I want to check before we do it.
It may be that if, well, they've seen the press conferences and they think it's the right thing that it just may be it's just as well to have me above them.
There is a little bit of,
some advantage i think there is a little bit of advantage it is from a physical standpoint you feel a little better when you're not right at their level or just a little bit level and it may be that that's the problem that the cameras are should be at a relative it's more important that the cameras at eye level i think that's it oh yeah i'll just try not to when i answer the questions i'll just look over their heads i won't look down at them
That's the way I can, that's the way I can avoid it.
I guess maybe that.
Okay.
Want to do that and leave the platform then?
Better leave it, I think.
Okay.
Yeah, I think there's a little mystique in that involved.
Okay, good.
Okay.

NARA Description

On April 28, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 9:35 pm to 9:36 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 042-075 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 42-75

Date: April 28, 1971
Time: 9:35 pm - 9:36 pm
Location: White House Telephone

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

[See Conversation No. 252-27]

     Press conference
           -Placement of camera
                 -Eye level
           -Platform

Also recorded on April 29, 1971

  • 042-073 9:20 PM · 9 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 9:20 pm to 9:30 pm.
  • 252-025 9:20 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:20 pm to 9:30 pm.
  • 042-074 9:30 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:30 pm and 9:35 pm.
  • 252-026 9:30 PM · 3 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 9:30 pm and 9:35 pm.
  • 252-027 9:35 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:35 pm to 9:36 pm.
  • 252-028 9:36 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:36 pm and 11:10 pm.
  • 252-029 9:36 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:36 pm and 11:10 pm.
  • 252-030 9:36 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:36 pm and 11:10 pm.

All 64 conversations from April 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 042-075, April 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/042-075 (accessed October 3, 2026).