Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 200 › Conversation 200-011

Nixon phone call with Ehrlichman on Republican National Convention

Wednesday, August 9, 1972 · 10:19 AM–1:47 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 3 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Ehrlichman, John D.Conversation200-011 on Tape 200StartWednesday, August 9, 1972 at 10:19 AMEndWednesday, August 9, 1972 at 1:47 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 200-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a memorandum to John D. Ehrlichman regarding the strategic management of the upcoming Republican National Convention. Nixon expresses concern over potential disruption by liberal Senate figures like Edward Brooke and Charles Percy and instructs Ehrlichman to coordinate with convention planners to ensure conservative interests are balanced. Specifically, the President calls for high-profile television segments featuring Barry Goldwater to solidify conservative support and counterbalance liberal factions on the convention floor.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 66% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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or the cold weather feels very strong, then out of the 11 of us, we have to still be able to work.
Resolutions should be given.
This is an attenuation of the number I'm referring to.
I will start again with the number I'm referring to.
It's the 32.
I realize that we are probably at Foxtel on Brook.
And then Percy will try to work his way in to speak on the platform and the rules.
I hope you follow through.
I also discussed the matter with the, whoever's in charge of the convention agenda.
I believe there has been tenants who may not have taken the orders, the orders and forms to where we are already boxed, we are already stuck with, and we do everything possible to keep those who have picked us.
I'm going to give it some prime television time.
at the convention, discuss this matter, of course, will help, because he may have some truth to his own truth.
And he emphasizes that, for our colleagues on the right, I have very strong feelings of respect, and that if we are going to have other roles still out in front, the liberals in the Senate out in front, at the convention,
They must have very good reasons for it, and they must be in a far more advantage than they are.
They must, of course, be perfectly made to counterbalance them, but not by conservatives.
For example, it seems to me that Goldwater should have a spot in the evening.
In the event that Brook is in some slump during the evening,

NARA Description

On August 9, 1972, 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. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 200-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 200-11

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 John D. Ehrlichman.

     Barry M. Goldwater
          -Republican National Convention
               -Supporters of the Senate "End the War" resolution
                     -Continuation of memorandum
                         -Previous memoranda to Ehrlichman
                     -Edward W. Brooke
                     -Charles H. Percy
               -Platform
               -Agenda
                     -William E. Timmons
                     -Dwight L. Chapin
                     -Goldwater
               -Television
                     -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
               -Liberals in Senate
               -Conservatives
                     -Goldwater
                     -Brooke

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.
  • 200-009 10:19 AM · 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 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.
  • 200-012 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 200-011, 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/200-011 (accessed October 12, 2026).