President Nixon met with Rose Mary Woods and H. R. Haldeman to discuss ongoing judicial vacancies and the broader implications of his Supreme Court selections. The group reviewed candidate credentials—specifically those of Herschel H. Friday and William H. Rehnquist—while evaluating the judicial philosophies of current and prospective Justices. Additionally, Nixon provided Woods with instructions regarding specific revisions for upcoming speech materials.
On October 21, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:58 pm to 2:25 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 281-038 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 281-38
Date: October 21, 1971
Time: 1:58 pm - 2:25 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Rose Mary Woods.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 19s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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Supreme Court nominations
-Herschel H. Friday
-Civil rights record
-American Bar Association [ABA]
Speech revisions
Justices' responsiveness to the President
-Judicial philosophy
-Chief Justice Warren E. Burger
-Hugo L. Black
-John M. Harlan
-Walter Lippmann quote
-Word changes
-William H. Rehnquist
-Robert H. Jackson
-Credentials
-Wording
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman at an unknown time between 1:58 pm and
2:25 pm.
[Conversation No. 281-38A]
Notification of the President's selections
-Burger
-John N. Mitchell
[End of telephone conversation]
Speech revisions
-Instructions for Woods
Woods left at 2:25 pm.This 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.