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.
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 AidConversation No. 371-21
Date: October 23, 1972
Time: 9:55 am - 10:38 am
Location: Executive Office Building
(rev. Oct-06)
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 16m 9s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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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
(rev. Oct-06)
-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
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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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
(rev. Oct-06)
-Caution
-Coalition government
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 11m 49s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
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The President's schedule
-Radio broadcast
-White House
-Camp David
-Kissinger
-Library
-Sound
-Kentucky
Haldeman left at 10:38 am.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.