Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 316 › Conversation 316-008

Nixon & Haldeman on Vietnam speech and Public relations

Tuesday, January 25, 1972 · 2:55 PM–4:35 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation316-008 on Tape 316 (tape position 01:58:30–02:03:19)StartTuesday, January 25, 1972 at 2:55 PMEndTuesday, January 25, 1972 at 4:35 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 316-008 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the final logistical and presentational preparations for a forthcoming televised address regarding Vietnam. The discussion focused on managing the President's appearance, including makeup and wardrobe choices, while also touching upon the scheduling of meetings with bipartisan congressional leaders. They further deliberated on the management of White House staff and the anticipated press strategy led by communications officials to ensure favorable coverage.

Vietnam speech
Public relations
White House staff
Television appearance
Media strategy

Audio

Download MP3 · 4.3 MB

This clip was extracted from the full tape recording by Easy Nixon.

Listen to the full tape segment

Position in tape: 01:58:30 – 02:03:19

part A, 1:58:33

316a.mp3

316b.mp3

NARA Description

On January 25, 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 2:55 pm and 4:35 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 316-008 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 316-8

Date: January 25, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:55 pm and 4:35 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     The President's forthcoming Vietnam speech
          -Make-up
               -Timing
               -Mark I. Goode [?]
               -Herbert G. Klein
                      -Press
               -Residence

          -Meeting with bipartisan leaders
          -Suit
                -Previous wear
          -Ronald L. Ziegler
                -Henry A. Kissinger
          -White House staff
                -Budget
                     -Press coverage

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.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).

set up the business about the makeup and so forth.

I thought we should do it on the 7 o'clock.

I just said, do it, get it over with.

It's better than having a father-in-law

Also, I was out there.

I think I was in the bus here.

I was in this room over here.

It takes him 15 minutes or so.

I had to go.

I got to go.

I just didn't have time.

I didn't have time to break the lock.

Your idea is better than mine.

How old?

I'm going to see if you want to come over.

Okay.

I'm going to see if you want to come over.

I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense.

All right, fine.

Ziegler seems to be pleased with what he says, which makes me feel good about it.

It's a bunch of bad coffee.

Yeah.

I know that, as you said, but even sometimes I don't.

The staff, other friends, we just sit here.

I never think of it that way.

We hear about it so much, you know, and I wouldn't be on the quick offer to do it.

But, yeah, I just want to ask you a question.

The pleasure of making your own story.

— 1 min 17 s with no transcribed speech —

you

I know that you said no, but even sometimes I don't.

It's bad.

Oh, my God.

Also recorded on January 25, 1972

316-002 2:15 PM · 12 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 2:15 pm and 2:25 pm.
316-003 2:15 PM · 4 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 2:15 pm and 2:25 pm.
316-004 2:25 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, Henry A. Kissinger, Rose Mary Woods, and Marjorie P. Acker met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:25 pm to 2:33 pm.
316-005 2:33 PM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:33 pm and 2:45 pm.
316-006 2:45 PM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Henry A. Kissinger, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:45 pm to 2:55 pm.
316-007 2:55 PM · 13 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 2:55 pm and 4:35 pm.
316-009 2:55 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:55 pm and 4:35 pm.
316-010 4:35 PM · 47 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 4:35 pm to 4:36 pm.

All 55 conversations from January 25, 1972 →

Haldeman & Mitchell on Patrick Buchanan and Campaign Strategy June 10, 1972 · 31 min
Kissinger & Camp David Operator on Family relations and Hanoi February 2, 1973 · 4 min
Nixon, Rossi & Mongelli on Wardrobe and Tailoring June 9, 1971 · 35 min
Haldeman & Carruthers on Richard Nixon and Vietnam Speech January 26, 1972 · 4 min
Nixon & Woods on Vietnam speech and POWs March 30, 1973 · 8 min
Colson & Warren on Public Relations and Richard Nixon January 1, 1973 · 2 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 316-008, January 25, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/316-008 (accessed November 11, 2026).