Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 289 › Conversation 289-013

Nixon & Haldeman on Robert McNamara and Henry Kissinger

Thursday, October 14, 1971 · 12:30 PM–2:30 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation289-013 on Tape 289 (tape position 00:29:11–00:30:56)StartThursday, October 14, 1971 at 12:30 PMEndThursday, October 14, 1971 at 2:30 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 289-013 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss modifications to the President’s upcoming schedule, specifically emphasizing the need to avoid a formal conference with Robert McNamara. Nixon expresses frustration regarding McNamara's potential visit and insists on limiting the interaction. Additionally, the President directs that Henry Kissinger avoid press engagements regarding upcoming briefings on the Soviet Union to maintain control over the administration's messaging.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Yeah.
You're going to have to clear that schedule in the morning, just till the McNamara thing just has to be cleared.
Can you do that?
What is it?
Just to tell him that I'm going to put him.
I've already told him he should know.
Is there anything else that I'm hearing, Mom?
Because there's too much to go over here, really.
I just don't want a conference with him.
Well, I just don't want a conference with him on it.
I mean, I have nothing to talk to him about.
I've already told him he may have a damn job and I don't know why he didn't set it up.
That's all right.
He comes in to con me and I'm done.
And if I know where Henry is, he'd round me.
I was like, Christ in peace.
What are you telling me?
Great box.
Yeah, just tell Dave to read about that.
And tell Dave for Henry's own good.
He's not going to talk to any press now or anything before he, you know, he doesn't need to.
You know, we want to brief everybody about Russia and it should stay a lot of that.
But you, Gary, you've got an end to it.
Well, I'm trying to get you all done.
I'll go to the door and get downstairs.
There's a hell of a lot more important things to write about.
Okay.

NARA Description

On October 14, 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 289-013 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 289-13

Date: October 14, 1971
Time: Unknown between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     The President's schedule
          -Robert S. McNamara
               -John B. Connally
                     -Appointment
          -Henry A. Kissinger
               -Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
               -Press briefing
                     -Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]

Also recorded on October 14, 1971

  • 289-001 12:30 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-002 12:30 PM · 7 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-003 12:30 PM · 4 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-004 12:30 PM · 9 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-005 12:30 PM · 2 min — 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-006 12:30 PM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-007 12:30 PM · 1 min — 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.
  • 289-008 12:30 PM · 20 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 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

All 42 conversations from October 14, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 289-013, October 14, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/289-013 (accessed September 28, 2026).