Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 368 › Conversation 368-006

Nixon & Haldeman on Vietnam War and Political strategy

Tuesday, October 17, 1972 · 7:18 PM–8:08 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 35 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation368-006 on Tape 368StartTuesday, October 17, 1972 at 7:18 PMEndTuesday, October 17, 1972 at 8:08 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 368-006 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss the President's schedule, specifically addressing the political management of charges related to the Vietnam War. The conversation focused on determining a strategic response to these allegations to maintain a firm, unified public position. Ultimately, Nixon rejected the idea of appearing indecisive, instructing Haldeman to ensure that the administration remains resolute rather than reactive.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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You know, one thing that occurs to me as a peer follower is before the first day of the particular appeal, I find that, in other words, it's about, did you know that you're starting to do something?
You're ready to be wary and pressing forward after that.
And the answer, once and for all, is to do something.
The next day, you're like, can I do it too, maybe?
No.
No.
No.
Okay.
No.
Thank you.

NARA Description

On October 17, 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 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 368-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 368-6

Date: October 17, 1972
Time: Unknown between 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

         The President’s schedule
             -Vietnam War
                 -Charges
                      -Response

Also recorded on October 17, 1972

  • 802-009 6:30 PM · 14 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Alexander P. Butterfield, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:30 pm to 7:17 pm.
  • 802-010 7:17 PM · 1 min — United States Secret Service agents met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:17 pm and 11:59 pm.
  • 031-109 7:18 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm.
  • 368-007 7:18 PM · 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 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm.
  • 368-008 7:18 PM · 13 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 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm.
  • 368-009 7:18 PM · 12 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 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm.
  • 368-010 7:18 PM · 14 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 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm.
  • 368-011 7:18 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:18 pm and 8:08 pm.

All 65 conversations from October 17, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 368-006, October 17, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/368-006 (accessed October 10, 2026).