Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 458 › Conversation 458-001

Nixon & Haldeman on Political Socialization and Ronald Reagan

Thursday, February 25, 1971 · 9:11 AM–11:00 AM ET · Oval Office ·1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation458-001 onTape 458 (tape position 00:01:40–00:02:48)StartThursday, February 25, 1971 at 9:11 AMEndThursday, February 25, 1971 at 11:00 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 458-001 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the social dynamics and political hostilities encountered during recent White House functions. Haldeman analyzes the personal animosity displayed by Ronald and Nancy Reagan toward the President, comparing it to the visible disdain previously observed in Eunice Shriver during a diplomatic dinner. The conversation emphasizes the perceived emotional reactions of various political figures toward Nixon's presence in office.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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It just tickles me to watch Ray, he and especially Nancy, they just hate what a passion being in that place.
It's just fascinating to watch them.
Especially Nancy.
Why?
Because they don't like you being in there.
It's the same hatred.
The only other place I've seen the same kind of thing was on, no, he's not that kind of guy, was on the base of Eunice Shriver the night we gave the dinner in the embassy for De Gaulle.
And she sat there watching you give the toast that night with the most, just,
Total hatred in her face that I've ever seen.
And you know, then while she was saying, this son of a bitch is spending with my brother on a video call.

NARA Description

On February 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:11 am and 11:00 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 458-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 458-001
Date: February 25, 1971
Time: Unknown between 9:11 am and 11:00 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
[Recording begins while the conversation is in progress]
National Governors’ Conference dinner
-George C. Wallace
******************************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 04/16/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[458-001-w001]
[Duration: 45s]
Ronald W. Reagan and Nancy Reagan
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Dislike of White House
-Connected to their opinion of President
Nelson A. Rockefeller
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Favorably disposed towards President
Eunice (Kennedy) Shriver
-Dinner in embassy for General Charles A, J. M de Gaulle
Page | 1
White House Tapes of the Nixon Administration, 1971-1973
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Reaction to President’s dinner toast
-Dislike for President
******************************************************************************
Recording was cut off at an unknown time before 11:00 am

Also recorded on February 25, 1971

  • 458-002 9:11 AM · 42 min — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) [radio technicians] met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:11 am and 3:20 pm.
  • 048-003 10:56 AM — during the signing of the Foreign Policy Message, President Richard M. Nixon and Mary D. Stifflemire, Bernice V. Alexander, Judith L. Johnson, William G. Hyland, W. Marshall Wright, Peter W. Rodman, C. Fred Bergsten, Harold H. Saunders, Nancy L. Meinking, Arnold Nachmanoff, Col. Robert M. Behr, John H. Holdridge, John Glancy, Col. Richard T. Kennedy, Winston Lord, Sheila R. Lopez, Dianne C. Matthews, Julienne L. Pineau, Dr. K. Wayne Smith, Helmut ("Hal") Sonnenfeldt, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Cabinet Room of the White House at an unknown time between 10:56 am and 11:50 am.
  • 458-003 3:28 PM · 33 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:28 pm to 3:35 pm.
  • 458-004 3:35 PM · 12 min — President Richard M. Nixon, George Renercomb, Thomas S. Kleppe, Glenda L. (Gompf) Kleppe, Jill Kleppe, Jane Kleppe, Gladys Anderson, Ruth Edick, Anthony G. Chase, Arthur H. Singer, Marshall J. Parker, Jack Eachon, Jr., Arthur McZier, Howard Russell, Einar Johnson, Wilfred J. Gavin, John A. Knebel, Loren J. Rivard, Raymond E. Stull, Milton R. Young, Patricia M. (Burne) Young, Robert J. Dole, Silvio O. Conte, Joseph L. ("Joe") Evins, Christine Gallagher, Lucey Sharp, Dorothy A. Kabis, Magnus Lutnass, Rogers C. B. Morton, Clark MacGregor, and Maurice H. Stans met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:35 pm to 3:46 pm.
  • 458-005 3:46 PM · 19 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Stephen B. Bull, Felipe Herrera, Charls E. Walker, Henry J. Costanzo, and Ashley Hewitt met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 3:46 pm and 4:05 pm.
  • 458-006 4:05 PM · 37 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:05 pm and 4:07 pm.
  • 458-007 4:07 PM · 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Joe D. Waggonner, Jr., Juanita Morris Moody, John C. Whitaker, Richard K. Cook, White House photographer, and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:07 pm to 4:34 pm.
  • 458-008 4:34 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Dwight L. Chapin met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:34 pm and 4:42 pm.

All 12 conversations from February 25, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 458-001, February 25, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/458-001 (accessed September 18, 2026).