Conversation 391-031

TapeTape 391StartFriday, November 3, 1972 at 9:45 AMEndFriday, November 3, 1972 at 10:13 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Colson, Charles W.;  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob");  Miller, Jack R.;  Scott, William L.Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building

On November 3, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Charles W. Colson, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Jack R. Miller, and William L. Scott met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 9:45 am and 10:13 am. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 391-031 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 391-31

Date: November 3, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:45 am - 10:13 am
Location: Executive Office Building

The President met with Charles W. Colson and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       1972 campaign
            -The President’s speeches
                 -Media coverage
                 -New Majority
                 -Vietnam War
            -Media relations
                 -Networks
                        -Patrick J. Buchanan
                 -Barry M. Goldwater
                 -Work of the President’s supporters
                        -George S. McGovern
                 -Frank F. Mankiewicz
                 -Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
                 -The President’s supporters
                        -Effort
                        -Execution
            -Demonstrators
                 -Cincinnati
                        -Hecklers
            -Media relations
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     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                         (rev. Mar.-08)

                                               Conversation No. 391-31 (cont’d)

      -National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC]
      -Buchanan
      -Losing elections
            -Understanding
-Watergate issue
      -The President’s authority
      -Donald H. Segretti
-Vietnam issue
      -Melvin R. Laird
      -Henry A. Kissinger
      -The President’s telephone calls
            -Clifford P. Case, Edward W. Brooke, and Mark O. Hatfield
                  -Position on war
      -The President’s position
            -Instructions for supporters
            -The President’s speech, “Look to the Future”
                  -Raymond K. Price, Jr.
                  -Drafts
                  -William P. Rogers
                  -William L. Safire
                  -Content
                  -Confidence
                  -Historical perspective
                  -McGovern’s campaign
                  -Views of Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower
                  -Taping
                  -Presentation
                         -Quality
                  -Tribute to Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
                  -Inspiration
      -Watergate issue
            -Loss of support
            -Blue collar vote
            -The President’s handling
                  -Rogers’s comment to Haldeman
                         -Abraham Lincoln
                         -Illinois
                  -“Hard hats”
-Vietnam issue
      -Significance of election
                                             -47-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                       (rev. Mar.-08)

                                                             Conversation No. 391-31 (cont’d)

                        -Impact on Hanoi
                        -John B. Connally
                              -Speech
             -California
                   -Field poll
                         -Percentages
             -Vietnam issue
                   -Impact on public attitudes
                         -Uncertainty
                   -McGovern’s position
                   -Kissinger’s statements
                         -Problems
                   -The President’s speech, “Look to the Future”
                         -Impact
                         -Kentucky
                   -Kissinger’s statements
                         -Problems
                               -Clarification
                   -Kissinger’s views
             -Massachusetts
                   -Projection
                   -Mrs. Nixon’s visit
                         -Hecklers in Boston
                               -Impact
             -Wisconsin
                   -Projection
                   -Further efforts

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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The President talked with Jack R. Miller between 10:01 am and 10:04 am.

[Conversation No. 391-31A]

[See also Conversation No. 32-169]

[End of telephone conversation]
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                      (rev. Mar.-08)

                                                            Conversation No. 391-31 (cont’d)

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       1972 campaign
            -The President’s telephone calls
                  -Miller
                  -Case
                  -Hatfield
            -Miller
            -Surrogates
                  -Complaints
                        -John D. Ehrlichman
                        -John W. Warner [?]
                  -Behavior
            -Blue collar vote
                  -Cleveland
                  -Youngstown
                  -Richard M. Scammon
            -Black vote
                  -Turnout
            -Ohio
                  -Projection
            -California
            -Voter turnout
            -Senators
            -Vietnam issue

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
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The President talked with William L. Scott between 10:08 am and 10:10 am.

[Conversation No. 391-31B]

[See Conversation No. 32-170]

[End of telephone conversation]
                                              -49-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                         (rev. Mar.-08)

                                                           Conversation No. 391-31 (cont’d)

*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

       1972 campaign
            -Scott
                   -Victory chances
                   -Agnew’s appearance
            -Mrs. Nixon
            -Support for the President
                   -Poll
                   -Publications
            -Clark MacGregor
                   -Voter turnout
            -Vietnam issue
                   -Vote for confidence in the President
                         -Foreign observation

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

Colson and Haldeman left at 10:13 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.

Oh, that was a very excellent job, wasn't it?
No, no, it was very cool.
I didn't hear quite as I think about it, but it was really great.
Well, I promise you, I'd rather just stop away.
I promise you, it was very important to me.
Thank you.
I'm not going to believe it.
We just got out of that bowl of cold water.
When I was in the water with the others, they laughed at the language.
They pressed on it.
There again, our own people are responsible for not getting hired.
We've got to crack this shit up and put it all back on the language.
He left, of course.
That's what we have to do.
We've got to do this.
We've got to do this.
The rest of us are supposed to do this.
We've got to do this.
We've got to do this.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
They elevated that all the way.
The other thing that we don't have is the kids that I had problems with when I fell alive.
I didn't get my blood from all that.
I think the most important thing to do now is to set up a checklist.
That's, that's, that's kind of like what they hate.
They cannot buy that.
After that, after all, I want to see who I support and who I'm against.
And then part of the reason that I was a good job at that was because I knew everybody was, you know, Jesus, I've got to lose for myself.
And I know how hard it is to face the fact that I'm going to go do the same thing tomorrow at 7 a.m.
All right.
Well, there's many areas.
I mean, I just want our own people not to be sued.
I just want them to be sued.
And of course, who let you on?
No, Watergate is ready.
It's a goddamn suit.
Let's not make any stupid mistakes now.
I mean, we're in charge.
Yeah, I think that's what I want to do.
No, we're in charge of the subject.
I don't know.
I don't know.
I don't know.
They're all right.
They're not.
They're all right.
.
.
.
.
I don't think so.
Did he give that to you?
Yeah, I didn't have it.
I didn't have it.
Great price.
Well, he's an officer.
He's a contractor.
He says, you've got to make one Saturday.
Well, I mean, Bill Rogers called that.
My first example, I called him.
Now, that might fit like this, but it's like that one in Sapphire.
It's a nice little speech.
But this is basically speaking to someone.
and somebody wants to hear that close-up.
It's too important.
But anyway, it's just four.
It's really too important.
That's like the high-low math, the thought stuff, and the promise stuff.
The promise stuff.
I think we're supposed to be a lot closer.
That'd be good.
That's what we're supposed to be.
Wanted to be.
That's how we're supposed to be.
That's what we're supposed to be.
I think he does a great job.
I think he does a great job.
for about three minutes
Okay.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So we're going to get people to sign it.
I didn't sign it.
It's not great.
I like the hat attribute to the first lady, but it's not great.
I talked to two people who have ruined the school.
It doesn't mean it's not a very nice thing.
You've got to have a lot of people.
It's a piece that has inspiration.
It's good.
It's good.
It's good.
It's good.
It gets to the high income people that we're losing because of the water we need to get out of the county, or the people, the responsible people that are all crossing the malls, all the discrimination.
Not to look off the top.
They're right.
They're right.
I used to call them anti-fascist.
I just said, I just want to get out of it.
I was great.
I thought that was just exactly what I needed to do.
I was worried he'd start talking about the child because he didn't want to get too personal and he didn't want to generalize it because it was just exactly right.
But he said, he sat there and put me in that presentation.
And I probably shouldn't say it, but I think people would feel the same.
He had a realization that they weren't enough to sit and talk to each other.
And without the beard, it was so presidential.
And it was so...
Also, my guess is that
That's going to be seen.
The hard hat thing on this is 730.
They're going to sit there.
Hard hats would like this to do that.
Do they?
Yeah.
In a different kind of way.
They'd say, you know, there he is up there.
Well, I'll tell you what they would like.
They'd like it to look like I'm here.
They'd like that line, which is very tough.
And are you going to be watching?
That's when you're going to need to surrender.
That's what it is.
That's when you're going to need to keep going.
All right.
What do you mean?
What do you mean?
Oh, I thought you had to speak to that.
I didn't mean, I didn't mean to speak.
No, I didn't mean to speak.
No, I don't know, I didn't mean to speak.
I just think, I don't think that that's a, it's not a very good thing.
You know, it's like, yeah, I mean, both of us, I mean, of course, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right.
uh...
The last few days, even now, there isn't any question that the amount of exit, the amount that creates uncertainty is going to build up the right way.
On the other hand, I don't see how a government line would leave other things all blown and ready to go today for any of you.
But Henry, I don't think, I don't know the present time, so I don't think it would be effective to tell the truth at all.
Try to explain.
I don't have a false argument to give you this, not just to give you the message that you want to give, but what Henry said.
Yeah.
If this vector is not in counterbalance, and we've gone too far, I'd use it just to run the clock down and say, oh, we're going to drive down for a while, and then do something like that.
There you go, Henry.
That's why I
I don't think what I said was discouraging.
No, no, no, no.
It didn't discourage me.
But it was even just better than not to clarify.
That's why I didn't believe this was going to be going on, because I didn't think it was going to clarify or appear to clarify.
Well, you know, the last time I saw Justin, I was like,
You know, a lot of guys that can't, he's not capable of that.
So I'm happy to go out and make a picture.
What I was doing last night, I'm not going to have to play it.
I said, I'm going to go to the skeleton.
I'm going to come forward and I'm going to go in there and I'm going to have to set something up.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
I think, I think, I think Massachusetts is under her eyes.
I mean, I think we probably, whether it's illicit or not, it's really irrelevant.
The main thing I'd love for Massachusetts to do is do that.
That's the main thing I'd love for Massachusetts to do is do that.
That's the main thing I'd love for Massachusetts to do.
I don't know.
I don't know.
Hello?
Hello?
Hello?
John, actually, on the purpose of my call is I start out to do five things first, because I'm very, very, very gracious, except for mine.
I tell you, I'm delighted to hear that everything's going well for you, and I look forward to having you in with me in both.
As a matter of fact, we're together for four more years.
And I want you to go around the state with Jack today and tomorrow.
That's all I call.
Of course, I agree with you, but that's all I call.
The purpose is to call their vote count.
We need their vote count.
You see, we need the backing.
I don't see any demanding on that.
That's just history.
The work will see what we need.
The next break we've got is the Baltimore thing, where it was pretty great for a piece.
The stronger the boat we have, the better our faith helps build up that chance to see a fight.
We also go on a route.
I'm sorry to get in the highway.
Sorry, but it's not because I have my record in my mind.
I'm very happy to be able to do that.
I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you, I bet you,
Yes.
And get my dad and your wife, and that little girl, and that little animal I want.
Okay?
Bye.
Bye.
Okay.
Now, there's four folks tonight.
There's four handy people.
That's all right.
Now, get on that back seat.
Now, can I ask you to do that?
It doesn't have to be.
The point is that I've got all of you in the shape that you deserve it.
Well, that was all right.
Thanks.
But it's hard.
And it's boring.
But you've got all of us.
All the gates, and all the cabinets, and all the sides, and the other back.
I mean, all of those things.
These are all that I have on my mind.
Now, I want you to just go back to the very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very,
I was sitting here at first, and then around 10, 10 o'clock, we came to a point where I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up, and I threw up,
I don't know.
I don't know.
So they said, well, this is on the floor.
I mean, it was on me.
I mean, that's sort of how we're in general.
Yeah.
I see a truck with a name quite different name.
Who called it?
They said it's Cleveland.
It's 2-1 off 3-2.
That's not bad.
That's not bad.
I've got some problems.
Yeah, they're kind of, that's not, oh, you mean they want to lose another one of those?
Yeah.
That's the city, of course.
But that's not good.
That's not good.
That's not good.
That's not good.
That's not good.
Maybe you don't know how big the tree is.
Maybe it's very black.
And so it is, of course.
And they set it around so you can do it very well.
And also, they said the thing is, they showed 48 times in the forest.
So it's more than 48 times.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We'll be right back.
I think that's what happened.
I think that's what happened.
I think that's what happened.
I think that's what happened.
I think that's what happened.
I think that's what happened.
And I believe that those... Dr. Boyd, is that a little bit?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Hello, Mr. Wheaton.
Bill, I know you're working hard for the last 30 days for the purpose of my call.
I already, you know, read through the letter.
But it's a wishing well.
I just can't get to all the states or Virginia funds where I'd love to come, but I can't.
I would want to wish you well on Election Day.
I urge everybody to get out and vote to review that.
And I just, you know, leave a week with it.
Well, I asked you to go.
Well, he'll do great for you, and I asked him to go there, and I thought that would help.
Let me say, too, that, you know, he'll work with us in this green area of nagging, and that's more of all, too, and that's what we need.
Right?
Well...
Well, Sue Tom and I had called, and I said, I just retained what we had already said, and then I was going to the darkroom.
And, uh, we came through with a sign that said, I appreciate the support you've given for our strong, white world.
And I gave up.
I thought, if we're going to go back so far in life, I think we can just go on.
I'm just going to go to my friends, and I'm going to find a relationship with them.
He said.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's it.
Yeah, especially because of the fact that he's doing paper.
Yeah, that's right.
I'll drop you this one.
I'll leave it to you.
I'll leave it to you.
I'll leave it to you.
I'll leave it to you.
I don't know what it is or what it says.
I don't know what it says.
I don't know what it says.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Thank you for watching.