Nixon White House Tape 182 (October 29, 1972 – October 30, 1972)

Nixon, Camp David Operator & Tower

President Nixon contacted Senator John G. Tower via a telephone hookup to address a gathering of Texas supporters during the final stretch of the 1972 presidential campaign. Nixon praised Tower’s legislative record, specifically highlighting his support for national defense, fiscal responsibility, and the administration’s goal of 'peace with honor.' The President used the call to solidify political support in Texas and emphasize the necessity of Tower’s continued presence in the Senate for his upcoming second term.

Nixon, Haldeman & Camp David Operator

H. R. Haldeman briefs President Nixon on a proposed settlement strategy regarding the Common Cause campaign finance litigation, which would involve disclosing five million dollars in pre-March 1972 contributions to mitigate the negative publicity of Hugh Sloan's imminent testimony. Ehrlichman, along with Maurice Stans and John Dean, argues that settling now and postponing further litigation until after the election is the best way to cut losses. Nixon expresses concern over the public relations impact but ultimately authorizes the team to proceed if they believe it is the most viable option. Additionally, Haldeman and Nixon briefly discuss the distribution of a White House white paper to the press, with the President requesting to limit the release to Vice President Agnew's statements.

This recording captures a brief, 27-second audio segment from the Camp David Study Desk taping system. Despite a subsequent review, the audio remains unintelligible, consisting primarily of blank or unclear content. No substantive discussions, decisions, or participants can be identified from the available recording.