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Conversation 540-011

TapeTape 540StartTuesday, July 20, 1971 at 1:26 PMEndTuesday, July 20, 1971 at 1:29 PMTape start time03:24:45Tape end time03:28:33ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discuss the professional conduct and social habits of a third party, likely a high-ranking official or diplomat, during a recent trip. The conversation focuses on the subject's tendency to inappropriately fraternize with subordinates and service staff, which Nixon contrasts with his own philosophy on maintaining clear boundaries of rank. The participants reflect on how this behavior undermines the formal distance necessary for leadership.

Professional conductLeadership styleSocial etiquetteOrganizational hierarchyDiplomatic travel
AudioNARA Description

On July 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:26 pm to 1:29 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 540-011 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
The Vietnam War
          -Kissinger
          -Present status of negotiations
               -John C. Stennis
               -Statement of position on type of settlement
                      -Cease fire
                      -Prisoners of war [POWs]
                      -Self determination
                -Congress
                      -F. Edward Herbert
                      -Michael (“Mike”) Mansfield
                      -Stennis

Rogers and Kissinger left at an unknown time before 7:53 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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Well, I suppose it makes sense to do so.
Mr. President, the rest of you can have a good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
Good night.
I was just saying, I think it's the pattern.
He does these with the press, you know, when he's riding in the plane.
He did the midnight press conference.
He did this in the press.
The Fat Jack name was done that way.
He tends to relax with people and trust them, you know what I mean?
And then he burps something out, or when he's on public stage, he isn't that way.
He's damn defective.
He's a cautious character.
It's the fraternizing.
He fraternizes with the Secret Service.
He fraternizes with the...
It's a funny thing because he's got this almost pompous sense of rank and all that, and yet it's so different.
You have no feeling of rank in the ceremonial sense or anything like that, but you have a total recognition of rank underneath.
You never fraternize with people below your level.
You never let down with people below your level.
I never separate them.
But superficially, you're always friendly.
And with people below your level, more friendly.
I mean, you're much more, and Jimmy will make much more of an effort to be nice and all that to a secretary than you do to your principal associates.
But you never, there's a line there that you never cross.
He is just the other one.
He's very much conscious of rank and all that.
Very
and you have to follow them.
And it just breaks the barrier completely on a personal basis.
It's very strange.
I'm impressed on this trip.
They were pretty bad with me on the project.
Yeah, I heard a news thing on the radio, a feature report from one of the guys who was with them.
I know you're good friends.
That's what he's doing.
I don't think they get as equal as a country strong people.
I won't say.
Straight on.
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