President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate messaging regarding upcoming foreign policy developments, specifically focusing on the Strategic Arms Limitations Talks (SALT) and the President's planned visit to Moscow. They discussed managing public and press perception of the administration’s Vietnam strategy and reviewed the internal dynamics of the State Department versus the White House. The conversation also included a critique of Henry Kissinger’s media interactions and his efforts to cultivate a public image amidst high-stakes international diplomacy.
On April 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 6:20 pm to 6:32 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 333-031 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 333-31
Date: April 26, 1972
Time: 6:20 pm - 6:32 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Vietnam
-1972 election
-The President's speech
William P. Rogers
-Haiphong
-Bombing
-Unknown person's testimony
-Effectiveness
-Initiative
-Interest in public relations
-Cabinet
-Abilities
-Moscow
-The President's visit
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-The President's visit
-Wreath laying
Trips
-Mrs. Nixon
-Press coverage
-People's Republic of China [PRC] trip
-Soviet trip
-Visibility
-Location of meetings
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:20 pm.
Refreshment
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 6:32 pm.
The President's schedule
-The President's speech
-Press conference
-Scheduling
-The President's speech
-Audience
-Response
-Rhetoric
-“Invasion”
-"Communist"
-"Bloodbath"
-Media
-Public support for the President
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 6:20 pm.
Refreshment
Sanchez left at an unknown time before 6:32 pm.
Vietnam
-The President's speech
-Response of hawks
-Bombing
-Hawks
-Rogers
Strategic Arms Limitations Talks [SALT]
-Announcement
-Gerard C. Smith
-Meeting on May 1, 1972
-Rogers
-Knowledge of issue
-Negotiations
-Timing of announcement
-Henry A. Kissinger's trip to Moscow
-State Department
-Difference from the White House
-Timing of announcement
-Leonid I. Brezhnev
-Kissinger
-Chalmers M. Roberts
Kissinger
-Meeting with Ronald L. Ziegler
-Story on Soviet delegation to Hanoi
-Chicago Tribune
-Source
-Significance
-Leak to Chicago Tribune
-Denials
-New York Daily News and Copley News Service
-Interview with Joseph C. Kraft
-Press stories
-Image
-Meetings with Mao Tse-tung, Chou En-lai, Charles A. J. M. De Gaulle and
Brezhnev
-Conversations
-Possible book written by Kissinger
-Samantha Eggar
-Visit
-Haldeman's conversation with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Social life
Haldeman left at 6:32 pm.This transcript was generated automatically by AI and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite this transcript as authoritative. Consult the Finding Aid above for verified information.