Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 258 › Conversation 258-018

Nixon & Haldeman on Media relations and Television networks

Monday, June 14, 1971 · 7:56 PM–7:58 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation258-018 on Tape 258 (tape position 00:30:58–00:32:34)StartMonday, June 14, 1971 at 7:56 PMEndMonday, June 14, 1971 at 7:58 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 258-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss a strategic plan to exert pressure on the television networks by leveraging the influence of major corporate advertisers. Nixon proposes focusing on a single network to create a high-profile confrontation, aiming to manipulate media coverage through economic coercion. The brief exchange reflects the administration's ongoing efforts to challenge and undermine perceived hostile media outlets.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I had an idea that, perhaps the worst part of what occurred to me, that this is something we might pull off.
You get a couple like Kendall and some of the big advertisers called, take one network, zero it on, have a big episode, get it, it's fantastic, and everyone is talking about it.
It's a modern thing, right?
Very interesting.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.
Oh, no!

NARA Description

On June 14, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:56 pm to 7:58 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 258-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 258-18

Date: June 14, 1971
Time: 7:56 pm - 7:58 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
[See Conversation No. 5-78]

Also recorded on June 14, 1971

  • 005-073 7:41 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:41 pm and 7:48 pm.
  • 005-075 7:48 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone from 7:48 pm to 7:51 pm.
  • 258-015 7:48 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:48 pm to 7:51 pm.
  • 005-076 7:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo talked on the telephone from 7:52 pm to 7:55 pm.
  • 258-016 7:52 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 7:52 pm to 7:55 pm.
  • 005-077 7:55 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 7:55 pm.
  • 258-017 7:55 PM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 7:55 pm.
  • 005-078 7:56 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 7:56 pm to 7:58 pm.

All 57 conversations from June 14, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 258-018, June 14, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/258-018 (accessed October 5, 2026).