← 340-024341-002 →

Conversation 341-001

TapeTape 341StartSaturday, June 10, 1972 at 9:04 AMEndSaturday, June 10, 1972 at 9:32 AMTape start time00:00:13Tape end time00:10:28ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Buchanan, Patrick J.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon dictated a memorandum to Patrick J. Buchanan outlining a strategy to discredit the perceived liberal bias of the national media during the 1972 election cycle. The discussion focused on characterizing George McGovern's policy positions on issues like amnesty, defense spending, and abortion as extreme to influence public perception. Nixon directed that this assessment be distributed to his operating staff to counter coverage from major news outlets and strengthen the administration’s reelection campaign.

1972 Presidential ElectionMedia BiasGeorge McGovernPolitical StrategyWhite House CommunicationsCampaign Tactics
AudioNARA Description

On June 10, 1972, 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 9:04 am and 9:32 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 341-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 341-1

Date: June 10, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:04 and 9:32 am.
Location: Old Executive Office Building

The President dictated a memorandum to Patrick J. Buchanan.

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 10/10/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[341-001-w001]
[Duration: 8m 53s]

     1972 election
          -Charles W. Colson
          -George S. McGovern
                -California
          -Press coverage of campaign
                -Godfrey Sperling Jr’s article in the Christian Science Monitor
                -Affair
                -Magazine journalists
                      -Similar beliefs as George S. McGovern
                -Possible news columns
                -Desire to retain power
                      -Use to discredit media
                      -Charles W. Colson’s contact on McGovern campaign
          -Hubert H. Humphrey, Edmund S. Muskie
          -Eastern news media
                -New York Times, Washington Post, Time, Newsweek
                -Television networks
                -Media bias
                      -Amnesty, marijuana, abortion, surrender in Vietnam, defense reductions
                      -George S. McGovern policy views
                -Possible actions
                      -Lies
          -Operating staff
                -Memorandum distribution

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

                                      (rev. Jan-02)
Transcript

No transcript is available for this conversation. The audio may not contain audible speech, or the recording may not yet have been processed.

← 340-024341-002 →