Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 211 › Conversation 211-004

Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Campaign strategy

Saturday, September 16, 1972 · 2:31 PM–6:36 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 10 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President)Conversation211-004 on Tape 211StartSaturday, September 16, 1972 at 2:31 PMEndSaturday, September 16, 1972 at 6:36 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 211-004 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 648453160 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum to H.R. Haldeman outlining revised campaign strategies based on recent poll results, focusing on the scheduling of family members for campaign appearances in smaller and doubtful states, while also advising on the public roles of Vice President Agnew and other surrogates to maximize electoral impact and avoid alienating specific voter groups. He also proposed a project to compile predictions made by columnists and commentators that might prove incorrect after the election, and discussed the allocation of advertising funds and the need for targeted media blitzes in key Senate contests.

Audio

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This clip of the conversation was cut from the tape by the National Archives (catalog record ↗).

NARA Description

On September 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 211-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 211-4

Date: September 16, 1972
Time: Unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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NixonMemorandum for Haldeman. For private file. Paragraph: In view of recent poll results, I have some revised thoughts regarding the schedule for family, period, paragraph.
NixonInsofar as Christian, Julie, Lady Nixon, and Ed Cox, period. They should hit all of the smaller states. Smaller sized states.
NixonAnd the election. Of course, Hawaii and Alaska should be excluded, unless it appears that a trip to Alaska might be essential for the purpose of
Nixonassuring Ted Stevens, period, paragraph. Also important that they are scheduled into Massachusetts, West Virginia,
Nixonand any other doubtful states, period, paragraph. Each state must, I want to be sure that none of the southern states feel that they are
Nixonbeing taken for granted. For example, not period, for example, I want to be sure that a member of the family is scheduled into Mississippi, Alabama,
NixonArkansas, Louisiana, states where we have our best to be, expect an even-greater-chance winning, period, paragraph.
NixonA member of the family goes into South Dakota, I want a particularly good event scheduled to be sure that we have a good reception there, period, paragraph. Also, I want the members of the family to be informed that
Nixonthey are to avoid standing beside, standing behind the Republican candidates for the Senate in those states where we think our Republican candidates don't have a chance to win.
NixonThese comments apply, of course, to Agnew and the surrogates. Agnew, having to play a somewhat more temper role in regard to,
Nixonthe rest of the Republican senate, period. Appearing, he must not stir up the animals too much among labor and Democrats who are supporting us. He, of course, cannot and should not stand aside from our Republican candidates,
Nixonbut he should not make a great issue out of campaigning for the Republican Senate. As far as our surrogates are concerned, those that are not too close to me, can be more
Nixonvocal in their calling for the election of a Republican candidate for the Senate. Those who are close, on the other hand, should be somewhat more restrained because whatever they say will be attributed directly to the White House, period, paragraph.
NixonWith the family, the problem is not too difficult, period. It is expected that they will, be supporting the Republican nominees,
Nixonthey will do it in a low-key, personal way that will not raise the hackles of the nonpartisan politicians, period, paragraph.
NixonIn our conversation earlier today, I think it is important to take the allocation of advertising for Texas and put it into Massachusetts, West Virginia.
NixonTexas will go with the swing. And as far as Wisconsin is concerned, it probably also will be affected by the swing, although if there is a way to get some special attention paid to Wisconsin, it should be done, period, paragraph.
NixonWell, make sure that we don't overlook Senate contests in places like Montana, Indiana, where we might have a chance to win, period.
NixonAlso, having in mind the poll on Alabama, it is quite possible now, I think, that Blount can win. It is very important that at least one or two members of the family go to Alabama and be seen with Blount.
NixonWhoever is drawing Alabama, should make sure that the Alabama media coverage is turned in Virginia, period, paragraph. As far as the Southern big states are concerned,
NixonI will cover Atlanta and I will already covered Florida. The others should all, except for Texas, should all be covered by members of the family, and also Rocky Mountain states and farm states.
NixonNew England states, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, which are not on our, first list.
NixonA subject, I would like you to put somebody to gather together a project entitled "What the Columnists and Commentators Would Like to Forget".
NixonGet the quotes: "What the Columnists, Co- Commentators Would Like to Forget" close quote. Here what I would like to do is to pick up their predictions with regard to the election,
Nixonbeginning right after the California primary and carried through the Democratic and Republican convention, up to election. I would pick up the major liberal columnists and, of course, virtually all of the television commentators.
NixonWhy have made predictions and statements that may well be proved wrong by the election results? Very useful to have, I look forward to, in the writing about the campaign.
NixonI had great difficulty getting this material together. To describe it, I'm not sure that I will want to use it, but in any event I want the material prepared so that if I do decide to write on this subject, I will have it in my files.
NixonParagraph: With further reference to the Senate contest, I think it is important to really scrutinize what contest really need more money,
Nixonand try to channel some of our major contributors into those contests rather than into the national campaign. On the same subject,
Nixonlet us be sure that in all the Senate contests, we plan a three-week blitz of a combined media fight which will give the
Nixonmajor possible coattail effect. [snort] A case in point is the press poll in New Hampshire, period. He probably
Nixonhas very little chance to win at this point because of the split in Republican ranks. On the other hand, with the swing as big as it might be, if he hangs tight enough to us,
Nixonhe could pull it off, and we should not pull away from him. Because, while he is somewhat of a cross to bear, in fact we owe nothing whatever to McIntyre.

Also recorded on September 16, 1972

  • 359-016 1:15 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm.
  • 359-017 1:15 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm.
  • 359-018 1:15 PM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:15 pm and 1:32 pm.
  • 211-001 2:31 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.
  • 211-002 2:31 PM · 13 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon and Julie Nixon Eisenhower met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.
  • 211-003 2:31 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.
  • 211-005 2:31 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.
  • 211-006 2:31 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:31 pm and 6:36 pm.

All 34 conversations from September 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 211-004, September 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 648453160). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/211-004 (accessed November 2, 2026).