Conversation 202-005

TapeTape 202StartMonday, August 14, 1972 at 6:05 PMEndTuesday, August 15, 1972 at 8:17 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire

AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman outlining a strategic public relations counter-attack against George McGovern during the 1972 campaign. The discussion centered on exploiting McGovern’s past supportive comments regarding Ramsey Clark to portray the Senator as sympathetic to communists and critical of American interests. Nixon directed the administration to coordinate with speakers, newspaper editors, and conservative groups to amplify these criticisms and highlight the contrast between McGovern’s positions and the legacy of J. Edgar Hoover.

George McGovernPublic Relations StrategyRamsey ClarkFBI1972 Presidential CampaignJ. Edgar Hoover

Audio

NARA Description

President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David on an unknown date, sometime between 6:05 pm on August 14, 1972 and 8:17 pm on August 15, 1972. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 202-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 202-5

Date: Unknown between August 14 and 15, 1972
Time: Unknown between 6:05 pm, August 14, 1972 and 8:17 pm, August 15, 1972
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

     Public relations
          -Strategy
                 -John B. Connally
                 -W. Ramsey Clark
                      -George S. McGovern
                      -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] head
                      -Patrick J. Buchanan
                           -McGovern quote
                           -Clark quote
                                  -Hanoi
                           -Possible statement
                                  -McGovern’s statement
                                        -Clark as FBI director
                                  -J. Edgar Hoover
                                  -Clark

     McGovern
        -Attitude to communists
        -Strategy by administration
              -Buchanan
              -Administration speakers
              -Newspaper editors
              -Clark MacGregor
              -Richard G. Kleindienst
              -Quinn Tamm
                    -International Association of Chiefs of Police
               -Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] head [Patrick W. Carr]

                                         (rev. Mar-02)

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Transcript (AI-Generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

It's a couple of odds and ends with regard to the counter-attack activities paragraph.

As I have emphasized, and as Connolly totally agrees, it is important to use the hammer, particularly on the point

Thank you.

Something like this.

I'll respond.

That's quite how I speak and how I radio.

I believe in the opinion of the North Vietnamese propaganda that attacked me in the United States.

These words.

any american in particular would attack his own country

July Blank, in an interview, Senator McConaughey said, quote, the card would be a perfect FBI director if he would take it, end quote.

Friends, get here, of course, the exact quote.

Blank Eaters, J. Edgar Hoover has had the FBI

You know, his primary responsibility.

Great.

I don't believe in unwittingly spying over the head of your own company.

I agree.

Well, they would be soft-headed, and toward comics.

Me, never.

Never.

Through the two major speakers.

Editors, papers, and the makers.

I would strongly urge in this case that we have not come from a greater course of acquaintance.

Sound the line.

is to get it off and get it used.

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