President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the timing of impending Supreme Court vacancies. The primary focus of the brief consultation was to manage the political strategy surrounding potential judicial appointments. No final decisions were recorded, but the discussion highlights the administration's active planning regarding the composition of the high court.
On October 21, 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 5:43 pm and 5:50 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 281-053 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 281-53
Date: October 21, 1971
Time: Unknown between 5:43 pm and 5:50 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Dates of vacancy on Supreme CourtNo transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.