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Conversation 400-005

TapeTape 400StartMonday, January 22, 1973 at 2:55 PMEndMonday, January 22, 1973 at 3:39 PMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOld Executive Office Building
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the President's upcoming public schedule, focusing specifically on the timing and content of his address regarding the Vietnam peace settlement. They discussed concerns regarding potential television over-exposure and the logistical challenge of balancing a domestic policy speech with the Vietnam message. The discussion emphasized managing the workload and the President's personal involvement in drafting his remarks to ensure optimal delivery.

Vietnam WarWhite House communicationsPresidential schedulingPublic relationsSpeechwriting
AudioNARA Description

On January 22, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:55 pm and 3:39 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 400-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 400-5

Date: January 22, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:55 pm and 3:39 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

The President talked with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman [?].

       The President’s speech on Vietnam settlement
            -The President’s schedule
                  -Postponement
                         -Speech on domestic policy [?]
            -Work by the President
            -Voters
            -Timing
            -Television [TV]
            -Teleprompter
            -Length

       The President’s schedule
            -John D. Ehrlichman [?]
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

I've got a prediction though, so you can go.
In fact, there's one in the garage.
It's worth like $2,000.
The question I raise is whether or not
Well, I'm thinking, right now, there's an over-exposure, an over-insertion.
My fellow, Richard, a few days ago, Steve, Jeff, and I, we were on Saturday, and I'm glad we are here today.
It's a real question of how much you really put on the plate.
That's very important.
That's because I'm watching John all the time, as I said, because he's not aware of how much I put on the stage.
Of course, I'll take more than a few hours.
Well,
If they can get something that I have a history with, that I will not have to deliver to any other people at all, I don't think I was going to be the writer on it.
That's the point.
That's the point.
Yeah.
That's it.
That's it.
I'll put it on the top of my card.
Alright.
I'll office it.
I'll office it.
I'll office it.
It's going to be down for some reason.
Hold on.
Hold on.
That's one thing that I suppose we've done.
I think we've hired up a lot of others, but there are no certain things that might not go very well.
And I know that's what we're approaching.
We did not agree on that.
We're trusting about 2,000 players, perhaps, and 17 more or so.
Yeah, okay.
The most money, $300,000 is money, but not quite $800,000.
Just about $3,000.
Well, I'll talk a little bit, John, about the fact that the client didn't care about the order.
I just wanted to know whether it was going to be a hell of a lot of my life in terms of trying to prepare it.
He's a good writer.
He's one of the best writers, yeah.
Christian, well, you know what?
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