Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 145
Nixon White House Tape 145 (September 30, 1972 – October 3, 1972)
27 conversations · Camp David Study Table · about 16 min of released audio
Featuring Nixon, Kissinger, Colson, Eisenhower, Haldeman
President Nixon and Charles Colson reviewed 1972 reelection campaign strategy, focusing heavily on mobilizing blue-collar and ethnic support through union leaders. The two analyzed various polling data from sources like Gallup and Harris to gauge George McGovern's standing and the impact of the Thomas Eagleton affair. They also discussed regional political shifts, particularly in Rhode Island, and expressed concern regarding media bias and the specific cultural issues fueling anti-McGovern sentiment.
President Nixon initiated a brief telephone request through the Camp David operator to be connected with domestic affairs advisor John D. Ehrlichman. The primary purpose of the communication was to establish contact for a follow-up discussion regarding administrative matters. No substantive policy negotiations or strategic developments occurred during this brief request for a line transfer.
President Nixon and John Ehrlichman discuss administrative matters regarding Raymond Price's schedule and the development of an upcoming radio address. The core of their conversation centers on a proposal to move a revenue sharing event from the White House to a historical venue in Philadelphia, such as Independence Hall, to symbolically align the administration's "New American Revolution" agenda with the nation's founding sites. Ehrlichman is tasked with investigating the logistics of this proposal, including the feasibility of hosting hundreds of guests at a National Park Service site.
President Nixon initiated a brief telephone request through the Camp David operator to connect with his Chief of Staff, H.R. Haldeman. This administrative interaction highlights the logistical process used by the President to facilitate high-level communication while working from the Camp David retreat. No substantive policy discussions occurred during this exchange.
President Nixon directed H.R. Haldeman to arrange a private meeting with John Connally and George Christian early the following week to discuss campaign plans and evaluations. Nixon emphasized his preference for a separate dialogue with Connally, requesting that the meeting be scheduled to avoid interfering with Connally's previously arranged taping sessions. The discussion also included a brief review of ongoing telephoning poll priorities across various key states.
President Nixon communicated with the Camp David operator to facilitate an incoming telephone call from special counsel Charles W. Colson. The exchange served primarily as a brief procedural connection to transition the President to a direct conversation with his aide. No substantive policy matters or decisions were discussed during this brief logistical interaction.
President Nixon and Charles Colson review favorable polling data and the stagnant state of George McGovern's campaign as the 1972 election approaches. They discuss the effectiveness of advertising strategies targeting Democratic voters, specifically focusing on welfare and amnesty issues. The conversation concludes with an assessment of the campaign's momentum and coordination with H.R. Haldeman regarding regional ad placements.
Julie Nixon Eisenhower contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a routine communication request. Given the extremely brief duration of the recording and the lack of substantive discussion, the interaction serves only as a logistical administrative exchange. No policy matters or significant decisions were addressed during this connection.
Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Rita DiSantis coordinated upcoming scheduling logistics, specifically focusing on DiSantis’s appointments and travel plans for early October 1972. The conversation also touched upon a pamphlet, with the two discussing the perspectives of Pat Nixon and her husband regarding its contents. This brief exchange served to synchronize personal agendas and finalize arrangements for DiSantis's impending trip to New York.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent connection to White House Chief of Staff H.R. Haldeman. This brief administrative exchange served solely to bridge communication between the President and his top aide. No further policy or strategic matters were discussed during this request.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman consulted on campaign advertising strategy, specifically regarding a documentary film and television speech scheduled for October 4, 1972, which were to highlight domestic and foreign policy achievements. The pair also reviewed the President's public relations schedule, focusing on whether Nixon should host a reception for the National Newspaper Association. Ultimately, they decided to verify if the guest list overlapped with previous events and discussed having First Lady Pat Nixon attend as an alternative if the President's presence was redundant.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an outgoing call to Charles W. Colson. The interaction served as a logistical request to establish communication between the President and his special counsel. No substantive policy discussions or complex strategic decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
Henry A. Kissinger contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate an urgent communication with Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. The brief exchange served as a logistical bridge to connect the National Security Advisor with the Chief of Naval Operations. No further policy discussions were recorded during this brief administrative request.
Henry Kissinger requested that Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. contact him upon the Admiral’s return to his residence. The brief exchange served to facilitate a direct follow-up communication between the two officials. The operator confirmed the request and initiated the coordination of the call.
Henry A. Kissinger coordinates the logistics for an upcoming meeting with Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. at Camp David. He instructs the operator to ensure the Admiral is escorted to the Aspen Lodge upon arrival. Kissinger further requests that a staff aide be directed to notify him immediately once the Admiral has reached the location.
Henry A. Kissinger requested that the Camp David operator connect him via telephone to Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. This brief exchange functioned strictly as a logistical coordination to facilitate a direct conversation between the National Security Advisor and the Chief of Naval Operations. The communication was successfully established to initiate a high-level dialogue between the two officials.
Henry Kissinger and Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. discussed the logistical and political challenges of using civilian-manned ships for maritime operations in the context of ongoing Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT). They evaluated the feasibility of transitioning ships from Navy to non-Navy status to appease Soviet demands while navigating potential obstacles, including maritime union opposition and congressional funding concerns. Ultimately, Kissinger expressed skepticism regarding the proposal's complexity and suggested the plan might be abandoned due to the difficulty of managing internal government stakeholders.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone call to his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower. The brief interaction served as a routine administrative request to establish communication with a family member. No other policy or political matters were discussed during this short exchange.
President Nixon and his daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower, exchanged updates regarding their respective schedules, campaign travel plans, and personal family matters. Julie reported on her recent conversation with Bebe Rebozo concerning the health and opinions of Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as her own upcoming campaign appearances across several states. They also coordinated logistics for Tricia Nixon Cox’s attendance at a youth rally in Indiana.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to request an outgoing telephone connection to Charles W. Colson. The call served as a routine administrative request to facilitate communication between the President and his special counsel. No substantive policy discussions or decisions occurred during this brief exchange.
President Nixon and Charles Colson evaluated the evening news coverage provided by major television networks, specifically focusing on the biased reporting regarding Vice President Spiro Agnew and Democratic challenger George McGovern. Colson critiqued the perceived hostility of CBS toward the administration while highlighting the relative coverage of news editors and networks. The conversation also touched upon the political implications of AFL-CIO polling in Connecticut and included mention of a meeting with Andrei Gromyko at Camp David.
President Nixon directed the Camp David operator to connect him with National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. Nixon sought to determine if Kissinger was currently meeting with Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin and Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko at Birch Lodge. The primary objective was to facilitate a direct communication line with Kissinger amidst his high-level diplomatic discussions.
President Nixon instructs Henry Kissinger to emphasize to Soviet Ambassador Anatoliy Dobrynin that his past willingness to take decisive actions, such as the bombing of Cambodia and the Moscow summit, reflects a readiness to act despite political risks. Nixon intends to project a firm stance, signaling that while he prefers diplomatic restraint, the Soviets should not underestimate his resolve or his capacity for unilateral action. Kissinger agrees to convey this message of underlying strength to ensure the Soviets understand the President's commitment to his policies.
President Nixon contacted the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephone connection with his close friend and confidant, Charles G. “Bebe” Rebozo. The brief exchange served strictly as a logistical request to place the long-distance call to Florida. No policy matters or substantive political discussions occurred during this brief administrative interaction.
An unknown individual initiated a brief administrative request with the Camp David operator to page two specific individuals. The exchange serves as a logistical record of communication protocols used by the White House staff stationed at Camp David. No substantive policy matters or historical developments are addressed in this short transmission.
An unidentified individual initiated a brief telephone communication with the Camp David operator during the overnight hours of October 2–3, 1972. The caller requested to be connected to an individual identified as Agent Slade. Due to the limited nature of the recording and the absence of a transcript, no substantive policy decisions or political topics were identified.
An unidentified individual uses the Camp David operator to connect with the White House office to inquire about the availability of the Sergeant Major. The conversation briefly touches upon the President's itinerary and the Sergeant Major's current schedule, confirming that he is occupied on another line and unlikely to return until later in the evening. The caller subsequently coordinates a follow-up meeting for noon.