Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 371 › Conversation 371-021
Nixon & Haldeman on Vietnam War and 1972 Election
Monday, October 23, 1972 · 9:55 AM–10:38 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 16 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss the status of Vietnam peace negotiations and the strategic timing of a potential settlement in relation to the 1972 presidential election. The discussion covered the roles of Henry Kissinger and Alexander Haig, the challenges posed by South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, and concerns regarding a potential coalition government. Additionally, they coordinated public relations efforts and campaign messaging to address Democratic challenger George McGovern's critiques.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 5 minutes of this recording (about 30% 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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
NARA Description
On October 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:55 am to 10:38 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 371-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 371-21
Date: October 23, 1972
Time: 9:55 am - 10:38 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 16m 9s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
*****************************************************************
The President’s schedule
Henry A. Kissinger
-The President’s recent meeting with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Haig
Vietnam
-Peace settlement negotiations
-Possible bombing halt
-Timing compared with 1972 election
-John D. Erlichman’s view
-Haldeman’s view
-Kissinger's itinerary
-Possible North Vietnamese statements
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Coalition government
-Coalition government
-North Vietnamese statements
-Soviet Union
-Victory celebrations
-Kissinger’s efforts
-Haig
-Haig’s role
-Accompanying Kissinger on trips as opposed to speaking for the
President
-Military compared to political problems
-Haig’s and Kissinger’s view
-1972 Election
-George S. McGovern
-Nguyen Van Thieu
1972 campaign
-Public relations
-White House role
-Alvin Snyder
-Questions of television programs
-Response to McGovern’s debate issue
-Clark K. MacGregor
-Instruction for Charles W. Colson
-Kissinger
-Colson
-Vietnam
-Magazines
-Schedule
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
*****************************************************************
Vietnam
-Peace settlement negotiations
-1972 election
-Thieu's reaction to proposed settlement
-Patrick J. Buchanan and Raymond K. Price
-North Vietnamese
-Soviet Union
-Kissinger
-William L. Safire
-Public statements
-Caution
-Coalition government
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 11m 49s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
-Radio broadcast
-White House
-Camp David
-Kissinger
-Library
-Sound
-Kentucky
Haldeman left at 10:38 am.Also recorded on October 23, 1972
- 371-015 7:47 AM · 21 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 7:47 am and 8:34 am.
- 371-016 7:47 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:47 am and 8:34 am.
- 371-017 7:47 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 7:47 am and 8:34 am.
- 371-019 8:34 AM · 42 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 8:34 am to 9:17 am.
- 371-020 9:17 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:17 am and 9:55 am.
- 371-022 10:38 AM · 16 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 10:38 am and 11:15 am.
- 371-023 10:38 AM · 15 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 10:38 am and 11:15 am.
- 371-024 11:15 AM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 11:15 am to 11:17 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 371-021, October 23, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/371-021 (accessed October 9, 2026).