Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 287 › Conversation 287-010

Nixon & Haldeman on Public opinion polls and Media strategy

Monday, October 11, 1971 · 2:25 PM–2:27 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·35 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation287-010 onTape 287 (tape position 01:14:05–01:14:59)StartMonday, October 11, 1971 at 2:25 PMEndMonday, October 11, 1971 at 2:27 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 287-010 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly discuss the strategic timing of releasing poll results to maximize their impact in morning newspapers. Nixon emphasizes the urgency of the release, instructing Haldeman to coordinate the effort with George Bush. The exchange highlights the administration’s focus on controlling the public narrative through media placement.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I wonder if you didn't think you ought to get that poll out today so that it would hit the market paper, you know.
Good.
Great.
So good to meet you.
Right.
And we do check with George right away before I get to talk about these books.
If you want to see whether you want to come earlier.
You know, this is kind of the best for me here.
If he's not dead by tomorrow, turn up.

NARA Description

On October 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:25 pm to 2:27 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 287-010 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 287-10

Date: October 11, 1971
Time: 2:25 pm - 2:27 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

[See Conversation No. 11-36]

Also recorded on October 11, 1971

  • 588-003 2:13 PM · 53 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:13 pm and 11:59 pm.
  • 287-009 2:14 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:14 pm and 2:25 pm.
  • 011-036 2:25 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman talked on the telephone from 2:25 pm to 2:27 pm.
  • 011-037 2:27 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:27 pm and 2:36 pm.
  • 287-011 2:27 PM · 42 sec — 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 2:27 pm and 2:36 pm.
  • 287-012 2:27 PM · 6 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 2:27 pm and 2:36 pm.
  • 287-013 2:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:36 pm to 2:39 pm.
  • 011-038 2:39 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Tricia Nixon Cox talked on the telephone at 2:39 pm.

All 53 conversations from October 11, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 287-010, October 11, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/287-010 (accessed September 18, 2026).