Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 267 › Conversation 267-013

Nixon & Haldeman on Domestic Policy and Speechwriting

Friday, July 30, 1971 · 4:00 PM–4:17 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation267-013 onTape 267 (tape position 04:37:22–04:45:36)StartFriday, July 30, 1971 at 4:00 PMEndFriday, July 30, 1971 at 4:17 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 267-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed their dissatisfaction with current White House domestic policy messaging, specifically regarding welfare, the environment, and consumer issues. Nixon expressed frustration that domestic speechwriting staff were producing content he felt was too liberal and lacking in ideological conviction. He directed Haldeman to shift toward a more aggressive, sharper rhetorical style to better align the administration's public persona with his personal political positions as the 1972 campaign approached.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 thought, I was thinking that, you know, when you were talking to John, I think that you might say that I'm pretty deep in trouble with the fact that I feel that, you know, I've been stuck in too much on, you know, everything from welfare to
the environment.
I know, I know the political, you know what I mean, I know some of that, but I really feel that we've got to put some sharp signs in on this, and that's why so much of our writing comes in to be some goddamn jury, you know what I mean?
It's all the, you know, crowding around about this or that, about things that I don't feel decent people.
I just can't, I just can't, I just can't say these things publicly, you know what I mean?
And, you know,
We've got to get some sharp edges on this gun.
It's got to be set now.
I'm not doing anything.
I'm saying, Chuck, I do, of course, speak sharply to the board.
I know what the hell I'm talking about.
I don't know what he's running.
And I do, I think, of course, my client, the overhead, has to do well.
But when we got into this business, believe me, the environment, the consumer, and the rest, and welfare, I mean, they're getting me into positions where I just don't feel about them.
They're comfortable with me.
They're an old man, right?
They're on it now.
They can't think about it.
But I just want to be grateful to them.
They've got to have the first man, third, more, and more of those clients here and all that.
And I can tell you, I just think it's a...
I feel, I really feel the need to get into my own speech right now.
Not only in the position to do what I say, but part of the sense of conviction and so forth.
You see, particularly as you approach a campaign, you just can't beat around the mouth in things that are just crap.
You know, that you know, well, we've got to do this for the other guy's sake, and so forth.
Do you understand?
Now that's one of the reasons why I hope you got my hand.
I wonder if you know what happened on that.
I don't know if you get the answer, but my hand is falling first now.
Here's a guy that writes like I believe he should.
And I must say that out of the right shot, I can't punch that.
You know, we've just done that hard.
And it's not their fault, really, because basically they're all liberals.
And actually, they are reflecting the kind of stuff we have in our programs.
A lot of it is liberal malarkey.
I don't know that.
We can't go as far as that.
In fact, I do want to, but I need to be a goddamn sharp person for all of you.
And, uh...
I've had a good hard time talking to the whole staff and stuff, and that's like, you know, I haven't had much of a session when I'm out here.
I don't like the welfare program.
I don't like that they have the regular share of time.
So, you know, this traffic is not in any of these cities.
It's not there.
But, I mean, despite what they all say, the poll is good to know.
I mean, that's good to know.
Or, you know, for anything, it gives a way to, you know, tell them, you know, what else they can stand for.
And I think it's really, really good.
And I must say, I don't like getting mad at you, but it's hard to let me know just how hard you are.
But, uh, we will do it.
There's nothing I can say.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On July 30, 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 4:00 pm and 4:17 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 267-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 267-013
Date: July 30, 1971
Time: Unknown between 4:00 pm and 4:17 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Issues
-Thomas R. Shepard’s speech
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Handling of environmental issues, consumerism, welfare
-Stronger statements
-Comparison with the President's handling of other issues such as foreign
policy, crime
-Raymond K. Price, Jr. and speech writers
-White House domestic council staff
-Attitudes
-Welfare, revenue sharing

Also recorded on July 30, 1971

  • 267-011 4:00 PM · 7 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 4:00 pm and 4:17 pm.
  • 267-012 4:00 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 4:00 pm and 4:17 pm.
  • 267-014 4:17 PM · 39 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Marjorie P. Acker met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:17 pm to 4:19 pm.
  • 267-015 4:19 PM · 30 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 4:19 pm and 4:35 pm.
  • 267-016 4:35 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:35 pm.
  • 267-017 4:35 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:35 pm.
  • 267-018 4:37 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 4:37 pm.
  • 267-019 4:37 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and James D. Hodgson met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:37 pm to 4:45 pm.

All 45 conversations from July 30, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 267-013, July 30, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/267-013 (accessed September 18, 2026).