Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 329 › Conversation 329-023
Nixon alone in his EOB office on Public Relations and Vietnam War
Tuesday, April 11, 1972 · 2:08 PM–2:45 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building ·12 min
AI Summary
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to provide guidance on public relations strategy and key messaging for the administration. He emphasized the necessity of a disciplined, repetitive approach to promoting the President's image and accomplishments—particularly regarding Vietnam, foreign policy, and the economy—while framing major issues to deflect criticism toward the Democratic-controlled Congress. Nixon also directed staff to identify the most effective spokesmen to ensure sustained, positive media coverage across a prioritized list of policy initiatives.
- Public Relations
- Vietnam War
- White House Communications
- Domestic Policy
- Electoral Strategy
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On April 11, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:08 pm and 2:45 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 329-023 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 329-23
Date: April 11, 1972
Time: Unknown between 2:08 pm and 2:45 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President dictated a memorandum.
Spokesmen for administration
-Points to make to supporters
-Vietnam
-Current situation
-Airmen
-Navy men
-Defense of South Vietnam
-Accomplishments
-Reduction in casualties
-Henry A. Kissinger's office
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Mrs. Nixon
-Tricia Nixon Cox
John D. Ehrlichman
Best spokesmen for administration
-The Vice President
-Cabinet members
-Congressmen
-Governors
-White House staff
-Robert J. Dole
-First Family
-Subcabinet
-Veterans and other organizations
-Charles W. Colson's office's list
-Advantages
Taxes
-Public relations efforts
Public relations
-Frequency of stories
-Follow-up
-The President's policies
-Positive publicity
-Rebuttal to opposition
-The President's image
-Proper projection
-Vietnam development
-Issues
-Foreign policy
-Peace
-The President's image as leader
-Cost of living
-Food
-Crime
-Drugs
-Jobs
-Busing
-Democrats' position
-Programs
-Welfare
-Revenue-sharing
-Government reorganization
-Health
-Use of programs
-Political Group discussion
-Reform
-Congress
-Democratic convention
-Property tax
-Jobs
-Busing
-Property tax
The President replayed portions of the tape.
Public relations efforts
-Busing
-Property tax
-Jobs
-Busing
-Property tax
The President resumed dictation.
Public relations efforts
-List of issues
-Tax relief for non-public schools
-Changes
-Environment
-Foreign competition
-John B. Connally
-Political Group discussionAlso recorded on April 11, 1972
- 022-108 1:14 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 1:14 pm and 2:06 pm.
- 022-109 2:06 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard M. Helms talked on the telephone from 2:06 pm to 2:08 pm.
- 329-021 2:06 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Richard M. Helms met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:06 pm to 2:08 pm.
- 329-022 2:08 PM · 3 min — 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 2:08 pm and 2:45 pm.
- 329-024 2:08 PM · 30 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 2:08 pm and 2:45 pm.
- 329-025 2:08 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:08 pm and 2:45 pm.
- 329-026 2:45 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 2:45 pm to 2:55 pm.
- 706-004 2:57 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, and John D. Ehrlichman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:57 pm to 3:03 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 329-023, April 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/329-023 (accessed September 18, 2026).