Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 214 › Conversation 214-021

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Public Relations

Monday, October 2, 1972 · 4:06 PM–4:59 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation214-021 on Tape 214StartMonday, October 2, 1972 at 4:06 PMEndMonday, October 2, 1972 at 4:59 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 214-021 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the logistics of an upcoming National Newspaper Association reception proposed by Herb Klein. Nixon expressed frustration over the potential redundancy of the event, noting his previous time-consuming engagements with similar organizations like the ASNE. He ultimately decided that First Lady Pat Nixon should attend the reception in his place to manage his schedule more efficiently.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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do it, but I'm not sure.

He said Herb Klein wants me to do a reception for newspaper editors or something like that, National Newspaper Association.

Let me just say, would you personally have it checked by somebody to see whether I really didn't do it before?

You know, I did.

I stood there two hours and a half off and met all those ASME people, and I don't want to repeat them.

And Herb, you know, has followed that up

You don't know whether that's been checked or not.

You see, ASNE is not just big papers.

As a matter of fact, it's mainly small papers.

And I think that you've just got to take a damn hard look at this.

The thing to do is to rather than have me stand there shaking their hands, let Pat go.

She doesn't mind.

I like her doing this.

NARA Description

On October 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 4:59 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 214-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 214-21

Date: October 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 4:06 pm and 4:59 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

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

[See Conversation No. 145-11; two items have been withdrawn from the conversation]

Also recorded on October 2, 1972

145-010 4:03 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:03 pm and 4:06 pm.
145-011 4:06 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 4:59 pm.
214-022 4:06 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 8:30 pm.
214-023 4:06 PM · 8 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Stephen B. Bull met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:06 pm and 8:30 pm.
145-012 4:59 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
145-013 4:59 PM · 16 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
145-014 4:59 PM · 23 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.
145-015 4:59 PM · 17 sec — Henry A. Kissinger and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 4:59 pm and 8:22 pm.

All 44 conversations from October 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 214-021, October 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/214-021 (accessed October 12, 2026).