Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 250 › Conversation 250-019

Nixon & Haldeman on Press relations and Public relations strategy

Friday, April 16, 1971 · 3:27 PM–5:30 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation250-019 on Tape 250 (tape position 03:46:03–03:51:05)StartFriday, April 16, 1971 at 3:27 PMEndFriday, April 16, 1971 at 5:30 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 250-019 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss preparations for an upcoming editors' meeting, specifically focusing on technical logistics like the use of a rostrum and the presidential seal. The President emphasizes the need for a more relaxed attitude toward press relations, arguing that his ability to answer questions directly provides a significant political advantage. Additionally, the pair briefly touches upon the President's diplomatic policy regarding the USSR and the domestic political landscape involving "hawks" and Senator Mike Mansfield.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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With regard to this program tonight, I think that I would just use the rostrum seal off rather than the naked mind.

I'm one of the things that sent my name to the point, and there is something about myself, and there is something about the state and presidential people.

So, let me say, I didn't progress on anything major, so I don't know why I made the point on it.

Nobody knows, everybody knows I don't use a damn note.

And I think if you've been there, I got something to lean on.

I think what you can say, basically, is that we find that the sound pickups, better sound pickups come out.

Why don't you, uh, why don't you just say something, you know, to improve.

I really think now, too, also about the press conference last night, to improve, uh, listen to, to hear, uh, hear the, uh, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,

We shouldn't be so concerned about the fact that every time you're out there, it's not his arm again.

That would make him not that better.

It's a circle.

So if you do it like that, you ought to remember that these are the best arms people have had over the years.

I think we tend to think that, well, every time we go up there, we all cry on the press now.

We've got approval from the press, and I'm sure in real time and all that, you know, gee, this is going to be a tough time.

I don't mean to say that about this, because I mean,

My feeling is that we ought to be more relaxed about it.

I just don't think it makes that much difference.

The parents of what we're talking about.

We have an enormous advantage in just being up there to answer your questions.

I think tonight, though, we ought to use the roster.

We do get there a little before we begin, though.

Thank you about that, Bill.

Well, anything late from here is a shock before I even finish my work here.

Slow down.

I appreciate it.

I've been talking to the Hawks for a long time, and anyone in the world would be talking to me, and it is maybe the first time I've heard of it.

It was the first time I've even heard of it.

And it's exactly what made me do it.

Actually, when I was in the stairwell, I was there, and when we started building our home, I was kind of like, well, I'm going to try.

I mean, it's a long story, but it's a long story.

It's a long story.

Okay.

NARA Description

On April 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 250-019 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 250-19

Date: April 16, 1971
Time: Unknown between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     Preparation for editors’ meeting
          -Rostrum
          -Press conference
                -Comments of unknown man
          -Presidential seal

                -Effect
                -Press conference
          -Sound pick-up
          -Press conference
                -Relations with press
                -Need for a relaxed attitude
                -President’s advantage
          -Rostrum

     President’s schedule
          -Appointment for April 17, 1971
                -Michael J. (“Mike”) Mansfield
                      -Timing
          -Unknown man [Mansfield?]

     Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
          -”Hawks”
          -Summit
          -Leonid I. Brezhnev
          -President’s policy
          -President’s forthcoming discussions with unknown man [Mansfield?]

Also recorded on April 16, 1971

250-016 3:15 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:15 pm to 3:27 pm.
250-017 3:27 PM · 11 sec — Manolo Sanchez and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm.
250-018 3:27 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm.
250-020 3:27 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm.
250-021 3:27 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm.
250-022 3:27 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:27 pm and 5:30 pm.
482-030 3:47 PM · 15 sec — United States Secret Service agents and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:47 pm and 3:49 pm.
042-055 5:30 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 5:30 pm to 5:32 pm.

All 51 conversations from April 16, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 250-019, April 16, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/250-019 (accessed October 3, 2026).