{"conversationCode":"500-002","tapeNumber":500,"conversationNumber":2,"identifier":"37-wht-conversation-500-002","startDateTime":"1971-05-18T11:26:00.000Z","endDateTime":"1971-05-18T11:55:00.000Z","startDate":"18-May-1971","startTime":"7:26 AM","endDate":"18-May-1971","endTime":"7:55 AM","dateCertainty":"certain","timeCertainty":"estimated","participants":"Nixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. (\"Bob\");","description":"On May 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. (\"Bob\") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:26 am and 7:55 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 500-002 of the White House Tapes.","locationCode":"OVAL","recordingDevice":"Oval Office","latitudeEstimated":38.8974,"longitudeEstimated":-77.0374,"chronCode":1,"chronRelease":"First Chronological Release","chronReleaseDate":"5-Oct-1999","aogpRelease":null,"aogpSegment":null,"lastModified":"2015-07-27T17:04:10.235Z","findingAid":"Conversation No. 500-2\n\nDate: May 18, 1971\nTime: Unknown between 7:26 am and 7:55 am\nLocation: Oval Office\n\nThe President dictated a memorandum to H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.\n\n     \"Far Right\"\n\n     Family Assistance Plan\n\n     Balanced budget\n\n     President's foreign policy\n           -Vietnam\n\n     President's news conferences\n\n     \"The Left\"\n\n     White House staff","filename":["500-002.mp3"],"tapeStart":"00:04:27","tapeEnd":"00:06:28","participantsList":["Nixon, Richard M. (President)","Haldeman, H. R. (\"Bob\")"],"prevCode":"500-001","nextCode":"500-003","transcript":[{"start":3.71,"end":33.46,"text":"On further reflection to LR's direct approach to dealing with weather, as far as the far right is concerned, they claim to be pleased with the bad existence and unfathomable budget, and as I have indicated,"},{"start":35.57,"end":53.36,"text":"Strong, courageous, bold."},{"start":53.38,"end":55.75,"text":"Analysis of possessions."},{"start":55.77,"end":58.69,"text":"Intention to indicate that mind are bold."},{"start":59.75,"end":84.09,"text":"to where his country sort of suffocates his memories."},{"start":84.11,"end":85.85,"text":"It must have gotten through to most people as, you know, editorial critics on the left."},{"start":85.87,"end":86.27,"text":"That would be great."},{"start":86.29,"end":86.93,"text":"Yes, and probably our own staff."},{"start":86.95,"end":87.19,"text":"All those..."},{"start":87.73,"end":94.73,"text":"Sorry, I don't comprehend the... Go off."},{"start":94.75,"end":95.01,"text":"Fight for us."},{"start":95.03,"end":95.11,"text":"Yes!"}],"aiSummary":{"text":"President Nixon dictates a memorandum to H. R. Haldeman outlining political messaging strategies intended to appeal to the \"far right\" while neutralizing critics on the left. The President emphasizes the importance of projecting a bold, courageous image regarding his foreign policy—specifically Vietnam—and his economic agenda, including the Family Assistance Plan and budget priorities. This guidance serves as an directive for the White House staff to adopt a more assertive posture in public communications and future press conferences.","topics":["White House messaging","Far right","Vietnam War","Family Assistance Plan","Budget policy","Public relations"],"generatedAt":"2026-04-06T22:18:26.120Z"},"topicSlugs":["white-house-messaging","far-right","vietnam-war","family-assistance-plan","budget-policy","public-relations"],"audioDurationSec":99,"audioFiles":[{"file":"500-002.mp3","bytes":3977718,"durationSec":99.31,"bitrate":320413,"missing":false}],"audioIsShared":false,"audioProbedAt":"2026-09-18T02:19:49.346Z","transcriptGapSeconds":42,"transcriptGapShare":0.43,"transcriptQuality":"incomplete","audio":["https://nixon.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/audio/500-002.mp3"],"url":"https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/500-002","nixonLibraryUrl":"https://www.nixonlibrary.gov/white-house-tapes/500/conversation-500-002","license":"Public domain (U.S. Government work). AI-generated fields (transcript, aiSummary) are provided as-is without warranty."}