Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 145 › Conversation 145-011

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on 1972 Presidential Campaign

Monday, October 2, 1972 · 4:06 PM–4:59 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation145-011 on Tape 145StartMonday, October 2, 1972 at 4:06 PMEndMonday, October 2, 1972 at 4:59 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 145-011 ↗

AI Summary

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.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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On a schedule thing, Alex asked me, and I said in a moment, I said, do it, but I'm not sure.
He said Herb Klein wants me to do a reception for newspaper editors or something like that, National Newspaper Association.
Yeah, that's the small paper.
Association the weeklies and the well let me just say would you personally have it checked by somebody to see whether I really didn't do it before okay you know I did I stood there two hours and a half Bob and met all those AS&E people and I don't want to repeat them okay and Herb you know has followed that up a couple times and I just want to be damn sure I'm I'm perfectly glad to do it but you know that drill of coming to the White House and shaking hands we do it with businessmen and others you remember with Pete Flanagan's groups over and over again and all of a sudden they say gosh what's new yeah
You don't know whether that's been checked or not.
Well, it has been, but I think your point's good.
It may overlap with one.
You see, ASNE is not just big papers.
As a matter of fact, it's mainly small papers.
That's right.
And I think that you've just got to take a damn hard look at this.
It's a different organization, but it could overlap substantially with the same kind of people.
And if it does, there's no point in doing it.
If it does, the thing to do is to, rather than have me stand there and shake their hands, let Pat do it.
Okay.
She doesn't mind.
Okay.
And...
And I'll like her doing this UPI thing today as well.

NARA Description

On October 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 4:59 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 145-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 145-11

Date: October 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:06 pm and 4:59 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

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

[See Conversation No. 214-21]

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/21/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[145-011-w001]
[Duration: 5m 13s]

       H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman's schedule

       Opinion Research Corporation
             -Telephone polling
                     -National weekend polling
                     -August poll
             -Robert Teeter
             -California
                     -Decision Making Information, Inc
             -National telephone poll
             -Robert Teeter

      The President's schedule
             -John B. Connally
                     -Charles W. Colson
             -Campaign ad for Wednesday night-October 4, 1972
                     -Republican National Convention
                     -Richard M. Nixon film
                     -President’s request
                            -Domestic policy
                            -International week
                                    -The People's Republic of China [PRC]
                                    -National Defense
                                    -Strategic Arms Limitations Talks [SALT]
                     -Speech
                     -Documentary film
                            -Length
                            -Acceptance speech
                                    -Historical reference
                            -Domestic policy
                                    -President’s opinion
                                    -Henry A. Kissinger
                            -Foreign policy
                            -Positive ads
                                    -Length
                            -John B. Connally
                                    -Timing

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

           The President’s schedule
               -Press relations
                   -Alexander P. Butterfield
                   -Herbert G. Klein
                   -Possible reception for National Newspaper Association
                   -American Society of Newspaper Editors [ASNE]
                         -White House
                             -Pete M. Flanigan
                         -The President’s view

                     -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                         -Possible role
                         -United Press International [UPI]

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 08/21/2018.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[145-011-w002]
[Duration: 27s]

       Charles W. Colson
              -George S. McGovern’s United Press International [UPI] speech
                    -Corruption
                    -Foreign Policy

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

Also recorded on October 2, 1972

  • 145-010 4:03 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:03 pm and 4:06 pm.
  • 214-021 4:06 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 4:59 pm.
  • 214-022 4:06 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 8:30 pm.
  • 214-023 4:06 PM · 8 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Stephen B. Bull met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 8:30 pm.
  • 145-012 4:59 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-013 4:59 PM · 16 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-014 4:59 PM · 23 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 145-015 4:59 PM · 17 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.

All 44 conversations from October 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 145-011, October 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/145-011 (accessed October 12, 2026).