Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 131 › Conversation 131-040

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on MIT and Caspar Weinberger

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 12:33 PM–12:34 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 24 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation131-040 on Tape 131 (tape position 02:26:03–02:26:27)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 12:33 PMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 12:34 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 131-040 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed H. R. Haldeman to direct OMB Director Caspar Weinberger to immediately terminate federal funding for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Nixon expressed frustration that John Ehrlichman had previously delayed this action due to influence from George Shultz. Haldeman confirmed he would relay the order to Weinberger to ensure the funding cutoff was executed as demanded.

Audio

Download MP3 · 0.9 MB

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Yeah.

Yes, sir.

One thing that Ehrlichman has been dragging his feet on because of Schultz, and now that we got Schultz the hell out of the OBM and I want you to get Weinberger, I want those funds cut off for that MIT.

Right.

I know what you mean.

All right, you get a hold of Weinberger and say, I want the goddamn funds, and I want him to know it now.

Get it done.

Right.

Okay.

NARA Description

On May 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 12:33 pm to 12:34 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 131-040 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 131-40

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: 12:33 pm - 12:34 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

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

[See also Conversation No. 191-18B]

     Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]
         -John D. Ehrlichman
         -George P. Shultz and Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
              -Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
         -Weinberger
         -Funds cutoff
              -Time

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

131-036 11:44 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:44 am to 11:45 am.
191-015 11:44 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:44 am to 11:45 am.
131-037 11:45 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 11:48 am.
191-016 11:45 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:45 am and 11:48 am.
131-038 11:48 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:48 am to 11:50 am.
191-017 11:48 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:48 am to 11:50 am.
131-039 12:25 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Camp David operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 12:25 pm and 12:33 pm.
191-018 12:25 PM · 32 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, Camp David operator, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 12:25 pm to 12:45 pm.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 131-040, May 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/131-040 (accessed October 10, 2026).