Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 261 › Conversation 261-001

Nixon & Haldeman on Pentagon Papers and Freedom of the Press

Tuesday, June 15, 1971 · 6:03 PM–6:21 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation261-001 on Tape 261 (tape position 00:00:50–00:03:15)StartTuesday, June 15, 1971 at 6:03 PMEndTuesday, June 15, 1971 at 6:21 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 261-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the administration's strategic response to the publication of the Pentagon Papers, focusing on mobilizing editorial support to counter the New York Times. Nixon emphasizes the need to frame the unauthorized disclosure of secret documents as a violation of law and suggests leveraging William P. Rogers to spearhead this public messaging campaign. The pair also touches on an upcoming congressional vote and the status of Vietnam peace negotiations regarding the release of prisoners of war.

Audio

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Position in tape: 00:00:50 – 00:03:15

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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).
I think that one thing in terms of that project is to get some thoughtful editorial comment against the Times on this.
I mean, then some editors ought to have the responsibility and the courage to speak up on this thing.
They weren't aware of the nature of it, but it was easy.
To get out on it, that's the way that you get out.
I don't know how many, for example, would do, but it would be a very good story to read.
I'm thinking that we could, the thing like this, I mean, this kind of event, like trying to do your own news, have millions of concern, because you said they were kind of on our decision.
There's no right to know, there's no goddamn right to know secret documents.
I don't know.
And the point is that they're, you know how the press always says, that's why we've got to really put on the business that they're violating, you know, they're violating the law and the breakfast.
We'll need to get Roger to listen to this.
He'd be the best one to fight this battle if he will.
Decide if he's responsible and so forth.
If you get all that, you'll get him.
Yeah, yeah.
Anything for this very study.
It's not on the ground, but it's being a legal case.
That boat is tomorrow.
I got a lot of crazy revelations.
They released all prisoners.
Nine months after that, they broke it down.
That's all.
Henry said it was gone off.
It never happens.
It doesn't like going long or great.
I just don't think it's going to have a lot of effect.
I don't know.
I can't follow all these things.
Who's in charge?
Well, you've got to say that.
Who's in charge?

NARA Description

On June 15, 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 6:03 pm and 6:21 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 261-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 261-1

Date: June 15, 1971
Time: Unknown between 6:03 pm and 6:21 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person [H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman?]

     Unfavorable New York Times article

     Pentagon Papers
          -Need for support from newspaper editors
          -John N. Mitchell
          -Henry A. Kissinger
          -Media actions
          -William P. Rogers
          -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew

     Upcoming Congressional vote, June 16
         -Ted Stevens

     Vietnam negotiations
          -Prisoners of War [POWs] release
          -Kissinger
          -Clark MacGregor

Also recorded on June 15, 1971

  • 005-079 6:03 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 6:21 pm.
  • 005-080 6:03 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 6:21 pm.
  • 261-002 6:03 PM · 3 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 6:21 pm.
  • 261-003 6:03 PM · 31 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 6:21 pm.
  • 521-014 6:03 PM · 12 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 10:06 pm.
  • 521-015 6:03 PM · 1 min — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 10:06 pm.
  • 521-016 6:03 PM · 23 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 6:03 pm and 10:06 pm.
  • 005-081 6:21 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 6:21 pm to 6:27 pm.

All 52 conversations from June 15, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 261-001, June 15, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/261-001 (accessed October 5, 2026).