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Conversation 558-001

TapeTape 558StartMonday, August 9, 1971 at 2:58 PMEndMonday, August 9, 1971 at 3:36 PMTape start time00:01:02Tape end time00:39:21ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.;  Woods, Rose Mary;  Evans, Thomas B.;  Nofziger, Franklyn C. ("Lyn");  DeBolt, Edward S.;  Mountain, Barry F.;  Dent, Harry S.;  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob");  White House photographerRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon met with his staff and political advisors to discuss his upcoming schedule, including preparations for a press conference and strategies regarding upcoming Republican National Committee meetings. The discussion focused heavily on political optics, specifically planning disruptive tactics to target Democratic rivals Edmund Muskie, Hubert Humphrey, and Edward Kennedy at an AFL-CIO convention in Dallas. Nixon and his team strategized using public protests, such as anti-busing demonstrations, to manipulate press coverage and create political friction for his opponents.

Richard NixonPolitical strategyBusingAFL-CIOEdmund MuskiePublic relationsRepublican National Committee
AudioNARA Description

On August 9, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Rose Mary Woods, Thomas B. Evans, Franklyn C. ("Lyn") Nofziger, Edward S. DeBolt, Barry F. Mountain, Harry S. Dent, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:58 pm to 3:36 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 558-001 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 558-1

Date: August 9, 1971
Time: 2:58 pm - 3:36 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Ronald L. Ziegler.

     President's schedule
          -Cyclemates II
          -Ziegler’s recent press conference
                 -Ellsworth F. Bunker
                       -Forthcoming meeting
                             -Timing
          -Cyclemates II
          -Republican National Committee leaders
          -Press conference
                 -Timing
                       -International monetary developments
                 -Possible announcement
                       -Dwight L. Chapin
                       -H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
                 -Patrick J. Buchanan

Rose Mary Woods entered at an unknown time after 2:58 pm.

     Call from an unknown woman

Woods left at an unknown time before 3:02 pm.

     President's schedule
          -Press conference
                 -Possible announcement
                 -Businessmen's group
                      -Buchanan

The President met with Thomas B. Evans, Franklin C. (“Lyn”) Nofziger, Edward S. DeBolt,
Barry F. Mountain, Harry S. Dent, and Haldeman at 3:02 pm; the White House photographer
was present at the beginning of the meeting.

     Introduction
           -DeBolt
           -Mountain

[Unintelligible]

**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 7m 19s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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

     Busing
          -Press coverage
               -Edmund S. Muskie, Hubert H. Humphrey, Edward M. Kennedy
               -Muskie
                     -Southern delegates
                     -Dallas, Texas
                          -American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations
                                [AFL-CIO] convention
                                -Reporters
                                -Demonstrators
                                     -Placards

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

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 21m 52s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2

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

      Presentation of gifts
           -Golf balls
           -Music box

      President’s schedule
           -John N. Mitchell

Ziegler, et al. left at 3:36 pm.
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.

Okay, good.
That's a good way to do it.
Because we're not going to...
It's why I said in all of this, we will not expect anything.
That's why I just stood in front of him.
We're not going to say anything to anybody.
So that's no problem at all.
I just don't want him to ask.
Well, I mean, how the hell can we get his information?
You can.
We can do that without...
I just want to see Rose, but...
Okay, I'll call her later.
We keep it down without indicating the time of the day.
Or even without indicating that there's something on the media.
Yeah, I just take it away.
Why don't you just say it's going to be with a group of businessmen?
That's it.
For him to use his death, you can't be on the direct girl.
He used to use it for upgrading.
He used to come meet the group of businessmen on Friday, and he would like to have answers to three questions.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Nå.
For Christ's sakes, do we have any money in the press to do it for us?
No money.
Well, there you are.
Let's try.
Good project.
We'd like to have Mosky, Humphrey, and Caffey.
I don't care about the others.
I'd like to have Dante.
Buster.
Buster, period.
Yes, I will.
Do you agree with me?
I believe so.
And here, they are behind this.
Particularly observable with the money.
Because he's the guy that's got it in the southern deltas.
If you didn't get my name on that, that's a project that you did not do.
How did you do that?
I used intentions to sweep you around.
I pulled in the time.
We've been placing an advantage against the main CIA commission in Texas.
He's done a half, he's done a season of press in Dallas.
Now look, where is he?
He's in Dallas, getting ahead of us.
He's a direct follow-up.
Getting two or three reporters coming over to get up there and banging on him.
Ask him about it.
Another thing you can do is to get people with placards about bussing at the airport and get them up there.
Say, no bussing, or something like that.
And he has to go over and shake hands, and then somebody has to go over and shake hands.
There's several ways to do it.
Well, let's give you a little cheer.
Let's give you a little cheer.
Koffer, who do you have?
Oh, my God.
I've got something here.
Golfers and savers.
Who's the golfer?
I used to have a two-handicap until I got this business.
Koffer, why?
I'll show you a cute thing we have here.
Otherwise...
That is great.
Now, that's for your wife.
She's a little cranky.
I've got you, sir.
I'm part of your secretary here.
Thank you, sir.
You don't have a secretary, do you?
Yes, sir.
I couldn't find one.
Gary, you better take the golf ball.
You've got to take it.
He's got the golf break.
Thank you.
You hold it for just one minute.
No, he's coming up with a mean situation.
Just hold it for one minute.
I've got a zero, so I'll give you double.
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