Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 251 › Conversation 251-040

Nixon & Haig on White House administration and Terminology

Thursday, April 29, 1971 · 6:32 PM–6:37 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation251-040 on Tape 251 (tape position 03:00:44–03:04:04)StartThursday, April 29, 1971 at 6:32 PMEndThursday, April 29, 1971 at 6:37 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 251-040 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig briefly discuss the semantics of differentiating between "modern" and "grand" in an unspecified administrative context, with Nixon expressing frustration over the distinction. Haig confirms that he and Henry Kissinger are working to restore certain traditions. The conversation concludes with a brief check on other outstanding issues, which Haig indicates are well-covered.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Now, it seems to me that that suggestion that you say that the difference between modern and grand is a damn ridiculous thing.
Trying to do that's what the state said, isn't that right?
You're trying to justify that at that point.
But you know what?
What the hell is the point of a hundred and hundred and fifteen ?
I know we don't want to have a difference.
Anything else you have of interest?
I think everything's pretty well covered.
And of course, it's the move that I and Henry have done to bring back the tradition that they want to come and say, oh, they're very much doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
They're doing it.
Except for one.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On April 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:32 pm to 6:37 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 251-040 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 251-40

Date: April 29, 1971
Time: 6:32 pm - 6:37 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with General Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 42-82]

Also recorded on April 29, 1971

  • 042-082 6:32 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 6:32 pm to 6:37 pm.
  • 251-041 6:37 PM · 12 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 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-042 6:37 PM · 36 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-043 6:37 PM · 46 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 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-044 6:37 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 251-045 6:37 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:37 pm and 7:27 pm.
  • 042-083 7:27 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 7:27 pm to 7:30 pm.
  • 251-046 7:27 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:27 pm to 7:30 pm.

All 64 conversations from April 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 251-040, April 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/251-040 (accessed October 3, 2026).