Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 450 › Conversation 450-025
Nixon, Haldeman & Ziegler on Media strategy and Press relations
Wednesday, February 17, 1971 · 6:20 PM–6:32 PM ET · Oval Office · 22 min
AI Summary
President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Ronald Ziegler met to discuss the logistics and optics of presidential media strategy, specifically comparing the effectiveness of controlled one-on-one sessions versus full-scale televised press conferences. The group evaluated a recent appearance, expressing satisfaction with the respectful tone and the anticipated news coverage, while weighing the heavy preparation required for broader press events. Additionally, they briefly touched upon administrative matters, including the selection of personal gifts for associates and the management of office inventory.
Audio
This clip was extracted from the full tape recording by Easy Nixon.
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Position in tape: 04:21:46 – 04:43:45
part C, 17:31
NARA Description
On February 17, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:20 pm to 6:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 450-025 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 450-25
Date: February 17, 1971
Time: 6:20 pm - 6:32 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
Schedule
-Arrangements for greeting foreign dignitary
-Locations
-The President’s comments
-[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson Foundation speech
Robert J. Dole
Access to the President
-Henry A. Kissinger
Press conference
-Value
-Conduct
-Press
-Clark R. Mollenhoff
-Friends versus enemies
-Kansas City Star
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under deed of gift 08/05/2019. Segment cleared for
release.]
[Privacy]
[450-025-w001]
[Duration: 1m 18s]
Rose Mary Woods
-Health
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-The President’s request to talk with Rose Mary Woods
-Value
-The President’s opinion
-Need for time off
******************************************************************************Show the rest of the log (54 more lines)
Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 6:21 pm
White House gifts
-Type
-Robert H. Abplanalp
-Harry L. (“Bing”) Crosby [?]
-Type
-Glasses
-Press
-Abplanalp
-List
Press conference
-Format
-Preparation
-Benefit
-Use of television
-Reporters’ comments
-Follow-up
-Use of film
-Format
-Preparation
-Value
Schedule
-Woodrow Wilson Foundation
-Remarks by the President
-Preparation
Press conference
-Coverage by media
-Thomas E. Jarriel
-Air time
-Coverage by media
-Length
-Use of notes
-Use of transcript
-Format
-News stories
-Laos
-Integration
-Israel
-Construction industry
-Format
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Benefits
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Media perception
-Peter Lisagor
-Los Angeles Times intern
Haldeman and Ziegler left at 6:32 pmTranscript (AI-generated)
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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— 2 min 31 s with no transcribed speech —
— 1 min 12 s with no transcribed speech —
— 1 min 28 s with no transcribed speech —
Also recorded on February 17, 1971
- 450-019 12:00 AM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:00 am and 4:04 pm.
- 450-020 4:04 PM · 50 min — President Richard M. Nixon and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:04 pm to 4:51 pm.
- 450-021 4:52 PM · 31 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Walter Scheel, William P. Rogers, Henry A. Kissinger, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:52 pm to 5:24 pm.
- 450-022 5:25 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:25 pm to 5:26 pm.
- 450-023 5:26 PM · 42 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, Daniel J. Evans, White House photographer, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:26 pm to 5:53 pm.
- 450-024 5:53 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Dwight L. Chapin met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:53 pm to 5:59 pm.
Related conversations
- Nixon phone call with Haldeman on May Day demonstrations and Press relations June 1, 1971 · 12 min
- Nixon phone call with an unidentified caller on Press relations October 14, 1971 · 5 min
- Nixon phone call with Irwin on State Department and Press relations March 8, 1972 · 1 min
- Nixon, Haldeman & Ziegler on Press relations and Presidential credibility April 25, 1972 · 2 min
- Haldeman & Ziegler on Press relations and Public announcements July 21, 1972 · 2 min
- Nixon phone call with Ziegler on Economic Report and Herbert Stein January 30, 1973 · 1 min
Cite this conversation
Conversation 450-025, February 17, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/450-025 (accessed November 2, 2026).