President Nixon met with H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman to discuss a range of administrative and political appointments, including potential roles for Donald Rumsfeld and a successor for George A. Lincoln at the Office of Emergency Preparedness. The group evaluated current government reorganization proposals, economic policy messaging coordinated by John Connally, and the political implications of upcoming automobile safety regulations concerning air bags. They also touched on cabinet-level personnel strategies, specifically addressing the need to improve public relations and increase representation of specific demographic groups.
On April 27, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, John D. Ehrlichman, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:40 pm to 4:52 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 488-022 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 488-22
Date: April 27, 1971
Time: 4:40 pm - 4:52 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with John D. Ehrlichman and an unknown man.
President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with Federal Reserve Board officials
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 4:52 pm.
-Unknown meeting
-Length
Herbert W. Kalmbach's activities
-Campaign contributions
-Henry Ford II
Paul Sontag [sp?]
H.R. Haldeman was present at an unknown time after 4:40 pm.
Ford
Bernard J. ("Bunny") Lasker
Edmund S. Muskie
Haldeman left at an unknown time before 4:52 pm.
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Lasker
-Chefs
-Madison Hotel
Stock market
-President’s view
-Publicity
-Level of activity
-U.S. News & World Report
President's meeting with Russell B. Long
-Government reorganization
-Republicans
-Liberals
-Compared with revenue sharing
Revenue sharing
-Republicans
-Charles McC. Mathias, Jr.
-Democrats
-Liberals
-Government reorganization
-Stewart Alsop[?]
Government reorganization
-Department of Agriculture
-John B. Connally
-Andy Rouse
-Proposals
Economic policy
-Connally's role
-Administration spokesman
-Paul W. McCracken
-Statement
-President’s view
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Arthur F. Burns
-George P. Shultz
-McCracken
-Connally’s role
-Ehrlichman's role
John A. Volpe
-President's conversation with Haldeman
-John N. Mitchell
-Ambassador
-Italy
-Cabinet
-Speaker
Cabinet personnel
-Italians
-William T. Pecora
-Unknown General Counsel
-Possible appointments at Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Possible appointment
-Volpe
-Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo
-Hispanics
-Future meeting between Ehrlichman, Haldeman, and Mitchell
-Department of Agriculture
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Tenure
-Opposition
-American Farm Bureau Federation
-Unknown man
-Qualifications
-Connally
-Rogers C.B. Morton
-Rumsfeld's possible role
-Public relations ability
President's previous meeting with Lide A. Iacocca and Ford
-Air bag
-The President’s view
-Seat belts
-Development
-Current problems
-Administration’s position
-Delay
-Volpe
-Administration's position
-Seat belts
-Regulations
-Implementation
-Peter M. Flanigan
-Schedule
Office of Emergency Preparedness
-Directorship
-George A. Lincoln
-National Security Council [NSC]
-Price Daniel
-Agnew
-Staff
-Lincoln
-Reassignment
-Tenure
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Gen. Andrew J. Goodpastor
-The President’s view
-Politics
-Ehrlichman’s concern
-Directorship
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Public relations
-Budget
-Candidates
President's schedule
-Upcoming meeting with Elmer H. Bobst
Ehrlichman left at 4:52 pm.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.