On July 3, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:41 am and 11:53 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 536-017 of the White House Tapes.
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.
I want to tell you, I think this is a good day to give a call to a lot of people off.
It's a pretty day.
What I've cut out, I don't get it, but it's a little fractious.
My stuff is too starting too much in the beginning.
You see, I marked it.
There's no problem.
It's not really...
It won't go south in a minute.
He's scared out of it.
Let me ask you one thing
Or are you a little awkward of just saying, I'll finish?
And would I walk off and Star Spangled Banner starts to play?
What I'm concerned about is that I just don't see how it could be.
It's not bad.
If you have a good look on your face during the Star Spangled Banner, I can just stand there and I will not sing.
Or do you think I should tell him I shouldn't sing?
You know, just stand there, Jim.
That's right.
But how can we get them up there?
Or do they just stand there while I speak?
No, they can be sitting down.
Well, it's off camera.
Let me talk to them.
It doesn't bother me to have them standing at their podiums while I speak because the camera's going to be on me, you see.
Yeah, that's right.
They don't need to be standing.
They're going to be sitting down here.
So they don't go outside off camera.
Just remember how that went.
They're here.
After I finish, when they have to walk up the Star Spangled Banner, they can be doing it without the camera showing it.
I don't know.
When are they going to start walking?
Just as the Star Spangled Banner starts.
I think the three of us should stand here to attention and salute, but not sing.
We did put this one out.
I guess I got it.
I got it.
I got it earlier for this guy here.
I was quoted that was released.
Is there anything to do with that?
Well, I've got to write a letter to this elephant child.
Good.
You see my problem over there?
Yeah, I do.
I was...
It's...
But you've got to do this better for yourself.
I feel better now.
So that's all that matters, that's... You should not then try to look at the flag, which is the normal thing to do, or in the same way, you should straight out, straight forward, straight out.
that.
I've got to get a letter.