Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 219 › Conversation 219-026

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on Public Relations and Henry Kissinger

Wednesday, October 11, 1972 · 7:01 PM–7:02 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation219-026 on Tape 219StartWednesday, October 11, 1972 at 7:01 PMEndWednesday, October 11, 1972 at 7:02 PMRecording deviceCamp David Hard WireSourceNixon Library record for 219-026 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman coordinated the logistics for an upcoming meeting with a high-level official, likely Henry Kissinger, to ensure his arrival did not coincide with the President's public appearance in Atlanta. Nixon emphasized the political importance of avoiding a conflicting schedule and decided to host a private, unannounced dinner with the official and Alexander Haig. The conversation focused on managing optics and securing a quiet opportunity for a substantive debriefing.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I kind of thought, I think it is not good for me to be in Atlanta before cheering thousands at a time that he arrives back.
And it's telling us to delay his flight, his return.
So he arrives about 5 o'clock, you know what I mean?
Sleep in.
And he will see Rogers immediately.
I think what we have to do is see him together and give him a little slap on the back.
And then he and I will have dinner with him and Haig.
And just the three of us together.
We won't announce that, but he and Haig and I will have dinner together.
And we'll have a talk.
Okay.
But he should not arrive when I'm dead on Atlanta.
It would be a hell of a mistake.
Talk to the lay there.
No, no, no.
The lay has had him arrive around five o'clock.

NARA Description

On October 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 7:01 pm to 7:02 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 219-026 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 219-26

Date: October 11, 1972

Time: 7:01 pm - 7:02 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with H.R. ("Bob") Haldeman.

[See Conversation No. 148-18]

Also recorded on October 11, 1972

  • 148-017 7:00 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:00 pm and 7:01 pm.
  • 219-025 7:00 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 7:00 pm to 7:01 pm.
  • 148-018 7:01 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 7:01 pm to 7:02 pm.
  • 148-019 7:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at 7:03 pm.
  • 148-020 7:03 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:23 pm.
  • 219-027 7:03 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at 7:03 pm.
  • 219-028 7:03 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:23 pm.
  • 219-029 7:03 PM · 14 sec — Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 7:03 pm and 7:23 pm.

All 48 conversations from October 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 219-026, October 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/219-026 (accessed October 14, 2026).