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Conversation 254-016

TapeTape 254StartMonday, May 31, 1971 at 5:45 PMEndMonday, May 31, 1971 at 6:06 PMTape start time01:27:57Tape end time01:31:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss political strategy and public opinion regarding the administration's performance. The conversation touched upon the perceived conservative leanings of specific groups and concerns regarding the influence of the press and public polling, such as Gallup. The President emphasized the need to mobilize support for upcoming initiatives while evaluating the efficacy of previous media engagements and press conferences.

Political strategyPublic opinionPress relationsGallup pollsAdministration outreach
AudioNARA Description

On May 31, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:45 pm to 6:06 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 254-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 254-16

Date: May 31, 1971
Time: 5:45 pm - 6:06 pm

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

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 09/12/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[254-016-w001]
[Duration: 40s]

[See Conversation No. 003-199]

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Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Uh, yeah.
Yeah, okay, good to see you.
I'm gonna have an early dinner, if you'll be certain.
So, uh, I'll bring over about 6 or 15 cushions.
Oh, uh, yeah.
I didn't mean to bother you.
I'm just checking on a couple of things here at the department.
I'll sit with old friends, though.
I know I used to go there.
I went over to watch her, uh,
I guess they teach well.
I don't know.
They get their kids into college.
I don't know.
Basically, they're conservative.
They're conservative.
They're not conservative.
And all that sort of thing.
They had this bowl of many good questions where they rated the issues which they were on.
I know that one thing that
And at least as far as any of you have here, I'm sure the organization didn't turn on me at all.
Yeah, well, the environment did.
I'm going to ask everybody to carry this on the next one.
We'll ask everybody to support it at home.
Yeah.
I have a feeling that myself and the environment is not forever.
They're an adequate group.
It sets a hell of a lot of people.
It's very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very,
Whether it's Gallup coming out, whether it's, you know, a lot of effort from the other, because it's the last one that's going to be very, very well published.
Let me come back to one other point on the schedule.
It seemed to me that one thing, and I wonder if you were able to analyze this, and I guess maybe you can, is what, if any, in fact, we've all, you know, felt press conferences before this.
Wow.
Wow.
What happens when you talk to me and what happens when you talk to me?
When you first start crying, when you see me, when I try to get to your calibers, you might be thinking that you need to come back and do something with me.
It might be that I have your chance again.
I was wondering about this, whether we all stop breathing and try to put a question on the table.
I don't know how he got here.
I'm not very sure, but you know, we can't get too much into Washington, D.C.
I don't know how he got here.
I don't know how he got here.
I don't know how he got here.
Thank you.
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