Conversation 239-008

TapeTape 239StartFriday, January 5, 1973 at 8:50 PMEndFriday, January 5, 1973 at 9:00 PMParticipantsHaldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceCamp David Hard Wire

On January 5, 1973, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Aspen Lodge study at Camp David from 8:50 pm to 9:00 pm. The Camp David Hard Wire taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 239-008 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 239-8

Date: January 5, 1973
Time: 8:50 pm - 9:00 am
Location: Camp David Hard Wire

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
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                  NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                 (rev. Aug-08)

                                                  Conversation No. 239-8 (cont’d)

[See Conversation No. 160-8]

This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.

Oh.
Oh, Bob, you home?
Oh, good.
Good.
Anything new?
Good boy.
I think the main thing that I can say now is the question of our attack operation, you know, as to whether it's adequate and so forth.
And we'll make a hard look at that over the Monday, so we'll see whether
uh whether we are dismantling too much you know at a time
Well, in any event, we don't have to decide.
Now, the main thing is to consider the people that we have, the ones that will be useful, the ones that will not be useful.
And having a good group that we can, you know, depend upon when we have to move on this issue or that issue.
I agree.
Yeah.
I'm going to have an entry tomorrow.
Very good.
Beyond that, the PR side of things is very important at this point.
Matter of fact, it occurred to me that we really ought to have somebody with Henry when he's over there.
You know, he's got a grumpy smile and things of that sort.
Oh, yeah, well, Rogers should not have mentioned it at that point, you know what I mean?
Because Rogers, you know, she punched John out of his position and, uh, because of, we all knew it was the wrong thing to do, but on the other hand, she was, you know, Rogers was just trying to rub it into him.
In front of others, you don't do that.
Yeah.
Yeah.
You see, you've got to get, basically, you've got to get Ziegler and the rest all sort of together in the sense that they understand everything.
And play the whole PR thing for all it's worth, but just sort of put the hot news right there.
Well, you'll have a chance to talk to them, perhaps Monday, and go over the whole thing with them.
But let's take a real good look at what our Emperor says, and just not add anything funny.
We'll spin it up a bit.
You know, having in mind that the campaign is over.
There's another campaign now.
But he never does, does he?
And, uh, they, uh, I think the, uh,
It isn't just the fact that we didn't strike out quite often.
It's better to have something other than nothing, isn't it?
It could be.
I'm going to get the zipper out and talk to him about a little bit more.
But the handling of PR is actually very important to me.
And we've got to be in a position to, you know, not to be always on the defensive.
As a matter of fact, it's a good basis for us to do this.
democrats acting up in their usual way here but uh more than you would expect because they they know what's up their actions are pretty uh to the point where they probably could read jeopardize the negotiations
But the important thing is how it all comes out.
So, when it turns to midnight, you keep on deciding, remember, you're not getting concerned about Aiden and Pearl.
You don't worry about this.
They're the hell with it.
I don't care what the Aiden and Pearl does or even the Congress.
On the other hand, we've got a few of our guys standing up for some of this stuff now, you see.
That's where we need the, you know, we need the apparatus.
Give it a little thought.
I tell you, I had a talk with Ford and they had to make a deal with Wilson because Brown wasn't willing to fight.
So what is going to happen?
Wilson has agreed to
that they will resign three days before the dinner on March 28th.
And I said, well, okay, Jerry, if that's what you want to do.
But I said, let's have them be understanding that he appoints Brown as the candidate recruiting a man.
So they even started the debate and said, okay, so that's the way it's going to be.
Isn't that incredible, the way they act?
On the other hand, if you get the brown in the candidate recruitment thing, then we can start doing the brown on the brown thing.
On that subject, just ignore those.
Are you ready?
Oh, good, good.
You really think so?
Good.
Good.
I don't know what to say.
All right.
All right.
And give me, give, and give the upbeat feel.
for it, but he didn't quite understand how to, you know, broker it, you know.
Okay, well, have a good weekend.