Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 210 › Conversation 210-005

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on 1972 election and Campaign strategy

Tuesday, September 12, 1972 · 8:49 PM–8:51 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation210-005 on Tape 210StartTuesday, September 12, 1972 at 8:49 PMEndTuesday, September 12, 1972 at 8:51 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 210-005 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the strategic potential of a campaign trip to Texas, framing it as an opportunity for the President to deliver a non-political address regarding urban issues. Nixon emphasizes the sentimental value of returning to his mother's home state to launch his campaign appearances while contrasting the anticipated Texas audience with crowds in the Midwest. Haldeman agrees to investigate the logistics of the trip following the President's suggestion.

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 60% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I was thinking of the trip to Texas.
I've been a little concerned about having a person.
I think it would work good.
And I can make a very non-political speech about the cities and all that.
And my mother's state, I've always started my campaign.
I mean, I've always made my first appearance in a campaign.
I wouldn't say I started a campaign directly, but I started it with a bold affection.
I believe your business has got to be abused by farmers in the Midwest, in Chicago, in what hell of a place.
a huge crowd, you know.
It's a different kind of crowd than what I think.
It's just basically
Anyway, let's look into that.
Okay.

NARA Description

On September 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:49 pm to 8:51 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 210-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 210-5

Date: September 12, 1972
Time: 8:49 pm - 8:51 pm

Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation no. 142-3]

Also recorded on September 13, 1972

  • 142-001 8:44 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 8:44 pm.
  • 142-002 8:44 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:44 pm and 8:49 pm.
  • 210-003 8:44 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 8:44 pm.
  • 210-004 8:44 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 8:44 pm and 8:49 pm.
  • 142-003 8:49 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:49 pm to 8:51 pm.
  • 142-004 8:53 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 8:53 pm.
  • 210-006 8:53 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 8:53 pm.
  • 142-005 8:58 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone at Camp David from 8:58 pm to 9:00 pm.

All 20 conversations from September 13, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 210-005, September 13, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/210-005 (accessed October 9, 2026).