Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 457 › Conversation 457-002

Nixon & Haldeman on Black leaders and Government reorganization

Wednesday, February 24, 1971 · 11:35 AM–11:38 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation457-002 on Tape 457 (tape position 01:25:54–01:27:58)StartWednesday, February 24, 1971 at 11:35 AMEndWednesday, February 24, 1971 at 11:38 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 457-002 ↗ · National Archives Catalog, NAID 417175977 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman coordinated the logistics and talking points for an upcoming meeting with a group of Black leaders. They discussed emphasizing the administration's commitment to government responsiveness and reorganization, while strategizing on how to best engage the attendees. The President also tasked his staff with inquiring about the status of Negro History Month programming and exploring the possibility of providing the visitors with a special tour of the White House.

Audio

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NARA Description

On February 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:35 am and 11:38 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 457-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 457-2

Date: February 24, 1971
Time: Unknown between 11:35 am and 11:38 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
     The President’s schedule
          -Meeting with black leaders
               -Tenure of meeting
               -Berkeley G. Burrell
               -Cenoria Johnson
               -Suggested remarks
               -Possible White House tour

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 11:38 am

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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He says just go in and say you appreciate your coming in and spending this time going over this thing with our people.

Reiterate your commitment to making government more responsive to people.

And that's why we're pushing so hard for the ensuring government reorganization.

That your staff, and Walter, your staff stands ready to work with them in furthering these objectives.

And I'm sure Ron has already told them.

Do you appreciate their taking the time to come in here and give us their views and work with our people on it?

Here are our views, give us their views.

Could you find out whether the Negro history is still ongoing or if the others were involved in that when?

Let's check something to see if they can get a special tour of the bay right now.

Also recorded on February 24, 1971

457-001 10:19 AM · 1 hr 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, Ronald L. Ziegler, Virginia H. Knauer, Lewis A. Engman, Elizabeth Hanford, White House photographer, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:19 am to 11:35 am.
457-003 11:35 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:35 am and 11:38 am.
457-004 11:55 AM · 22 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Clifford M. Hardin, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:55 am and 12:19 pm.
457-007 12:01 PM · 52 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:01 pm and 12:19 pm.
457-008 12:19 PM · 1 min — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:19 pm and 12:35 pm.
457-005 12:34 PM · 43 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:34 pm to 1:24 pm.
457-009 12:35 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 12:35 pm and 12:43 pm.
457-006 1:24 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:24 pm to 1:25 pm.

White House tour group on White House tours and Cabinet Room January 3, 1972 · 7 min
White House tour group on Cabinet Room and White House tour June 22, 1973 · 5 min
Nixon, Haldeman & Bull on Public relations and White House tours June 16, 1971 · 2 min
Nixon phone call with Finch on Economic Policy and Welfare Reform September 9, 1971 · 4 min
Nixon phone call with Mitchell on Earl L. Butz and Department of Agriculture November 11, 1971 · 5 min
Nixon phone call with Connally on State of the Union address January 10, 1972 · 7 min

Cite this conversation

Conversation 457-002, February 24, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives (NAID 417175977). Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/457-002 (accessed November 2, 2026).