Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 269 › Conversation 269-027

Nixon & Haldeman on Press relations and Media strategy

Tuesday, August 3, 1971 · 1:47 PM–3:40 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation269-027 on Tape 269 (tape position 05:31:02–05:35:01)StartTuesday, August 3, 1971 at 1:47 PMEndTuesday, August 3, 1971 at 3:40 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 269-027 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman consulted on strategic planning for an upcoming presidential press conference. They discussed utilizing a photo opportunity in the Oval Office with key advisors, including William Rogers, Henry Kissinger, and John Connally, as a tactical distraction to divert the press from the true focus of the event. The pair evaluated the timing and logistical implementation of this media management plan.

Audio

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Position in tape: 05:31:02 – 05:35:01

part C, 1:30:31

269a.mp3

269b.mp3

269c.mp3

269d.mp3

NARA Description

On August 3, 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 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 269-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 269-27

Date: August 3, 1971
Time: Unknown between 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     President's schedule
          -Forthcoming press conference, August 4, 1971
                 -Press
                      -Photo opportunity
                           -Ronald L. Ziegler
                           -Oval Office meeting
                                -William Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, John B. Connally
                                -Timing

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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 was thinking that one good way to throw the press off the trail on tomorrow's thing would be to have a plural opportunity.

I'm thinking of other ways that I could do that.

I didn't think that there was something in the atmosphere.

Well, it's not happening.

I want to keep up with the meeting with Ronald.

I'm saying, who could we have?

We have to move.

Just set up somebody at 11 o'clock.

11 o'clock and announce who would be picked up.

Roger.

I don't want him to come.

Yeah.

Not too.

Yeah.

Riders and Kisses to the right.

Why don't we just say that?

Riders and Kisses to the right.

That's fine.

And don't build.

Don't build on the ground.

Don't count.

Don't build on the ground.

Also recorded on August 3, 1971

269-028 1:47 PM · 39 sec — 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 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-029 1:47 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-030 1:47 PM · 43 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 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-031 1:47 PM · 13 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-032 1:47 PM · 8 min — 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 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-033 1:47 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-034 1:47 PM · 5 min — 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 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.
269-035 1:47 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:47 pm and 3:40 pm.

All 45 conversations from August 3, 1971 →

Nixon phone call with Haldeman on May Day demonstrations and Press relations June 1, 1971 · 12 min
Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Press relations October 14, 1971 · 5 min
Nixon phone call with Irwin on State Department and Press relations March 8, 1972 · 1 min
Nixon, Haldeman & Ziegler on Press relations and Presidential credibility April 25, 1972 · 2 min
Haldeman & Ziegler on Press relations and Public announcements July 21, 1972 · 2 min
Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Economic Report and Herbert Stein January 30, 1973 · 1 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 269-027, August 3, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/269-027 (accessed November 2, 2026).