Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 278 › Conversation 278-032
Nixon & Haldeman on Personnel management and Staff evaluation
Sunday, September 12, 1971 · 5:33 PM–5:53 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 5 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman engaged in a wide-ranging discussion regarding personnel evaluations and the management of various White House staff and associates. The conversation touched upon the personal challenges and professional effectiveness of specific individuals, including concerns about alcohol-related issues and leadership styles. The two assessed the suitability of potential appointees and staff members for sensitive roles, debating whether certain individuals could successfully navigate administrative burdens and represent the administration effectively.
- Personnel management
- Staff evaluation
- Administrative appointments
- Professional conduct
- White House operations
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
I didn't want to raise that question on myself.
Basically, he had a very difficult problem on his teeth.
He had a problem with being an alcoholic.
He had a problem with alcohol and his teeth.
geometrically escalated problem.
And that we all should be given a hold on to.
You know, we've heard of an Afro-Catholic, we've seen one, we've seen a lot of children out there.
And by the way, you happen to have a chance to talk to Don about the studies and the treatment of others.
Yeah, I've headed to somebody around
He needs to be called Frank for that matter.
You can't be Frank because it's Frank.
He said, it's great.
We need a hell of a long time.
We don't claim to be Frank.
So the camel was there.
Now, if you bring me the advice of a totally new man, do you want to go through it?
That was the major reason, frankly, for my...
My brothers, as I told you, not to shift on, recognized me in the campaign.
And, alas, at least I know it.
Now, coffee, coffee, coffee apparently has organizational problems.
Yes.
Yes.
But the point about Coffey is that Coffey, when he was around, he's somewhat like Steve Bullock.
He's extremely easy on people.
He smiles.
He doesn't smile.
He doesn't talk.
He just knows how to melt the woodwork.
And I couldn't accept it.
Well, I don't really feel he's the best man.
He does say that he's going to have to leave some travel and contact with the United States.
I don't know if he wants to do that, but he's so concerned about being an American director.
And I just think of his investment.
I think that he's definitely an American director.
He's definitely an American director.
Nell Yates was just fine doing this one.
She isn't as bad as she was in the United States.
But I'll go as far as I can.
Mark is the judge.
She can do it without me.
She knows it all.
She can do it, I think, probably almost as long as I can.
She can just sit there in her office.
get on the telephone, call people, be a BLA, you know, that sort of thing, that's the charity, and be basically any second secretary, rather than, you know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know,
The singing was a hell of a burden, I must say.
She's not a kid anymore.
She's still a pilot.
I don't know if she's going to come through.
I'm sure she's not going to.
I don't know if she's going to.
I don't know if she's going to.
Her problem is not that she's not a kid anymore.
It's her outlaw.
I don't know if she's going to come through.
I don't know if she's going to come through.
I don't know if she's going to come through.
It's not quite as good, but I think you just go in there.
You know, I always make a few little remarks, and you just say, push my name on the second floor, of course.
I really should not have helped the fighters.
What do you think of not shaking their hand?
But Graham himself said, no.
But it wouldn't mean a great loss if it didn't feel good.
Right, 2% of the people.
NARA Description
On September 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:33 pm to 5:53 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 278-032 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 278-32
Date: September 12, 1971
Time: 5:33 pm - 5:53 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/04/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[278-032-w001]
[Duration: 6s]
[See Conversation No. 008-103-w001]
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 04/04/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[278-032-w002]
[Duration: 50s]
[See Conversation No. 008-103-w002]
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 04/04/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[278-032-w003]
[Duration: 6s]
[See Conversation No. 008-103-w003]
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 04/04/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[278-032-w004]
[Duration: 2s]
[See Conversation No. 008-103-w004]
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 04/04/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[278-032-w005]
[Duration: 7s]
[See Conversation No. 008-103-w005]
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/04/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[278-032-w006]
[Duration: 1s]
[See Conversation No. 008-103-w006]
**********************************************************************
Conversation No. 276-18/278-33
Date: September 13, 1971
Time: Unknown between 8:50 pm and 10:15 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Henry A. Kissinger.
[The recording begins at an unknown time while the conversation is in progress and is a
continuation of Conversation No. 276-18]
Foreign relations
-Forthcoming announcement
-Scheduling of forthcoming summits
-Moscow trip
-Kissinger's schedule
-Vietnam negotiations
-Date
-Announcement
-Ceasefire offer
-Melvin R. Laird
-Vietnam
-Popular opinion shifts
-Post-World War II elections
-Comparison with other countries
-Africa
-Communists' action
Attica Prison riots
-Casualties
-Guards
-Numbers
Vietnam
-Prisoners of war [POWs] issue
Foreign relations
-Soviet Union trip
-Announcement
-Kissinger's trip to the People's Republic of China [PRC]
-The President's trip to the PRC
-Timing
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Vietnam
-Troop withdrawal
-Press conference
-Response by Soviets
-Date of trip
-Vietnam negotiations
-South Vietnam elections
-North Vietnam
-President’s view
-Michael J. Mansfield
-South Vietnam
-Status, future
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-POWs
-The President's PRC trip
-US military action in Vietnam
-Unknown person
-Japan
-Reaction to PRC trip
-President’s handling
-State Department
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 8:50 pm.
Refreshments
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 10:15 pm.
Foreign relations
-Kissinger's trips to the PRC
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number LPRN-T-MDR-
2014-017. Segment exempt per Executive Order 13526, 3.3(b)(6) on 12/20/2017. Archivist:MAS]
[National Security]
[278-033-w001]
[Duration: 2m 19s]
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
**********************************************************************
Vietnam
-Nguyen Van Thieu
-Withdrawal of US troops
-Future settlement
-Aftermath
-PRC
-North Vietnamese attacks
-Possible response
Attica Prison riots
-Casualties
-Guards
-Amnesty
Vietnam
-Withdrawal of US troops
-Announcement of Kissinger trip
-Foreign policy of the US
-Military protection
**********************************************************************
[Previous archivists categorized this section as unintelligible. It has been rereviewed and
released 04/04/2019.]
[Unintelligible]
[278-033-w002]
[Duration: 2m 35s]
Japan
Political party in unknown country
-Members of political party
Unknown country’s slow building of military capability
-William P. Rogers
-Admiral Thomas H. Moorer
John B. Connally
William P. Rogers
President’s decision
Cambodia
-Vietnam War supporters
Trade
Arthur F. Burns
Henry A. Kissinger’s schedule
-September 14
**********************************************************************
Kissinger left at 10:15 pm.Also recorded on September 12, 1971
- 008-099 5:14 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 5:14 pm.
- 008-100 5:15 PM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman talked on the telephone from 5:15 pm to 5:31 pm.
- 278-030 5:15 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John D. Ehrlichman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:15 pm to 5:31 pm.
- 008-101 5:31 PM · 38 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:33 pm.
- 008-102 5:31 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:31 pm and 5:33 pm.
- 278-031 5:31 PM · 16 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 5:31 pm and 5:33 pm.
- 008-103 5:33 PM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 5:33 pm to 5:53 pm.
- 008-104 5:53 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:53 pm and 9:23 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 278-032, September 12, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/278-032 (accessed October 9, 2026).