Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 188 › Conversation 188-006

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Correspondence and Public Relations

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 5:44 PM–5:45 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation188-006 on Tape 188 (tape position 00:19:48–00:22:04)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:44 PMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:45 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 188-006 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly discussed the administration's protocol for responding to incoming correspondence, including letters and telegrams from VIPs and other supporters. Nixon directed Haldeman to ensure that official replies were being processed for these communications. The President also briefly considered drafting a personal acknowledgment to an individual regarding their vote on the Bird Amendment, though he expressed some hesitation about the political optics of such a move.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
Yeah.
I just wanted to make sure that something was underway to reply to the VIPs on the letters and wires and so forth.
Are we doing something on that or are we not trying to?
Yeah.
I see that, you know, there are some that will expect replies to VIPs particularly.
The others should all get them too.
Speak to Clark.
Speak to Clark and say, I want you to know how much I appreciated your vote on the Bird Amendment.
Maybe not.
Maybe we don't want to.

NARA Description

On May 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 5:44 pm to 5:45 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 188-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 188-006

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: 5:44 pm - 5:45 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation No. 130-4]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 130-003 5:34 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 188-003 5:34 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 188-004 5:34 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Beverly J. Kaye met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 188-005 5:34 PM · 2 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:34 pm and 5:44 pm.
  • 130-004 5:44 PM · 59 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:44 pm to 5:45 pm.
  • 130-005 5:45 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:45 pm and 5:55 pm.
  • 188-007 5:45 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:45 pm and 5:55 pm.
  • 130-006 5:55 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 5:55 pm to 5:56 pm.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 188-006, May 18, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/188-006 (accessed October 17, 2026).