Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 189 › Conversation 189-017

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on George Wallace and George McGovern

Wednesday, May 17, 1972 · 2:26 PM–2:35 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 6 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation189-017 on Tape 189 (tape position 01:30:06–01:36:08)StartWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:26 PMEndWednesday, May 17, 1972 at 2:35 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 189-017 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the political implications of George Wallace's recovery following the recent assassination attempt on his life. They deliberated over the timing and optics of a potential presidential phone call to Wallace at Walter Reed hospital, ultimately deciding to postpone any contact to avoid media scrutiny and negative associations. Additionally, the pair analyzed the broader political landscape, including the growing momentum of George McGovern’s primary campaign and the impact of Wallace’s potential absence on the upcoming Democratic convention.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Hello.
Did Harry Dan speak to you about the possibility of calling?
What do you think?
There is the one item which would help if it were to do that, but I understand he probably is going to Walter Reed according to what's said in two or three days.
Dr. Lukash tells me this is at 11 o'clock.
The move will be taking place in two to three days.
Well, maybe they...
The hospital, that's what I was going to say.
I think a telephone call then does the trick.
Helicopter out there, could we?
No, that's awful noisy.
Let's not give any indication that we're thinking of that, and I won't tell Luke Cush or anybody else.
Like today, it says Mrs. Wallace feels the governor's alert enough to take your telephone call today.
See, of course, Luke Cush suggested I call him.
I said, well, I don't want to sign it right now.
And Wallace himself believes tomorrow would be better.
He's kept morphing his experience of some difficulty hearing.
So I'm not going to come out there.
I'm not going to call him even for a couple days.
I don't think that, of course, as you know, they do have press at Walter Reif on.
And I, well, I suppose I'd want you to do it if you were there, so.
I'd have to say a word when I left.
You know, remember when I used to go see Eisenhower and all the jams and the bitches are out there?
Questions?
It'll be Friday.
I'll plan to do it.
Don't tell Lukasz we're thinking about it because it gets around.
We'll see whether it's conditioned.
We've just got to be very sure it's the right thing to do.
According to schedule today,
I did a foolish thing this morning.
I woke up at 6 o'clock.
So I got up and I went to work until about 12.30.
There's going to be one hell of a problem, as usual, going over there because the problem is going that way
I'll be getting up in the middle of the night.
You know, that's what I mean.
So... Well, I'll be getting up in the middle of the night, but beyond that... Getting up at night isn't going to be so hard over there, is it?
I used to do it.
I used to do it, but I can't...
I'll just need more sleep or something.
Have more in your mind, I think.
That's it.
Well, that's it.
When I used to do it, I think that I'd hit the bed and I'd just sleep, you know.
Good in mind, but you don't do that anymore.
Good reactions in the blue room, I hope.
I'm going to call Pat and say, you know, have it the right sound.
Good.
Good.
You're writing good on it, aren't you?
It's all about the Wallace thing.
If you've got any ideas, I'll have a chance to mention it.
Yeah, Harry Hanna thinks it's going to make him a hell of a lot tougher in the convention.
And, well, either way, if you're a third party, do.
Although Harry says that there are a number of states where it's awfully hard to get the balance.
It'll be hard to get on a mission, for example.
I don't know if you might want it on you.
the South.
It's true.
It's true.
It's true.
It's much easier for an anti-busing Democrat to vote for another Democrat than it is for an anti-busing Democrat to vote for a Republican.
See, that's...
I want to get some.
That's right.
Just took a hell of a call.
Sir?
And that Dan McGovern keeps coming.
Harry says in Colorado and Utah he picked up a lot of delegates.
You know, he's working around the state.
That's right.
The hippies all go to these district precinct conventions.
They got nothing else to do.
Well, also, they got the types that Goldwater had in 64.
You know, they're the type that used to love to sit down and figure it all out.
It was a great game for them.
And, I mean, they're just the opposite of some of the people that, you know, the people we have had.
Some of them are people, not all, but some who are just as good-hearted as they can be.
Well, like a Jack Brown, for example, you know, who wouldn't know how to count.
I mean, they just, these guys are just brutal and vicious and just love it.
Love to go in and do the grubby work and so forth.
We shall see.
Yes, sir.
Okay, bye.

NARA Description

On May 17, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:26 pm to 2:35 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 189-017 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 189-17

Date: May 17, 1972
Time: 2:26 pm - 2:35 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with H. R. Haldeman.

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/11/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[189-017-w002]
[Duration: 1m 2s]

[See Conversation 131-006-w002]

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

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/11/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[189-017-w003]
[Duration: 2m 5s]

[See Conversation 131-006-w003]

[End of telephone conversation]

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Also recorded on May 17, 1972

  • 131-006 2:26 PM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:26 pm to 2:35 pm.
  • 131-007 2:35 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm.
  • 189-018 2:35 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 2:35 pm and 2:36 pm.
  • 131-008 2:36 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
  • 189-019 2:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Walter R. Tkach met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:36 pm to 2:40 pm.
  • 131-009 2:40 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:42 pm.
  • 189-020 2:40 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 2:40 pm and 2:42 pm.
  • 131-010 2:42 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:42 pm to 2:44 pm.

All 63 conversations from May 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 189-017, May 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/189-017 (accessed October 12, 2026).