Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 312 › Conversation 312-027

Nixon & Haldeman on State of the Union and William P. Rogers

Tuesday, January 11, 1972 · 3:49 PM–4:02 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation312-027 on Tape 312 (tape position 03:47:31–03:48:58)StartTuesday, January 11, 1972 at 3:49 PMEndTuesday, January 11, 1972 at 4:02 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 312-027 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss administrative coordination, including Nixon's upcoming meeting with Secretary of State William P. Rogers and the preparation of the State of the Union address. The President expresses a need to focus on domestic policy while distancing himself from certain external communications. Additionally, the conversation touches upon military concerns in Laos, specifically regarding armament requests and the logistical constraints of providing support.

Audio

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Position in tape: 03:47:31 – 03:48:58

part B, 1:45:19

312a.mp3
312b.mp3

NARA Description

On January 11, 1972, 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 3:49 pm and 4:02 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 312-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 312-27

Date: January 11, 1972
Time: Unknown between 3:49 pm and 4:02 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     The President's meeting with William P. Rogers

     Memorandum from Raymond K. Price, Jr.
        -State of the Union speech

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Same with Haig.
I'm not going to talk to him.
But get in touch with me during that evening.
I'm not going to talk to him.
Because I'll have to concentrate on the domestic stuff.
Haig was telling me that the Laotians want free Arab religions in there.
Of course, that's out of question.
But the Arab wouldn't go without our helicopters, et cetera.
And we just might not be able to do that right now.
Too bad.
What are you, what are you projecting now?
It's supposed to continue deterioration.
There will be some destruction of knowledge here, but there are places where most Americans, when they say stay, they allow it.
Definitely, when we went into Laos that year, we were going to the province of Laos, and we pointed that out.
How's the weather?
Pretty good at all?
Isn't that good?
Well, I hope you sit out in your little potty over there and get a little sun.
Okay, Henry.
Goodbye.
Good night.

Also recorded on January 11, 1972

  • 018-066 3:43 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone from 3:43 pm to 3:49 pm.
  • 312-026 3:43 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:43 pm to 3:49 pm.
  • 018-067 3:49 PM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:49 pm and 4:02 pm.
  • 312-028 3:49 PM · 15 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 3:49 pm and 4:02 pm.
  • 018-068 4:02 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone from 4:02 pm to 4:03 pm.
  • 312-029 4:02 PM · 21 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:02 pm to 4:03 pm.
  • 018-069 4:03 PM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 4:03 pm and 4:05 pm.
  • 312-030 4:03 PM · 12 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 4:03 pm and 4:05 pm.

All 30 conversations from January 11, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 312-027, January 11, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/312-027 (accessed November 13, 2026).