Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 324 › Conversation 324-009

Nixon with unidentified visitors in his EOB office on Drug Policy

Monday, March 20, 1972 · 5:15 PM–5:21 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); [Unknown person(s)]Conversation324-009 on Tape 324 (tape position 00:30:32–00:32:45)StartMonday, March 20, 1972 at 5:15 PMEndMonday, March 20, 1972 at 5:21 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 324-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with an unknown individual to discuss his firm stance on national drug policy, emphasizing that public tolerance of illegal substances like marijuana signals societal decline. Nixon framed this hardline approach as a matter of personal conviction rather than mere moralizing. The conversation also briefly touched upon administrative personnel matters regarding an unidentified man's advisory role.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Well, I hope that I don't disappoint you by being so hard on you this night.
You know, I guess it's a matter of personal conviction.
Later, you know what I mean.
It isn't a moralistic annoyance, but I just have a feeling that the country ever, ever,
You know, in any kind of activity like this, if it ever relaxes and says, well, we can't deal with it, you're on the way down.
And that's what really the other thing is.
And that includes marijuana.
But you'll see.
I will.
Yeah, I will.
All right.
What call was this?
You know him?
He's not.
He isn't.
When did you get him?
I don't know.
I asked, and I thought it was a different man.
Okay.
Well, why don't you give him your best advice of what you have in mind?
Yeah.
Yeah.

NARA Description

On March 20, 1972, 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 5:15 pm and 5:21 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 324-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 324-9

Date: March 20, 1972
Time: Unknown between 5:15 pm and 5:21 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with an unknown person.

     Drugs
          -The President’s view
               -Public opinion
               -Marijuana
          -Unknown man

Also recorded on March 20, 1972

  • 689-006 4:48 PM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Richard M. Helms, and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:48 pm to 5:14 pm.
  • 689-007 5:14 PM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:14 pm to 5:15 pm.
  • 324-008 5:15 PM · 8 sec — 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 5:15 pm and 5:21 pm.
  • 324-010 5:15 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 5:15 pm and 5:21 pm.
  • 324-011 5:15 PM · 8 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 5:15 pm and 5:21 pm.
  • 324-012 5:21 PM · 53 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Ronald L. Ziegler, White House operator, John D. Ehrlichman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 5:21 pm to 6:30 pm.
  • 021-117 5:30 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:30 pm and 5:56 pm.
  • 021-118 5:56 PM · 23 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 5:56 pm.

All 20 conversations from March 20, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 324-009, March 20, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/324-009 (accessed October 3, 2026).