Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 283 › Conversation 283-004

Nixon & Haldeman on Henry Kissinger and Byrd amendment

Wednesday, October 6, 1971 · 7:55 AM–8:03 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 52 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation283-004 on Tape 283 (tape position 00:16:56–00:18:01)StartWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 7:55 AMEndWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 8:03 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 283-004 ↗

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly coordinate their morning schedules and communication logistics. The discussion centers on the timing of meetings with Henry Kissinger and the status of legislative priorities, specifically the Byrd amendment. Nixon decides to bypass an immediate face-to-face meeting in favor of following up with Kissinger by phone.

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This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 67% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Do you understand me?
When you get through, I'm going to get over something before I send it to you.
I don't know if you have another meeting yet, don't you understand me?
Oh, well, I don't need to.
When does Henry finish with you?
He's not there now?
Well, fine, I ain't gonna go over that stuff.
I'll call him then.
Don't you bother, I'll call you later.
Yeah, it's gonna be nice.

On October 6, 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 7:55 am and 8:03 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 283-004 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 283-004
Date: October 6, 1971
Time: Unknown between 7:55 am and 8:03 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Staff meeting
The President's schedule
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Byrd amendment
  • 010-058 8:03 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:03 am.
  • 283-005 8:03 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 8:03 am.
  • 010-059 8:05 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:05 am.
  • 010-060 8:05 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:05 am.
  • 010-061 8:05 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:05 am.
  • 010-062 8:05 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 8:05 am.
  • 283-006 8:05 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 8:05 am.
  • 283-007 8:05 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at 8:05 am.

Conversation 283-004, October 6, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/283-004 (accessed September 28, 2026).