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Conversation 298-024

TapeTape 298StartThursday, November 11, 1971 at 3:33 PMEndThursday, November 11, 1971 at 3:34 PMTape start time02:25:33Tape end time02:27:36ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon directed H. R. Haldeman to ensure that cabinet officers are briefed regarding an upcoming announcement and to oversee the composition of official delegations. Expressing frustration with State Department-led appointments, Nixon instructed Haldeman to personally vet future delegation members in coordination with secretary Rose Mary Woods to ensure political efficacy. This directive aimed to centralize control over executive appointments and bypass traditional bureaucratic influence.

Cabinet briefingsExecutive appointmentsDelegation managementH. R. HaldemanRose Mary Woods
AudioNARA Description

On November 11, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:33 pm to 3:34 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 298-024 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 298-24

Date: November 11, 1971
Time: 3:33 pm - 3:34 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

[See Conversation No. 14-45]
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Yeah.
Hello.
Uh, Bob, can you get, uh, uh, to be, to be sure that Alex, uh, maybe they've thought of this already, calls the cabin officers about this today?
Have they done that?
They haven't.
Well, they've got to before the goddamn announcement is made, you see.
So get Alex on it right away.
Point two.
Pat was talking to me a few minutes ago, and Gary Milbank has called her about wanting some people on the delegation.
One was Bunny Lasker, another was Doug Mockerson.
I don't think we understand Doug much.
Nevertheless, my point is, I...
On this delegation thing, if you don't mind, put somebody on a real intelligent and real political leader so that they don't get the usual State Department people on these things.
You know, it means an enormous amount of people to go.
I would have no objection to the last one going, he says he'll pay his expenses.
He could do nothing in his way, including his kids, and that's okay.
But I don't get it, but you get at it, and then you look at every one of these delegations from now on, personally, yourself, and send me in and say, here's the deal, and I suggest this or that, and have Rose look at it.
See, that way we can get at it, because they've been coming at me from so many different directions, and usually it's Henry or Rogers.
And I think you and Rose, together, will know that somebody is, all right, all right, Bob, thank you.
Yes, sir.
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