Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 415 › Conversation 415-003

Nixon & Haldeman on William Safire and Camp David

Sunday, February 25, 1973 · 2:08 PM–2:21 PM ET · Old Executive Office Building · 8 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation415-003 on Tape 415StartSunday, February 25, 1973 at 2:08 PMEndSunday, February 25, 1973 at 2:21 PMRecording deviceOld Executive Office BuildingSourceNixon Library record for 415-003 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss a variety of administrative and personal matters, including staff transitions for William Safire and potential social or cultural engagements. The conversation also touched upon broader governmental concerns, such as the ongoing investigation into North Vietnam, the FBI, and media-related subpoena issues. The participants weighed logistics for a possible live broadcast from Camp David while navigating sensitive national security discussions regarding the United Kingdom.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript is incomplete. The transcription skipped stretches of speech — roughly 4 minutes of this recording (about 54% 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.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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What I intend to get in is an account, because I can call John and find out.

But the Sapphire Award doesn't show up for us, so it doesn't help us.

Let us see.

Thank you.

Okay.

... ... ... ...

... ... ... ... ...

What I don't like about it

All right.

What?

Yeah.

All right.

Don't raise your hand if you like it lighter.

I know that you can do this.

I think they're a little excited.

Let's feel that out this way.

NARA Description

On February 25, 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 2:08 pm and 2:21 pm. The Old Executive Office Building taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 415-003 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 415-3
                                               -2-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Date: February 25, 1973
Time: Between 2:08 pm and 2:21 pm
Location: Executive Office Building

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

       Call to Shelley A. (Scarney) Buchanan
               -Patrick J. Buchanan
               -Shelley Buchanan's father

       William L. Safire
              -Preparation of material
              -Departure
                     -Use of time

       President's meeting with Norman Vincent Peale

       Debbie Reynolds

       New York theater
            -New York Times, New York Daily News
            -Theater critics
            -Irene musical show [?]
            -Choreography

       Safire
                -Henry Brandon

******************************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number LPRN-T-MDR-
2014-019. Segment exempt per Executive Order 13526, 3.3(b)(1) on 05/08/2019. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[415-003-w001]
[Duration: 9s]
                                              -3-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

      UNITED KINGDOM

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

******************************************************************************

      North Vietnam

      William H. Sullivan [or William C. Sullivan] [?]

      1968

      Sullivan [?]

      Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]

      Testimony
            -Washington Star
                  -[Subpoenas] [?]

      [First name unknown] Johnson

      Broadcast
            -Nation
                    -Camp David
            -Live event
            -Time of day
            -Camp David
            -Investigation of possibilities

Also recorded on February 25, 1973

415-001 1:30 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 1:30 pm and 2:08 pm.
415-002 2:08 PM · 19 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 2:08 pm and 2:21 pm.
415-004 2:21 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 5:40 pm.
415-005 2:21 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the President's office in the Old Executive Office Building at an unknown time between 2:21 pm and 5:40 pm.

Cite this conversation

Conversation 415-003, February 25, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/415-003 (accessed October 1, 2026).