Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 544 › Conversation 544-006

Nixon & Haldeman on PRC trip and John D. Ehrlichman

Friday, July 23, 1971 · 10:21 AM–10:25 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation544-006 on Tape 544 (tape position 00:43:33–00:44:38)StartFriday, July 23, 1971 at 10:21 AMEndFriday, July 23, 1971 at 10:25 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 544-006 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss the logistical arrangements for the upcoming presidential trip to the People's Republic of China, specifically focusing on the optics of the delegation. Nixon expresses concern that John D. Ehrlichman should not participate in his capacity as domestic policy advisor, citing potential conflicts and the need to manage public perceptions of the mission. The President ultimately decides to restrict Ehrlichman’s role to ensure he is not perceived as part of the primary diplomatic entourage.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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I mean, we really can't just concern, you know, the government and everything else that we don't appear to be, you know, just running off to China.
And even though he's there for a day, well, it won't be a day.
It has to be a week and a half, you know.
Yeah.
Well, it's an enormous story.
Whoever knows is going to go with me.
You know what I mean?
That's right.
That's right.
That's right.
I'll arrange that he can go and have something else.
So I'm going to want to have a domestic follow-up at a later time with the domestic council thing.
He can go as the leader of the domestic council to see what their economy is and ours, but I don't think he should go in this capacity.
I just don't think he should be in the dance band.

NARA Description

On July 23, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:21 am and 10:25 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 544-006 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 544-6

Date: July 23, 1971
Time: Unknown between 10:21 am and 10:25 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     The President's forthcoming trip to the PRC
          -Advance work
               -John D. Ehrlichman
                      -Conflict with domestic policy advisor position

Also recorded on July 23, 1971

  • 006-194 9:40 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:40 am and 9:48 am.
  • 544-002 9:40 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:40 am.
  • 544-003 9:40 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:40 am.
  • 006-195 9:48 AM · 3 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stewart J. O. Alsop talked on the telephone from 9:48 am to 9:51 am.
  • 006-196 9:51 AM · 7 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:51 am and 1:55 pm.
  • 544-005 10:21 AM · 8 sec — Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:21 am and 10:25 am.
  • 544-007 10:25 AM · 32 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House at 10:25 am.
  • 544-008 10:26 AM · 2 hr 37 min — President Richard M. Nixon, John B. Connally, John D. Ehrlichman, George P. Shultz, Caspar W. ("Cap") Weinberger, Kenneth R. Cole, Jr., Edwin L. Harper, Ronald L. Ziegler, Paul W. McCracken, Henry A. Kissinger, and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:26 am to 1:03 pm.

All 20 conversations from July 23, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 544-006, July 23, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/544-006 (accessed October 9, 2026).