Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 334 › Conversation 334-011

Nixon & Haldeman on J. Edgar Hoover and FBI

Tuesday, May 2, 1972 · 10:00 AM–10:25 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation334-011 on Tape 334 (tape position 01:40:31–01:44:23)StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 10:00 AMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 10:25 AMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 334-011 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the immediate administrative aftermath following the death of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. The conversation focuses on managing the public announcement of Hoover's passing, coordinating memorial services, and determining the leadership transition at the FBI. Nixon expresses his desire to publicly praise Hoover’s career and legacy while considering the viability of Clyde Tolson as a temporary successor, despite concerns regarding Tolson’s health.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 2 minutes of this recording (about 55% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Now nobody's announced it yet.

All right.

Yeah, yeah.

Does anybody know what Hoover, does anybody know what Hoover wanted for this general, or what control do we have over that?

Yeah.

Client host 1-0.

Either one of them.

We're not gonna talk about the goddamn thing, Holly.

All you do is to just have done it.

Somebody acting as we would make an appointment.

We would make an appointment today.

Somebody in charge, so to put.

That's better.

I trust you.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Tolson is certainly reliable, but it would be welcome to do the damn thing for a while.

Anybody know?

I trust Tolson.

I love and trust Tolson.

That's what I say.

I know him better than all these other clowns.

I forgot more about him, but I'm sure of it.

But Tolson's all right, but I think he's too sick to do it.

But Tolson's very hard to handle.

I'm just leaving that to him.

I think your recommendation was successful.

He's got it.

He can't do it.

I don't need anything.

I don't need anything anyway.

My point is that I should walk out and make this announcement.

All I need to know is how long he served and how many presidents he served.

That's all.

Just a couple of facts.

There will be a council meeting a little later as to what other should be part of the services.

Does anybody follow that?

Yeah.

On this upgrade, I mean, Earl may have agreed, but I'm very strong for Hoover, you know.

I always have been.

I stand where I've ever listened to you.

I mean, in my staff, people don't want me to get in a mess out of it, you know.

Hey, let me know as soon as you can.

I've got my savings ready.

NARA Description

On May 2, 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 10:00 am and 10:25 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 334-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 334-11

Date: May 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 10:00 am and 10:25 am
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     J. Edgar Hoover
           -Death
                -Announcement

          -Funeral
               -John N. Mitchell
               -White House control
               -Clyde A. Tolson

     Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
          -Appointment of new director
               -Acting Director
               -[Forename unknown] Micko [sp?]
               -Tolson
                     -Health

     Hoover
         -Death
               -Patrick J. Buchanan
               -Announcement by the President
                     -Information
                           -Hoover’s career
               -Memorial service
               -John D. Ehrlichman
                     -Melvin R. Laird
         -The President's support during career
               -Opposition to critics
                     -Press
         -Pressures of job
         -The President's forthcoming statement

Also recorded on May 2, 1972

334-010 9:28 AM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:28 am to 10:00 am.
334-012 10:00 AM · 2 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 10:00 am and 10:25 am.
334-013 10:00 AM · 7 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 10:00 am and 10:25 am.
334-014 10:00 AM · 3 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 10:00 am and 10:25 am.
334-015 10:25 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:25 am to 10:35 am.
023-103 10:35 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Patrick J. Buchanan, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone from 10:35 am to 10:37 am.
334-016 10:35 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:35 am to 10:37 am.
334-017 10:37 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Patrick J. Buchanan met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 10:37 am and 10:43 am.

All 67 conversations from May 2, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 334-011, May 2, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/334-011 (accessed October 9, 2026).