President Nixon met with Ronald Ziegler and David C. Hoopes to coordinate White House press strategy regarding the administration's second-term reorganization, staff reductions, and ongoing Vietnam War negotiations. Nixon instructed Ziegler to maintain a calm, objective demeanor when handling aggressive media, particularly in light of critical coverage from the Washington Post. They decided to adopt a policy of distributing press access and attention more broadly across national outlets to diminish the influence of the Washington-based press corps, which Nixon viewed as unfairly hostile.
On December 18, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and David C. Hoopes met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 1:20 pm to 1:40 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 381-015 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 381-15
Date: December 18, 1972
Time: 1:20 pm – 1:40 pm
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.
Press
Ziegler’s press conference
-Duration
-Second term reorganization
-Anne L. Armstrong
-Counselor to the President
-Cabinet rank
-Woman
-Oveta Culp Hobby
-The President’s choice
-Senate confirmation
-Requirement
-Secretary of Department in Executive Branch
-The President’s choice
-Semantics
-Tone
-Second term reorganization
-Armstrong
-Counselor to the President
-Tokenism
-Counselor to the President
-First term
-Robert H. Finch
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Patrick P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
-26-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Arthur F. Burns
-White House staff cuts
-Finch
-Return to California
-Rumsfeld
-Ambassadorship to North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO]
-Counselor to the President
-Peter Lisagor’s comment
-Commerce and Transportation Department
-White House staff
-Departures
-Desmond J. Barker
-Gen. Robert L. Schulz
-John C. Whitaker
-Egil (“Bud”) Krogh, Jr.
-Charles W. Colson
-Rumsfeld
-Reduction
-Executive Office
-Vietnam negotiations
-US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-Melvin R. Laird’s statement
-The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
-Settlement agreement
-Enemy buildup
-Offensive action
-Settlement agreement
-Prolonging the war
-Henry A. Kissinger’s press conference
-Settlement agreement
-North Vietnam
-Preventing enemy buildup
-Offensive in South
-The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
-Kissinger’s press conference
-Ziegler
-Press relations
-Lead story
-The President’s May 8, 1972 speech
-27-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)
-Enemy offensive
-Cessation of US bombing North of 20th Parallel
-Timing
Vietnam negotiations
-US bombing and mining of North Vietnam
-Press relations
-Tass report
-Hanoi
-Fires
-Continuation
-Cessation North of 20th Parallel
-Timing
-October 1972
-Kissinger’s view
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-The President’s conversation with Kissinger
-Public opinion
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Tone
-Kissinger’s mood
-B-52 losses
-Ziegler’s conversation with Kissinger
-Press and media relations
-October 8, 1972 agreement
-Ziegler’s conversation with Kissinger
-Press relations
-Kissinger’s “Peace is at hand” statement, October 26, 1972
Ziegler’s press conference
-Press relations
-Washington Post
-The President’s recent conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Philadelphia Bulletin
-Baltimore Sun
-Unknown newspaper
-Dallas Times Herald
-Washington newspaper
-Washington Star
-28-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)
David C. Hoopes entered at 1:31 pm.
-Dan Rather’s question
-Unknown reporter
-Thomas E. Jarriel
-Watergate
Hoopes left at 1:32 pm.
-Current representation
-White House social events
-Cause celebre
-Local newspapers
-National administration
-Ziegler’s conversation with Helen Thomas
-Questions
-Ziegler’s handling
-Emotions
-Objectivity
-The President’s conversation with Kissinger
-National administration
-Carroll Kilpatrick
-Pool
-Dorothy McCardle
-Ziegler’s view
-Christmas tree lighting
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-The President’s conversation with Ziegler
-Constance M. (Cornell) (“Connie”) Stuart
-Church services
-Candlelight tour
-Children
-Mrs. Nixon
-Elinor I. (Judefind) Agnew
-McCardle
-San Antonio Light
-Kansas City Star
-Baltimore Sun
Vietnam War
-29-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Tape Subject Log
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 381-15 (cont’d)
-US bombing north of 20th Parallel
-Timing
-Congressional relations
-Thomas F. Eagleton’s and Jacob K. Javit’s statements
-Public relations [PR]
-Number of plans
-Hanoi
-Ziegler’s press conference
-Use of “enemy”
Ronald Ziegler left at 1:40 pm.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.