Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 228 › Conversation 228-002
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on 1972 election
Monday, November 20, 1972 · 1:21 PM–1:42 PM ET · Camp David Hard Wire · 9 min
AI Summary
President Nixon dictates a memorandum for the file regarding a wide-ranging review of his administration's political landscape following the 1972 election. The recording captures his reflections on personnel management, including potential changes to the Republican National Committee and cabinet-level shifts, as well as strategies for managing his public image and press relations. Additionally, the President assesses the effectiveness of key advisors and evaluates potential appointments for his second term, including considerations for the United Nations and the Internal Revenue Service.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 5 minutes of this recording (about 59% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On November 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:21 pm and 1:42 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 228-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 228-2
Date: November 20, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:21 pm and 1:42 pm
Location: Camp David Hard Wire
The President dictated a memorandum for the file.
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Unknown person
-Manner
1972 election
-The President’s observations
-Campaign
-Robert J. Dole
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
Republican National Committee [RNC]
-Dole
-Risk
Unknown person
-25-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 228-2 (cont’d)
-Delegation
The President’s files
-Personal papers
-Substance, details
-Vietnam
-Trip to People’s Republic of China [PRC]
Public relations
-William P. Rogers
-The President’s memorandum
-The President’s image
-Henry A. Kissinger
-William L. Safire
-Hugh S. Sidey
-Life
-Cut off
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Telephone call to New York
-The President’s photograph
Race relations [?]
-Robert C. Byrd
-George C. Wallace
-Appointments
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Blacks
1972 election
-John D. Ehrlichman, Haldeman
-Congress
-George S. McGovern
Rogers
-Foreign trip
-Negotiation
-Haldeman
-Charles W. Colson
Second term reorganization
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 228-2 (cont’d)
-George D. Webster
-Internal Revenue Service [IRS]
-John A. Scali
-Ambassador to the United Nations [UN]
-Howard (“Bo”) Calloway
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************Also recorded on November 20, 1972
- 155-015 1:42 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone at Camp David from 1:42 pm to 1:46 pm.
- 228-003 1:42 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 1:42 pm to 1:46 pm.
- 155-016 1:46 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm.
- 228-004 1:46 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm.
- 228-005 1:46 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David at an unknown time between 1:46 pm and 2:05 pm.
- 155-017 2:05 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone at Camp David from 2:05 pm to 2:21 pm.
- 228-006 2:05 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 2:05 pm to 2:21 pm.
- 155-018 2:21 PM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Camp David operator talked on the telephone at Camp David at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 2:26 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 228-002, November 20, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/228-002 (accessed October 9, 2026).