Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 191 › Conversation 191-008

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Soviet-American relations

Thursday, May 18, 1972 · 11:22 AM–11:23 AM ET · Camp David Hard Wire ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation191-008 onTape 191 (tape position 00:31:35–00:33:13)StartThursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:22 AMEndThursday, May 18, 1972 at 11:23 AMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 191-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the potential public relations fallout regarding the exchange of high-value gifts between the United States and the Soviet Union. Nixon emphasizes the need to frame the situation by highlighting the reciprocal nature of the gift-giving—specifically the trade of a Soviet hydrofoil for an American car—to mitigate concerns about ostentatiousness. The President instructs Haldeman to consult with staff to craft a narrative that frames these exchanges as balanced and diplomatic rather than extravagant.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
If you know, I'm aware of the PR problems of an expensive gift.
There are also PR problems of accepting a gift.
I mean, all of the Chinese gifts were infinitely more, you know, because they're not as ostentatious.
So, but I think you ought to get somebody like a Moore in on the act to see and say, now, how do you think we ought to handle this?
Pointing out the background, you know, that what happened was that we learned that the Soviet government, they asked that they could present a hydrofoil because they're very proud of their hydrofoils.
And so we said we couldn't accept that unless we could present something, you know, in kind and what the Soviet government wanted.
The Russians said we'd like a car.
Well, we do cars.
Well, they do hydrofoils.
Well, that's really the story.
It's the God's truth.
I think that it's well handled.
It's all right.
Except that you give them the cattle at the restaurant.
It could be a hell of a negative story if it's handled that way.
What?
Well, it's a problem.
But yeah, it's a problem unless you point out that our gifts are less expensive than theirs.
And it's basically, you know, you turn it and it changes.

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 11:22 am to 11:23 am. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 191-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 191-8

Date: May 18, 1972
Time: 11:22-11:23 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation No. 131-29]

[End of telephone conversation]

Also recorded on May 18, 1972

  • 131-028 11:08 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 11:08 am and 11:22 am.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 191-010 11:24 AM · 1 min — 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.
  • 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.

All 90 conversations from May 18, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 191-008, 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/191-008 (accessed September 18, 2026).