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Conversation 507-007

TapeTape 507StartSaturday, May 29, 1971 at 10:32 AMEndSaturday, May 29, 1971 at 10:48 AMTape start time01:34:48Tape end time01:43:44ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to discuss strategic communications, including talking points for Henry Kissinger’s upcoming trip to Paris and managing the administration’s relationship with the press regarding columnist Chalmers Roberts. The conversation also touched upon logistical arrangements for Special Assistants to the President attending an event at West Point. The President emphasized the importance of maintaining a firm public stance and controlling the narrative against critical media coverage.

Henry KissingerParis TripPress RelationsWest PointWhite House StaffPublic Relations
AudioNARA Description

On May 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:32 am and 10:48 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 507-007 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 507-7

Date: May 29, 1971
Time: Unknown after 10:32 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
     Henry A. Kissinger
          -Trip to Paris
                -Talking points
                -Purpose

     West Point
          -Weather
          -Alumna on trip
                -Special Assistants to the President [SAP]

     Kissinger
          -Press
               -Administration’s position
               -Chalmers Roberts

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 21s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

**********************************************************************

     David R. Derge
          -Wife

     Thomas W. Fletcher, Sr.
         -Note from President
         -Daughter

**********************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 44s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

**********************************************************************

Haldeman left at an unknown time after 10:32 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

It should be a pretty good operation.
It's simple.
That's good, good.
That's good.
That's good.
How does he see that defense?
Is that his investment?
Is that what you needed?
Or if you've been doing it all week, you're going to handle it.
I think he's going to do that.
He receives it because he's, here's his problem.
He needs like hell to draw that line.
This is a crazy thing.
You're not going to lose on it.
You're going to put it on the line.
Here's his problem.
He's thinking of a story, a record.
You have to recognize it.
There's no chance of it.
You've already ended it.
Now this is one where you're trying to get something done, waiting for something done to be done.
Something's done, sure.
But not, just don't worry about directing it high.
The odds of making it work and there only one in a thousand or a hundred or something anyway, you've got to go the hardest time you can.
I don't know, it really has to be a little different.
It had sex on it, I guess.
But this kind of thing really did not go longer than the first thing.
It was a good day out there.
They're on six West Point residents.
Six residents are guests on six.
Well, there's plenty of room.
There's a lot of room.
If they want, they don't have to be right.
They're all staff people.
That's all they need to know right now.
They have to use it as far as they ought to use it.
I'm not going to be there.
I also get them.
I'm getting them truly.
Listen, be quiet.
Where?
It does not hurt if you got a thing.
Well, I think it could be at least something there.
It tends to be over across from somewhere.
It's got to be other than that, too.
Well, you better not say that.
The lawyer's viewpoint.
You better not say that because I have to do that.
You must do this.
It doesn't matter.
It's not your service.
You're not supposed to put it out.
You got to do it.
All right.
I'll get our side of it.
I didn't know all these things would bother me.
They're very bad.
I know you don't buy a columnist one by one, but the columnists are starting to write that kind of thing, and that's sort of been kind of starting to develop, that, well, there's an election, and I'd like to get this, et cetera.
But a lot of that's going down, and we've got panels and so forth doing that.
And I said, you see, you may be lying to an extent, but he's probably finding what he believes in there.
I wrote a bunch of notes on what was going on.
And that's really been something for him all along, and I'm proud of him.
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