Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 153 › Conversation 153-037

Nixon phone call with Chandler on 1972 election and Walter H. Annenberg

Thursday, November 16, 1972 · 2:18 PM–2:23 PM ET · Camp David Study Table · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Chandler, NormanConversation153-037 on Tape 153StartThursday, November 16, 1972 at 2:18 PMEndThursday, November 16, 1972 at 2:23 PMRecording deviceCamp David Study TableSourceNixon Library record for 153-037 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon called media executive Norman Chandler to offer well wishes regarding Chandler’s ongoing health struggles and recent surgery. During the conversation, Chandler congratulated the President on his 1972 reelection victory, prompting Nixon to reflect on the historical importance of the Los Angeles Times’ early support for his political career. The two also discussed the status of Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg, with Nixon committing to write a note encouraging Annenberg to remain in his post to help alleviate political pressure.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Mr. President?
Yeah.
I have Mr. Chandler.
Mr. President, sir.
Hello.
Hi, Mr. President.
How are you?
I'm doing more important things.
How are you?
Well, I'm coming along.
Great, great.
Well...
I've had a little surgery, and I'm going to probably have to have some more iron.
Uh-huh.
Well, you... A few cobalt treatments, and I feel lousy, but I'm more or less on the shelf, but I'm at least up and around.
Well, your voice sounds great.
Well, I... Well...
I'll tell you, when I heard about this, I said, well, I mean, I had, somebody told me you had two little problems, and I said, well, I said, we couldn't, we need you.
That's the basic.
We just can't, you know, at least, you know, I've got to go to the Grove sometime, and I want you to be there.
I'll be there.
You know, by the time I get there, I'll probably be in that group where they put over on the side there, you know.
I don't think so.
The old guard.
I don't think so.
Well, what I want to tell you, too, is I've been sitting here
I'm at Camp David actually in Ramsettigan.
Yeah.
We're trying to work on all the new appointments.
We're having a—we're going to have a massive reorganization, which you'll be very pleased with, I'm sure.
But in any event, I've also been working on all of the letters and so forth to the thousands of people that worked and contributed and so forth.
I want to add my congratulations on a wonderful, wonderful victory.
Well, let me say that as I thought about it, you know, you think of a few indispensable, and as I've told you before,
One of the indispensables was not only the endorsement of the Times in 1946, which of course was essential in my ever getting the nomination as a Congressman.
But in 1950, I will never forget when Kyle Palmer, when I was in California, I didn't know what I was going to do.
I was just a junior Congressman.
Kyle invited me to have lunch with him and he took me to the old Biltmore.
And I remember to say what I had.
I had a tamale, one of those great big tamales.
And Kyle, you know, he was sort of blunt.
He sort of rumbled around.
He said, well, Dick, I don't think it's a good idea, but Norman told me that I should tell you that if you want to run for the Senate, the Times will support you.
And I said, well, you know, I gulped a bit.
But without that little word from you, I would have never run, and I'd never be here now.
Well, I think of that often, too.
Well, I'll tell you, you were the man, and what you have done through the years, your support has meant so much to me.
I mean, not only in the paper, but I remember the time at the Grove after the...
You know, before the 68, when Walter Annenberg came over to Caveman, you remember?
That's right, yeah.
Yeah, we had a good talk.
Yeah, that's right.
I hope Walter stays on for a while.
Well, I'm going to keep him on for a while.
I've asked him, too.
Don't you think it's a good idea?
He's doing it.
Sure.
I talked to him.
He was here last week.
I talked to him and urged him to stay on for a while longer.
Well, if you could, you might.
You know, I talked to him myself.
I dropped him.
I wrote a little note before the election.
Be careful where it was.
Let me say, everybody wants that job.
And I think...
I just feel he should stay there for a while.
I do, too.
And if you're dropping him a note and you can say you and I were chatting, it's nice for him to get it, you know, through a third hand.
I'll do that.
I'll do that.
I think it would take a little heat off of you for another year or two.
That's right.
I sort of had that in mind.
Well, that's good.
I've got enough heat as it is.
Yeah, I'm dropping the note.
Well, I congratulate you again.
It was just an unbelievably great, great victory for you and our country.
Well, it looks as if now that our total percentage might even—it's already the biggest absolute margin in terms of votes, but also the margin may go over 61 points, which is not bad.
Yeah, the polls proved to be pretty correct, didn't they?
Yes, sir, right on the line.
Right on the button.
That's right, that's right.
Well, anyway, you take care, and you're going to beat this thing, you know?
Well, I think I will.
I might have to have more surgery in about a month.
I might have to go into my lymph glands and throat.
And that's not good.
And on the other hand, this cobalt might clean it all up.
But it's not very nice to have it hanging over your head, but as soon as I stop my cobalt, I'll stop feeling better.
I can't even taste the food.
After all my taste, I can't tell whether I'm drinking a martini or a glass of milk.
Oh, boy.
That's just awful.
I know, I know.
It must be.
Well, Mr. President, you're very, very nice to call and make inquiry, and I deeply, deeply appreciate it.
And all the best of luck to you and my love to Pat.
Well, you'll get a note from me, but just one of the...
A little thank you notes, but I wanted to call you and just tell you what we were thinking about you.
Give our best above.
Thank you very, very much.
Bye.
All right, bye-bye.

NARA Description

On November 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Norman Chandler talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:18 pm to 2:23 pm. The Camp David Study Table taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 153-037 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 153-37

Date: November 16, 1972
Time: 2:18 pm- 2:23 pm
Location: Camp David Study Table

The President talked with Norman Chandler.

[See Conversation No. 225-38]

       Greetings

       Chandler’s health
            -Surgery
            -Cobolt therapy

       Bohemian Grove
           -Old Guard

       The President’s schedule
            -Camp David

       Second term reorganization
            -Appointments
                                           -45-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 153-37 (cont’d)

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]

      1972 election
           -Thank you letters
                  -Supporters
           -The President’s victory
                  -Congratulations
           -Supporters
                  -Endorsement of Los Angeles Times
                       -1946 election
                       -The President’s lunch with Kyle Palmer
                              -Senate race in 1950
                              -California
                              -Biltmore Hotel
                                    -Tamale
                  -Chandler’s support
                       -1968 election
                              -Bohemian Grove
                              -Walter H. Annenberg

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

      Second term reorganization
           -Walter H. Annenberg
                 -Retention in post
                       -Chandler’s recent conversation with Annenberg
                       -The President’s recent conversation with Annenberg
                             -Note
                                    -Timing
                                          -1972 election
                       -Chandler’s conversation with the President
                       -Benefit to the President
                       -Possible note from Chandler
                                            -46-

                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                           Conversation No. 153-37 (cont’d)

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]

       1972 Election
            -Congratulations
            -Percentage
                  -Margin
                  -Polls
                         -Accuracy

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

       Chandler’s Health
            -Possible surgery
                  -Timing
                  -Lymph nodes, throat
            -Cobalt therapy
                  -Effect

       Chandler’s gratitude
            -Telephone call

       Greetings
             -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
             -Forthcoming note from the President
             -Dorothy (Buffum) Chandler

Also recorded on November 16, 1972

  • 153-034 1:51 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower talked on the telephone at Camp David from 1:51 pm to 1:57 pm.
  • 225-035 1:51 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 1:51 pm to 1:57 pm.
  • 153-035 1:57 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:57 pm and 2:08 pm.
  • 153-036 2:08 PM · 49 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:08 pm to 2:09 pm.
  • 225-036 2:08 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:08 pm to 2:09 pm.
  • 225-037 2:09 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John G. Magner met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:09 pm and 2:18 pm.
  • 225-038 2:18 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Norman Chandler met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:18 pm to 2:23 pm.
  • 225-039 2:23 PM · 1 hr 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:23 pm and 3:45 pm.

All 30 conversations from November 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 153-037, November 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/153-037 (accessed October 9, 2026).