Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 380 › Conversation 380-018
Nixon alone in his EOB office on USIA and James Keogh
Thursday, December 28, 1972 · 12:39 PM–2:20 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min
AI Summary
President Nixon dictated a memorandum to James Keogh regarding the strategic direction and public image of the United States Information Agency (USIA). The President evaluated the agency's credibility and emphasized the necessity of presenting a balanced, positive portrayal of the U.S. in international media. He specifically addressed the balance between transparency regarding national challenges—the "warts and all" approach—and the need for more effective promotional programming.
- USIA
- James Keogh
- Public relations
- International media
- Government communications
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
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NARA Description
On December 28, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 380-018 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 380-18
Date: December 28, 1972
Time: Unknown between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President dictated a memorandum to James Keogh.
Information Agency [USIA]
-Keogh’s recent statement
-Timing
-Keogh’s nomination
-USIA programs
-Credibility
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 380-18 (cont’d)
-Picture of US “warts and all”
-Frank J. Shakespeare
The President replayed a portion of the recording.
The President resumed dictation.
USIA
-Credibility
-Role
-Presentation of US positively compared to negatively
-Media relationsAlso recorded on December 28, 1972
- 035-027 12:39 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:26 pm.
- 380-014 12:39 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
- 380-015 12:39 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
- 380-016 12:39 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
- 380-017 12:39 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
- 380-019 12:39 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
- 380-020 12:39 PM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
- 380-021 12:39 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 12:39 pm and 2:20 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 380-018, December 28, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/380-018 (accessed October 10, 2026).