Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 183
Nixon White House Tape 183 (November 14, 1972 – November 29, 1972)
8 conversations · Camp David Study Desk · about 24 min of released audio
Featuring Haldeman, Ehrlichman, Nixon, Brennan, Toumayan
John D. Ehrlichman coordinates with the Camp David operator to facilitate a telephonic connection with Ronald L. Ziegler while President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman are present. The discussion focuses on managing Henry A. Kissinger’s travel schedule, specifically regarding the timing of public announcements concerning his upcoming trip to Paris. The participants deliberate on how to synchronize these communications with Ziegler and potential plans for Kissinger to visit Camp David.
John D. Ehrlichman directs Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler to adopt a strict policy of providing "no comment" regarding all future statements made by George McGovern, Sargent Shriver, and other Democratic leaders following the 1972 election. Ehrlichman emphasizes that the White House should treat these political figures as if they do not exist to avoid engaging in post-election recriminations. The conversation establishes this blanket refusal to comment as the official strategy for dealing with inquiries about the defeated opposition.
H. R. Haldeman coordinates with Lawrence M. Higby to schedule a same-day meeting between President Nixon and Bob Hope at Camp David. Haldeman provides specific logistical instructions, directing that Hope be transported via a 3:15 p.m. helicopter and provided with private car service. The directive emphasizes the need for efficiency, explicitly instructing staff to ensure Hope does not have to wait for other visitors.
Major John V. Brennan and the Camp David operator coordinated logistics for an impending telephone call between President Nixon and Ivorian President Félix Houphouët-Boigny. The participants established the technical setup for the call, specifying which phone lines would be used for the President and his interpreter. Brennan instructed the operator on the protocol for signaling the arrival of the call so he could transfer the connection to the President.
President Richard M. Nixon held a telephone conversation with President Félix Houphouët-Boigny of the Ivory Coast to commemorate the inauguration of a new satellite communications earth station. The discussion was facilitated by interpreters and White House staff to ensure connectivity between Camp David and the Ivory Coast. Both leaders exchanged expressions of mutual support and appreciation, with Nixon pledging continued U.S. cooperation and personal interest in the nation's progress throughout his second term.
H. R. Haldeman coordinated with the Camp David operator regarding a scheduled phone call with Robert H. Finch. Upon learning that Finch was unavailable due to a lunch engagement, Haldeman decided to cancel the immediate call attempt. He concluded the brief exchange by stating he would reach out to Finch at a later time.
H. R. Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman coordinated the President’s administrative schedule at Camp David following a meeting with Robert Dole. The participants discussed the transition to a meeting with Gerald Ford, where Ehrlichman was requested to be present, and arranged for a subsequent meeting between the President and Richard Kleindienst. They also touched upon the potential appointment of Joseph T. Sneed, ultimately deciding to bypass him due to the speculative nature of his candidacy.
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinate the retrieval of missing briefing materials intended for the President’s upcoming meeting with South Vietnamese official Nguyen Phu Duc. Following the President's frustration regarding the missing documents, Haldeman facilitates a call to Lawrence M. Higby to locate and deliver the necessary paperwork. This brief exchange highlights the administrative oversight required to ensure the President was adequately prepared for sensitive diplomatic discussions.