President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and Charles Colson to coordinate campaign strategy and counter negative press regarding corruption allegations ahead of the 1972 election. The participants discussed the distribution of a "white paper" to editors and broadcasters to defend the administration's record and address criticisms concerning the U.S.-Soviet wheat deal and other controversies. Additionally, Nixon emphasized his hardline stance against amnesty for draft evaders and reiterated the importance of maintaining an accurate public record of his campaign's activities.
On October 29, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 10:20 am to 10:55 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 377-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 377-15
Date: October 29, 1972
Time: 10:20 am - 10:55 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Charles W. Colson.
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 14s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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The President’s schedule
-Forthcoming trip to Chicago
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Roman C. Pucinski
-Signs
-Alderman
-Michael P. Balzano, Jr.
-Thomas J. Houser
-Washington Post statement
-Charles H. Percy
-The President’s conversation with Haldeman
-Saginaw, Michigan, October 28, 1972
-Robert P. Griffin
-The President’s remarks
-Audience
-Amnesty
-The President’s recent remarks
(rev. Aug-03)
Radio address on Defense Policy, October 29, 1972
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-The President’s draft
-Defense of freedom
-Draft
-Volunteer army
-Amnesty
-Penalty
-Amnesty
-[George S. McGovern]
-Credibility
-The President’s tone
-Draft evaders
-Prison terms
-Abraham Lincoln’s policy
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 9m 49s ]
Haldeman entered at 10:30 am.
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Campaign practices
-John S.V. (“Jack”) Knight's view of 1972 election
-Recent article
-Tone
-McGovern
-The president’s accomplishments
-People’s Republic of China [PRC] opening, peace, revenue sharing
(rev. Aug-03)
-Corruption
-White House staff campaign organization
-US-Soviet Union wheat deal
-Knight
-Response
-Corruption charges
-Effect
-Post-1972 election
-Wire story
-Strategy
-Possible libel suit
-Colson, Dwight L. Chapin, Haldeman
-White paper
-Distribution to editors, surrogates
-Publication of record
-Distribution to editors, television [TV] broadcasters
-Question
-Herbert G. Klein
-Distribution to Knight
-Assignment
An unknown person talked with the President at an unknown time between 10:30 am and 10:55
am.
[Conversation No. 377-15A]
[End of telephone conversation]
Campaign practices
-Desire for accurate record
Press and media relations
-Pool
-Wire services
-California plane
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Problems
-Files
-Warren, Ohio
-Audience
-Michigan
(rev. Aug-03)
Campaign practices
-White paper
-Klein
-Telephone calls to editors
-Possible suit
-Maurice Stans
-William P. Rogers
-Corruption charges
-Effect
-Post 1972 election
-US-Soviet Union wheat deal
-ITT settlement
-Carpet industry
-Double standard
-Democratic campaign practices
-Use of obscenities
-Headquarters burning
-Thrown fire bombs
-Publicity
-Robert J. Dole
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 4m 18s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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The forthcoming briefing of surrogates
-White paper
Polls
-October 28, 1972
Unknown person
(rev. Aug-03)
Haldeman and Colson left at 10:55 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.