Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 389 › Conversation 389-009
Nixon & Haldeman on 1972 Presidential Campaign and George McGovern
Saturday, November 4, 1972 · 9:28 AM–9:33 AM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 4 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate final 1972 campaign strategies and manage the administration's response to a recent speech by George McGovern. They evaluated the effectiveness of McGovern’s public presentation and discussed the involvement of key aides, including Charles Colson, in shaping the campaign's messaging. Additionally, the pair reviewed upcoming scheduling requirements, specifically regarding calls involving New Jersey political figures like William T. Cahill and Clifford P. Case.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 1 minute of this recording (about 25% 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.
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NARA Description
On November 4, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:28 am to 9:33 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 389-009 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 389-9
Date: November 4, 1972
Time: 9:28 am - 9:33 am
Location: Executive Office Building
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
-4-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 389-9 (cont’d)
1972 campaign
-George S. McGovern speech in Chicago, November 3, 1972
-Response
-Charles W. Colson
-Conversation with Haldmean
-Haldeman’s house
-Sale
-William P. Rogers
-Recent conversation with the President
-Forthcoming appearance on Meet the Press
-Interest in action
-Recent conversation with the President
-Meet the Press
-Melvin R. Laird
-Haldeman’s forthcoming conversation with Colson
-The President’s schedule
-Haldeman
The President’s schedule
-Forthcoming telephone call
-William T. Cahill
-Clifford P. Case
-New Jersey
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Case
-New Jersey
-Cahill
1972 campaign
-McGovern’s speech in Chicago
-Response
-Press coverage
-Effectiveness
-Television viewers
-Press coverage
-Public sympathy for McGovern
-McGovern’s physical appearance
-McGovern’s health
-5-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 389-9 (cont’d)
-McGovern’s demeanor
-McGovern’s handling
The President’s schedule
-Haldeman
Haldeman left at 9:33 am.Also recorded on November 4, 1972
- 033-009 9:06 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:06 am and 9:07 am.
- 389-007 9:06 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:06 am to 9:07 am.
- 389-008 9:10 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building from 9:10 am to 9:12 am.
- 389-010 9:33 AM · 15 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 9:33 am and 9:55 am.
- 033-010 9:55 AM · 7 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 10:04 am.
- 033-011 9:55 AM · 24 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and President Richard M. Nixon talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 10:04 am.
- 033-012 9:55 AM · 8 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 10:04 am.
- 033-013 9:55 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:55 am and 10:04 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 389-009, November 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/389-009 (accessed October 10, 2026).