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Conversation 205-012

TapeTape 205StartSaturday, August 19, 1972 at 12:33 PMEndSaturday, August 19, 1972 at 12:41 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the potential inclusion of the story of Tanya Savicheva, a victim of the Siege of Leningrad, in upcoming presidential communications. Nixon expresses frustration that his staff is overly focused on dry, analytical messaging and resists using emotional, human-interest narratives. The President questions whether his writing staff is capable of incorporating such poignant storytelling and directs Haldeman to assess whether any personnel on the team are capable of executing this rhetorical approach.

Presidential speechwritingPublic relations strategyTanya SavichevaPolitical communicationRhetoric
AudioNARA Description

On August 19, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 12:33 pm to 12:41 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 205-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 205-12

Date: August 19, 1972
Time: 12:33 pm - 12:41 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation No. 176-8; one item has been withdrawn]

                                        (rev. Oct-06)
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

But he mentions the time that he...
Here's the way he would do it.
He says, when I spoke to the Soviet people last May, I recalled the story of Tanya's abduction.
You see, remember I told you before that God damn it, they always screw it up.
They picked a beautiful child with a picture I had seen the day before, as I later read.
And a few words her diary told, one by one, the death of her man.
And then the final words, smaller death, and Tanya remains.
I don't want a lot of judgments on that.
Yeah.
What do you think?
Am I wrong?
I think that's what it does to me.
No, no, no, no.
He wants it used in a non-emotional way.
It's cold and beautiful, but it's just, God damn it, you've got to put some work in it.
I don't know why.
Does anybody understand that over there?
Any of these people?
Or do they?
I don't know.
Maybe they don't believe in it.
Is that it?
Is it because of the press?
Isn't that the problem?
I don't ask Ziegler about this, but he'll be against it, too.
He would be, obviously, because of the law.
that was emotional and small-scale and all the rest.
The point is, do we have anybody on the staff that believes we should do this or use this?
I mean, I'm speaking to all the writing staff.
Any of them?
Yeah.
And who is the PR staff?
Or our writing staff?
Sapphire?
No.
No.
Well, he's writing this way.
So go ahead.
They said use it.
You know, it's a funny thing.
People like to hear stories.
You know, when you go to church, how many times have you heard the parable of the prodigal son?
Did they change it?
No.
They don't.
Yeah, we're here in Easter, sir.
Christmas, sir.
I just don't know.
It's what it is.
It's the goddamn education.
Probably Georgetown or something like that.
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