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Conversation 334-021

TapeTape 334StartTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 1:23 PMEndTuesday, May 2, 1972 at 4:38 PMTape start time01:57:56Tape end time02:04:36ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss funeral arrangements for J. Edgar Hoover and the political strategy for appointing his successor. Nixon decided to participate in the funeral services while opting to delay the nomination of a new FBI director until after the upcoming presidential election to avoid political fallout. They concluded that L. Patrick Gray should be installed as an interim appointment without a formal long-term commitment. The two also coordinated the preparation and release of an official public statement regarding these decisions.

J. Edgar HooverFBIL. Patrick Gray1972 electionPresidential appointmentsFuneral arrangements
AudioNARA 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 1:23 pm and 4:38 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 334-021 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 334-21
Date: May 2, 1972
Time: Unknown between 1:23 pm and 4:38 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

     The President's schedule
          -Domestic activities
                -Grocery store
                -Richard A. Moore
          -J. Edgar Hoover's funeral
                -Eulogy
                -Burial service
                -Richard G. Kleindienst

     Hoover
         -Successor
              -Nominee
              -Selection
                    -Timing
                    -Postponement
                          -Election year consideration
              -L. Patrick Gray
                    -Commitment
              -Statement
                    -Preparation
                          -John D. Ehrlichman
                          -Ronald L. Ziegler
                          -Release
                                -Timing
                          -Review by the President
                    -Length
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Oh, with regard to the instrumentic things that you use, I'm perfectly willing to do anything, except I get sort of in horror at getting this too given to me.
And, you know, I'll do it otherwise.
I'll figure out something.
I just don't think it might go through a version, you know.
It's not right to do much more than that.
The thing is this.
Assuming I can work out the do or be, I don't think I should do something right now.
I don't think you say on Saturday, this Saturday is mine.
And I don't want her to know.
I don't want her to know.
I don't want her to know.
I don't want her to know.
I don't want her to know.
And then I would not do the eulogy.
And of course, Elson will be a stiff, purely harmless kind of man.
Maybe I should still do the eulogy.
All right, all right.
You can do it.
Do it.
I'd agree to do it, Elson.
But I've got to do the eulogy, and I've got to tell her.
Fair enough.
Elson will know to tell her.
It's a burial, private, and I do not do the eulogy.
That's correct.
Can I appoint you?
Oh, good.
How does mine just do it?
Yes, sir.
And then not send a nominee.
Yeah.
Should be sent by... Yeah, should be.
We don't want anything.
We want the hero of the cause, and it should be made by whoever is the... after the election, by the...
I believe the appointment should not be made in an election year.
Prior to an election.
Immediately prior to an election.
It should be made after an election.
I know, I can still say that.
Yeah, it'll be made after the auction.
Okay.
All right, fine.
What else does he say?
Yeah, well, let's do Craig.
Craig.
Let him.
Let him appoint him.
Let him just name Craig.
That's right.
Put him in there.
That's right.
Great.
No commitment.
That's right.
I'm pleased that we can do that without my having to get such a confirmation at this point.
Okay.
But, yeah, get that in.
Get that in.
Train.
Get that in a train and get somebody to prepare it for the Burlington, for example.
That's my view.
And that's a very strong view to the contrary.
Let's try to get something done today.
I wonder, if you don't today, the day you die,
We should listen to it tomorrow morning.
I think, no, oh, I agree.
I think it should be done tomorrow.
I think it should be done tomorrow.
Yeah, but I don't think it should be done while the guy's not in the grave, you know what I mean?
He's not even in the funeral parlor.
No, I'd do it tomorrow morning.
Let's do it tomorrow morning, definitely.
Then we can get it well planned and well-organized.
Come on.
So let's go through it a little bit now.
Okay, fine.
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