Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 131 › Conversation 131-031

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Leonid Brezhnev and General Motors

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 11:24 AM–11:26 AM ET · Camp David Study Table ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation131-031 onTape 131 (tape position 02:13:35–02:14:54)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:24 AMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:26 AMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 131-031 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed strategies to procure a Cadillac as a gift for Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev without utilizing taxpayer funds. Nixon expressed concern over potential public relations optics and proposed that General Motors donate the vehicle directly to avoid government expenditure. The two agreed that a corporate donation would resolve potential controversy, and Haldeman committed to facilitating the arrangement with GM.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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in 59 i recall taking several representative items from american industry to moscow and giving it to these people now they were not expensive items you know what i mean some of our corn products and things of that sort you know from but they were not from the government they were from various industries here that wanted the russians to have their products
I wonder if there's any way you can work this out where GM does this damn thing.
I think we can.
I really think, and we'll say that, you see, basically, they, the Soviet government makes hydrofoils, GM makes the car.
We say that we're receiving one, and they indicated they'd like a car, and GM said, fine, we'll give them one of those, so it isn't that I give them the goddamn thing.
Or the taxpayers paid for the Cadillac, that's the thing.
If it comes down to that, I'll pay for the Cadillac.
You know what I mean?
No, I'm serious.
I'd simply say that we don't have any funds for it, but I don't want to do that either.
No.
But I don't see why GM just can't give them one.
I think they will, and I think that's the basis.
Well, if they do it, then the PR problems become infinitely less.
Yep.
Fine, fine.
The gift of General Motors.
Right.
Fine.

NARA Description

On May 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:24 am to 11:26 am. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 131-031 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 131-31

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: 11:24 am - 11:26 am
Location: Camp David Study Table

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

[See also Conversation No. 191-10]

          -President's gifts in 1959 trip to Soviet Union
                -Type
                -Cost
                -Corn products
                -Contributors
          -President's gift to Leonid I. Brezhnev
                -General Motors [GM]
          -Hydrofoil
          -Cadillac
                -Taxpayer's expense
                -President's expense
                -General Motors
                -Public relations

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 131-029 11:22 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:22 am to 11:23 am.
  • 191-008 11:22 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:22 am to 11:23 am.
  • 131-030 11:23 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:24 am.
  • 191-009 11:23 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:24 am.
  • 191-010 11:24 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:24 am to 11:26 am.
  • 131-032 11:34 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Camp David operator, and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:34 am to 11:37 am.
  • 191-011 11:34 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:34 am to 11:37 am.
  • 131-033 11:37 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 11:38 am.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 131-031, 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/131-031 (accessed September 18, 2026).