Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 329 › Conversation 329-066

Nixon & Haldeman on Cabinet Briefings and Military Strategy

Sunday, April 16, 1972 · 10:55 AM–1:00 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 8 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation329-066 on Tape 329 (tape position 06:19:16–06:26:45)StartSunday, April 16, 1972 at 10:55 AMEndSunday, April 16, 1972 at 1:00 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 329-066 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate White House messaging and administrative operations during a period of high-stakes national security concerns. The discussion focused on organizing briefings for Cabinet members and Congressional leaders regarding the ongoing military situation, as well as delegating internal communications tasks to staff members like Charles Colson. Nixon emphasized the importance of maintaining a unified front, instructing Haldeman to ensure staff and allies were prepared to support the administration’s position confidently.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 5 minutes of this recording (about 67% of it) is represented by only a few words. Listen to the audio rather than relying on the text below; a corrected transcript is queued.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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So, yeah.
Well, I was church today.
So, yeah.
Good for the soul.
The, uh, the, uh, the, uh, the, uh,
I don't know if it's because of the patrons, but it's invigorating.
It's not going to last very long.
It starts in a very expensive way, you know.
Maybe the truck parts, the oil storage in particular, is not going to last.
I think it's going to last for a short amount of time.
I don't know if it's going to last this long.
I think it's going to last a long time.
You're wonderful.
I think he realizes that there's more than choice now.
And of course, I think he should because none of them know the other card we're playing.
Why the hell didn't they do it before?
Staying in a couple of minutes, I want to check with you.
I go to the camp stage at 1 o'clock.
I'll be back tomorrow about 10 o'clock for the calmer lunch.
No problem on that.
I don't have any particular money.
Well, perhaps it should be special to come.
I don't know.
I'll be at the camp stage.
I don't want to be an excuse.
The meaning of coming is that if you still would let mine, which you would,
I'm really going to have to keep myself totally free for the next week at least.
through this week, this year.
I have to do one exception.
Well, it is the cabinet thing.
If you feel we ought to have a cabinet meeting tonight, well, it may be that it just would be good.
And I guess that we can't have it without myself, sure.
But I think what would happen then is that Frankie can have a cabinet meeting and not have to be good.
And that Roger and Claire do great.
You know, if you want the heroin.
I mean, I don't know.
He said, that's good.
Well, then they give a briefing.
They give a briefing on the situation.
Just say to the captain, there will be a briefing on the whatnot situation.
That roger is clear to be there to do it.
And maybe the ship is.
So here the captain teaches you.
Well, how about this?
This is the substitution.
Now, more of that bunch, they have briefed.
You might come more later.
They have briefed the Congress and Senators.
They should tell the cabin officers that they will do that and brief them on the military situation.
How does that sound to you?
So that they'll know what's going on.
You know, one of the roads there, just put it on for those who want to attend.
Yeah, I'm trying to figure.
There is a briefing in the members of Kim and EPSA.
Kim, you're providing a big lecture.
Yeah, I wonder if that is.
But it's huge.
We can hold on that for tomorrow, I think.
Well, let me say this.
sometimes let's look at it tomorrow.
On the other hand, there's one thing.
In this period, I've got to count on you two.
You've got to get the coasts memorized.
And I'm not going to talk to them in order to break the order.
I mean, because I figure they're all self-guarded anyway.
Don't you agree?
Thank you.
It is very important, it's very important for you to have a talk with Colson and Gregory.
Even today, or how you talk to them, they're there to watch and help support the president.
Tell them we've got a good case here and don't be afraid of it.
They have players who will play.
Colson, that's good.
You told them about some ads, maybe you want to try to get them to do it.
So we have buyer community fans, and we'll crank up on that.
Now the other thing that, of course, I will put my mind to is to reduce the thing that I'm using on Thursdays and Tuesdays.
I'm going to save on that.
I'm going to save on that.
Well, not for that, but it's been perfect.
We can't handle presences being pressed on, you know what I mean?
They'll say, no, we won't allow them in some cases.
Yeah.
I know that.
Well, it's my point all along.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On April 16, 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 10:55 am and 1:00 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 329-066 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 329-66

Date: April 16, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:55 am and 2:25 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/21/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[329-066-w002]
[Duration: 6s]

[See Conversation No. 022-142]

*****************************************************************

Also recorded on April 16, 1972

  • 022-133 10:55 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-134 10:55 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Thelma C. ("Pat") (Ryan) Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-135 10:55 AM · 42 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-136 10:55 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-137 10:55 AM · 35 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and John V. Brennan talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-138 10:55 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-139 10:55 AM · 16 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.
  • 022-140 10:55 AM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 10:55 am and 1:00 pm.

All 45 conversations from April 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 329-066, April 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/329-066 (accessed October 1, 2026).