Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 191 › Conversation 191-010

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Soviet-American relations and General Motors

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 11:24 AM–11:26 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation191-010 on Tape 191 (tape position 00:33:30–00:35:35)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:24 AMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:26 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 191-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the logistics and potential public relations fallout of providing a Cadillac to Soviet officials. Nixon recalls past efforts to introduce American industrial goods to the Soviet Union and suggests that General Motors should donate or fund the vehicle to avoid the appearance of using taxpayer money. The President emphasizes the importance of avoiding government expenditures on the gift to mitigate potential criticism.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Yeah.
In 59, I recall taking several representative items from American industry to Moscow and giving them to these people.
Now, they were not expensive items.
You know what I mean?
Some of our corn products and things of that sort.
But they were not from the government.
They were from various industries here that wanted the Russians to have their products.
I wonder if there's any way you can work this out.
Your GM does this damn thing.
I really think, and we'll say that, you see, basically, they, the pro-Soviet government makes hydrofoils.
GM makes the car.
We say that we were receiving one, and they indicated they'd like a car.
GM said, fine, we'll give them one of those.
So that isn't that I gave them the goddamn thing.
Or the taxpayers paid for the Cadillac.
That's the thing.
If it comes down to that, I'll pay for the Cadillac.
You know what I mean?
No, I'm serious.
I'd simply say that we don't have the funds for it.
But I don't want to do that either.
I don't see why GM just can't give them one.
Or pay to it.
The problem, the PR problem, would become infinitely less.
Fine.
Fine.
They'd be up for General Motors.
Fine.

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 11:24 am to 11:26 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 191-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 191-10

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: 11:24-11:26 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation No. 131-31]

[End of telephone conversation]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 131-029 11:22 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:22 am to 11:23 am.
  • 191-008 11:22 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:22 am to 11:23 am.
  • 131-030 11:23 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:24 am.
  • 191-009 11:23 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:23 am and 11:24 am.
  • 131-031 11:24 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:24 am to 11:26 am.
  • 131-032 11:34 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Camp David operator, and George P. Shultz talked on the telephone at Camp David from 11:34 am to 11:37 am.
  • 191-011 11:34 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and George P. Shultz met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 11:34 am to 11:37 am.
  • 131-033 11:37 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:37 am and 11:38 am.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 191-010, 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/191-010 (accessed September 18, 2026).