Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 200 › Conversation 200-009

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Polish-American relations

Wednesday, August 9, 1972 · 10:19 AM–1:47 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation200-009 on Tape 200StartWednesday, August 9, 1972 at 10:19 AMEndWednesday, August 9, 1972 at 1:47 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 200-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed strategies to bolster the administration's outreach to Polish-American groups, specifically leveraging Secretary of State William P. Rogers's credibility with this demographic. Nixon directed that Rogers coordinate a meeting with John Cardinal Krol, involving Assistant Secretary for Europe Walter J. Stoessel, Jr., to foster positive relations. The President also emphasized that these efforts should be publicized through the Polish press and college media to maximize political impact, tasking Haldeman with coordinating the plan with Charles Colson.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 62% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Bill Rogers believes that he could be very effective before COVID-19.
I agree.
When we were in Poland, feeling in the cathedral, the Cardinal was saying, that's my religious element.
I've already suggested that he have Cardinal Crowe now, even in that State Department, probably for lunch, when it's special.
The Assistant Secretary for Europe will be there, Rogers, at that time.
We have an excessive report to roll, which is already clear to Rogers and the Cardinal, other than that, the Secretary of State was there in the cathedral on the occasion of the religious holiday, and was most grateful.
And we worked with him, which was very intelligent.
I know Colson has a lot of things going here, but I think sending Rogers directly into Polish groups, that could be very effective.
All of them, personally.
True, some of them have great confidence in saying that Rogers is scheduled to introduce some Polish forums.
Besides, it's their own.
What really matters is that they can speak before such groups and that they get
It spread through the college press and known overseas as well.
This, of course, is a matter you'll want to discuss with Colson as well.

NARA Description

On August 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 200-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 200-9

Date: August 9, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President dictated a memorandum to H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     William P. Rogers
          -Effectiveness regarding Polish-American groups
                -The President’s previous visit to Poland
          -Possible meeting with John Cardinal Krol
                -Walter J. Stoessel, Jr.
                     -Assistant Secretary for Europe

          -Charles W. Colson
          -Rogers’s possible meetings with Polish groups
               -Polish press

Also recorded on August 9, 1972

  • 200-005 10:19 AM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-006 10:19 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-007 10:19 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-008 10:19 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-010 10:19 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-011 10:19 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-012 10:19 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.
  • 200-013 10:19 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 10:19 am and 1:47 pm.

All 23 conversations from August 9, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 200-009, August 9, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/200-009 (accessed October 12, 2026).