Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 148 › Conversation 148-018

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Henry Kissinger and White House scheduling

Wednesday, October 11, 1972 · 7:01 PM–7:02 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation148-018 on Tape 148StartWednesday, October 11, 1972 at 7:01 PMEndWednesday, October 11, 1972 at 7:02 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 148-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman coordinated the schedule for Henry Kissinger’s return to Washington to ensure their meetings were not disrupted by the President's travel to Atlanta. Nixon directed Haldeman to instruct Kissinger to delay his arrival until 5:00 p.m. so that they could meet privately with Secretary of State William P. Rogers. The plan further included a private dinner at the White House with Nixon, Kissinger, and Alexander Haig to discuss ongoing diplomatic matters.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yes, sir.
Second thought, I think it is not good for me to be in Atlanta before cheering thousands at a time that he arrives back and tell him to delay his flight, his return, until he arrives about 5 o'clock.
You know what I mean?
Good idea.
Sleep in.
Yep.
And then he will see Rogers and me immediately.
I think what we have to do is to see him together.
Okay.
And give him a little flap on the damn thing.
Okay.
And be prepared for that.
And then he and I will have dinner with him and Haig.
Okay.
And just the three of us together.
All right.
We won't announce that, but he and Haig and I will have dinner together.
And we won't go to the square, and then we'll have it right at the White House and have a talk.
Okay.
He should not arrive when I'm in Atlanta, Bob.
Okay.
It would be a hell of a mistake.
Don't you agree?
Yep.
Tell him to delay there.
You were through with the parade.
It might not be bad.
No, no, no.
Delay it and have him arrive around 5 o'clock.
Right.

NARA Description

On October 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 7:01 pm to 7:02 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 148-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 148-18

Date: October 11, 1972
Time: 7:01 pm - 7:02 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

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

[See Conversation No. 219-26]

        The President's schedule
            -Atlanta
            -Henry A. Kissinger's schedule
                -Possible delay of arrival
                -Meeting with William P. Rogers
                -Dinner with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
                -Possible delay of arrival

Also recorded on October 11, 1972

  • 148-017 7:00 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:00 pm and 7:01 pm.
  • 219-025 7:00 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 7:00 pm to 7:01 pm.
  • 219-026 7:01 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 7:01 pm to 7:02 pm.
  • 148-019 7:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 7:03 pm.
  • 148-020 7:03 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:23 pm.
  • 219-027 7:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 7:03 pm.
  • 219-028 7:03 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:23 pm.
  • 219-029 7:03 PM · 14 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:23 pm.

All 48 conversations from October 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 148-018, October 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/148-018 (accessed October 23, 2026).