Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 344 › Conversation 344-033
Nixon, Haldeman & Colson on White House media relations
Tuesday, June 27, 1972 · 3:35 PM–4:40 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building
AI Summary
President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Charles Colson to review the guest list and logistical arrangements for an upcoming White House reception for broadcasters. The participants evaluated the political leanings of specific media figures, aiming to ensure that invitees were sympathetic or at least neutral toward the administration’s goals. Beyond the event planning, the group discussed the strategic advantages of incumbency for the reelection campaign, specifically through the use of federal resources like social security mailers and National Park materials to boost the President's image.
- White House media relations
- 1972 election campaign
- Incumbency strategy
- Broadcast reception logistics
- Political vetting
Audio
Download MP3 (part 1) · 111.9 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 112.0 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 33.4 MB
This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 03:36:55 into the tape and ends around 04:31:03.
Transcript (AI-generated)
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
NARA Description
On June 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Charles W. Colson, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:35 pm to 4:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 344-033 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 344-33
Date: June 27, 1972
Time: 3:35-4:40 pm
Location: Old Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. Haldeman .
The President's schedule
Pictures
Media
Reception for broadcasters
-Herbert G. Klein
-Logistics of reception
Charles W. Colson entered at 3:40 pm.
-Logistics
-Introductions
-Background
-Ralph Renick, WTVJ-TV (Miami)
-Attitude
-The President’s view
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Invitations
-Criteria
-Klein
-Reception
-Guest list
-The President's view
-Attitudes
-New York
-Gabe Pressman, WNEW-TV
-Criteria for selection of invitees
-Review of lists
-Bill Bayer, WPLG-TV (Miami)
-Allan Courtney, WIOD Radio (Miami)
-Renick
-Klein's knowledge of press corps
-Kleinr’s review of guest list
-The President's acquaintanceship with invitees
Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 3:40 and 4:40 pm.
[Conversation No. 344-33A]
Klein
-Meeting with Haldeman
[End of telephone conversation]
Reception for broadcasters
-Klein
-Review of guest list
-Remarks by the President
-Microphone
-East Room
-Blue Room
-Program
-Editors meeting
-Logistics of reception and briefing
-Unknown newsman [Renick?]
-Family and politics
-CBS
-List of potential guests
-Method of selection
-Post-election public relations
Staff
-John A. Scali
-William L. Safire
-Richard A. Moore
-Gerald L. Warren
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
Press
-Contacts with administration
-Klein
-Capabilities
-Allies
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-Abilities
-Advice
-Contacts in Chicago
-W. Clement Stone
-David E. Bradshaw
Reception
-Guest list
Editors meeting
The President's telephone conversation with William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-John N. and Martha (Beall) Mitchell
-Bugging
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
-Funding
-Filing of contributions
-Problems
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 10m 47s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
*****************************************************************
-Advantages of incumbency
-Exposure
-Watergate publicity
-Bugging
-National Parks brochure
-Social Security mailers
-Veterans anniversary statement
-Powers of presidency
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 8m 35s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
*****************************************************************
Welfare reform
-The President’s view
-Previous conversations with John D. Ehrlichman and George P. Shultz
Revenue sharing
-Russell B. Long
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-New York Times article by Kevin P. Phillips
-Readership
News Summary
-Value
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m 1s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
-Reception for broadcasters
Senate resolution
-Passage
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 22s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
The President, Haldeman, and Colson left at 4:40 pm.Also recorded on June 27, 1972
- 026-015 2:36 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:36 pm and 3:11 pm.
- 344-027 2:36 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:36 pm and 3:11 pm.
- 026-016 3:11 PM · 21 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham talked on the telephone from 3:11 pm to 3:32 pm.
- 344-030 3:11 PM · 16 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William F. ("Billy") Graham met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 3:11 pm to 3:32 pm.
- 344-031 3:32 PM · 11 sec — 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 3:32 pm and 3:35 pm.
- 344-032 3:32 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 3:32 pm and 3:35 pm.
- 026-017 3:40 PM · 36 sec — Charles W. Colson, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:40 pm and 4:40 pm.
- 026-018 3:40 PM · 32 sec — Charles W. Colson, White House operator, and unknown person(s) talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 3:40 pm and 4:40 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 344-033, June 27, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/344-033 (accessed September 30, 2026).