President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed strategies to implement an aggressive public relations campaign aimed at labeling Senate Democrats as obstructionists, particularly regarding the Vietnam War and national defense issues. Nixon directed Haldeman to coordinate with Charles Colson to develop a media plan utilizing columnists like Victor Lasky to counter Democratic opposition. While Nixon emphasized the need to maintain a level of separation from the direct political attacks, he pushed for the White House communications team to aggressively challenge Democratic legislative maneuvers.
On September 16, 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 11:50 am and 1:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 278-064 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 278-64
Date: September 16, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:50 am and 1:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Congressional relations
-Meeting with Charles W. Colson
-Plan of action on obstructionist partisan label
-Senate Democrats
-Victor Lasky
-Column
-Handling
-Cabinet
-Leadership meeting
-Quote
-The President's role
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Draft
-Vietnam war
-House of Representatives
-Reaction of House members
-Quotes by members
-Obstructionism
-Draft
-Vietnam war
-Public relations [PR] program in the White House
-William L. Safire
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Colson
-Vietnam war
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Report
Press conference
-Time
-Location
-Deadline
Congressional relationsThis transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.