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

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.

Audio

Download MP3 (part 1) · 111.7 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 61.0 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 01:58:30 into the tape and ends around 02:03:19.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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

· Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.
1:58:36set up the business about the makeup and so forth.
1:58:41I thought we should do it on the 7 o'clock.
1:58:48I just said, do it, get it over with.
1:58:55It's better than having a father in the river.
1:59:02Also, I was out there.
1:59:03I think I was in the bus here.
1:59:05I was in this room over here.
1:59:11It takes him 15 minutes or so.
1:59:15I had to go.
1:59:16I got to go.
1:59:16I just didn't have time.
1:59:20I didn't have time to break the lock.
1:59:25I didn't have time to break the lock.
1:59:29Your idea is better than mine.
1:59:36How old?
1:59:36I'm going to see if you want to come over.
1:59:44I'm going to see if you want to come over.
1:59:48Okay.
1:59:49I'm going to see if you want to come over.
1:59:51I'm going to see if you want to come over.
1:59:55I don't think it makes a whole lot of sense.
2:00:04All right, fine.
2:00:07Ziegler seems to be pleased with what he says.
2:00:25It's a bunch of bad coffee.
2:00:30Yeah.
2:00:31I know that, as you said, but even sometimes I don't.
2:00:34The staff, other friends, we just sit here.
2:00:38I never think of it that way.
2:00:40We hear about it so much, you know, and I wouldn't be on the quick offer to do it.
2:00:47But, yeah, I just want to ask you a question.
2:00:53The pleasure of making your own story.
2:02:25Yeah.
2:02:28I know that, as you said, but even sometimes I don't staff.
2:02:40All right.

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

Also recorded on January 25, 1972

  • 316-002 2:15 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 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 · 18 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 · 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 2:55 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 · 44 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 29 conversations from January 25, 1972 →

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 September 26, 2026).