Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 138 › Conversation 138-010

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Allen J. Ellender funeral

Sunday, July 30, 1972 · 1:06 PM–1:32 PM ET · Camp David Study Table ·2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation138-010 onTape 138StartSunday, July 30, 1972 at 1:06 PMEndSunday, July 30, 1972 at 1:32 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 138-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the logistics of First Lady Pat Nixon’s potential attendance at Senator Allen J. Ellender’s funeral, specifically weighing the optics of changing previous plans to exclude her against the benefit of her presence. The President ultimately decides she should attend, prioritizing political impact over the convenience of congressional spouses. During the discussion, Nixon also briefly disparages the individuals responsible for the Watergate break-in, labeling the operation as an act of stupidity.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Tomorrow, incidentally, I was talking to Pat, and she would like, from just a personal standpoint, to go down there if it is convenient.
Now, of course, we have our two cabinets up there and so forth.
I'm inclined to think it might not be bad in one sense that she always went to those luncheons.
She'd been to three of them up there that he gave.
that allows me to walk with her and nobody else going into the place coming off the plane and all the rest and then um but she doesn't insist you know she doesn't care i think it'd be good on every count except that we told the congressional people she wasn't coming so they are bringing their wives but she could come at the last minute but she could just decide you see even having told them you could say we told them that she wasn't coming but you could say that
Mrs. Nixon decided because she had such an affection for Senator Eleanor she wanted to come.
Yeah.
No problem is it?
No I don't think so.
To hell with the congressional people let's do what's best for us.
I think it's good having her with you probably.
Because uh you know it'll mean a lot to those people down there to see her.
Yeah.
I think we'll do it and uh and when we're still going now to the uh
the church and not to the cemetery.
And they've been told that's good.
There's no problem on that.
Everybody understands that we don't have that much time.
Well, I'd like to have a tape recorder in that room.
But our poor bastards, they taped the Democratic National Committee.
Stupidest thing.

NARA Description

On July 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 1:06 pm to 1:32 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 138-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 138-10

Date: July 30, 1972
Time: 1:06 pm - 1:32 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

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

[See Conversation No. 198-20]

                                       (rev. Mar-02)

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 22m 8s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************

    The President's schedule
         -Allen J. Ellender’s funeral
               -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                     -Conversation with the President
                     -Possible attendance
                         -Luncheons
                         -Problem
                                -Congressional wives
                     -Church
                     -Cemetery

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 33s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

****************************************************************

    Watergate
        -Bugging
              -Democratic National Committee Headquarters

                                       (rev. Mar-02)

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 24s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3

*****************************************************************

Also recorded on July 30, 1972

  • 138-009 1:00 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:00 pm and 1:06 pm.
  • 198-018 1:00 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:00 pm and 1:06 pm.
  • 198-019 1:00 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:00 pm and 1:06 pm.
  • 198-020 1:06 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 1:06 pm to 1:32 pm.
  • 138-011 1:32 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:32 pm and 1:56 pm.
  • 198-021 1:32 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:32 pm and 1:56 pm.
  • 198-022 1:32 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:32 pm and 1:56 pm.
  • 138-012 1:56 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 1:56 pm.

All 23 conversations from July 30, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 138-010, July 30, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/138-010 (accessed September 18, 2026).