Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 188 › Conversation 188-008

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Public relations and Media strategy

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 5:55 PM–5:56 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 31 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation188-008 on Tape 188 (tape position 00:22:19–00:31:34)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:55 PMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 5:56 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 188-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly discussed the political strategy for managing public perception following recent foreign policy developments. Haldeman suggested capitalizing on positive editorial commentary and poll data, specifically highlighting themes of presidential strength and resolve. The conversation served to reinforce the use of favorable media framing to bolster the administration's image.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
I think it might be well if Monday, just looking at some of this editorial stuff, got out one of its businesses of editorial comment and polls, and we could see there are some excellent lines like the finest hour and guts and some of that stuff, and they got some of that too.
Good.
Okay.

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 5:55 pm to 5:56 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 188-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 188-008

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: 5:55 pm - 5:56 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation No. 130-6]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 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.
  • 130-007 5:56 PM · 2 min — Unknown person(s) and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 5:56 pm on May 18, 1972 and 11:59 pm on May 19, 1972.
  • 130-008 5:56 PM · 1 min — Unknown person(s), Camp David operator, Kenneth T. McLenden, and Robert Mahaffey talked on the telephone at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 5:56 pm on May 18, 1972 and 11:59 pm on May 19, 1972.
  • 188-009 5:56 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:56 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 188-010 5:56 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:56 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 188-011 5:56 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:56 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 188-012 5:56 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 5:56 pm and 8:22 pm.
  • 188-013 5:56 PM · 40 sec — Unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 5:56 pm on May 18, 1972 and 11:59 pm on May 19, 1972.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 188-008, 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/188-008 (accessed October 10, 2026).