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Conversation 573-002

TapeTape 573StartThursday, September 16, 1971 at 6:21 PMEndThursday, September 16, 1971 at 6:29 PMTape start time00:57:30Tape end time01:05:45ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob");  Cox, Tricia NixonRecording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed the political potential of the Apollo 15 astronauts, specifically Colonel David R. Scott, before moving into a broad review of administrative challenges and scheduling. The conversation addressed the frustrations of managing press relations—notably regarding books by Walter Hickel and columnists Evans and Novak—and compared the executive demands of the presidency with those of governors and mayors. The pair concluded by coordinating upcoming meetings, including sessions with Black military officers and the American Legion commander.

Apollo 15Press relationsPresidential responsibilitiesWhite House schedulingH. R. Haldeman
AudioNARA Description

On September 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Tricia Nixon Cox met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:21 pm to 6:29 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 573-002 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 573-2

Date: September 16, 1971
Time: 6:21 pm - 6:29 pm
Location: Oval Office

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

     Apollo 15 astronauts
          -Colonel David R. Scott
                -Mission commander
                -James B. Irwin
          -Robert H. Finch, Donald H. Rumsfeld
                -View of Scott

The President talked with Tricia Nixon Cox between 6:21 pm and 6:22 pm.

[Conversation No. 573-2A]
[See Conversation No. 9-45]

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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/09/2020.
1m 15s segment cleared for release. 4s remain closed as 573-002-w001.]
[Personal Returnable]
[573-002-w001]
[Duration: 1m 15s]

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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal Returnable]
[573-002-w001]
[Duration: 4s]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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[End of telephone conversation]

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     Congress

     Ronald L. Ziegler
          -Announcement of meeting

     Unknown person
         -Marital status

     State and local officials
           -Meeting with unknown person [George P. Shultz?]
           -Job of governor
           -Job of mayor
                 -Comparison of responsibilities
                      -City Councils
           -Compared to the Presidency

     Press conference
           -Handling
                -John B. Connally
           -Assistance
                -Shultz
           -News
           -Questions
                -Rowland Evans and Robert D. Novak
                -Walter J. Hickel’s book
                -Conservative revolt
                -Spiro T. Agnew
                -Staff concerns
                      -East Room
                      -Television

     The President's schedule
          -Black military officers
                -Generals and admirals
          -Indian scripture presentation
          -Charles S. Rhyne
          -Maurice H. Stans
                -Possible topic for meeting
                      -Politics
                      -Minority business enterprise
          -Scheduled meetings
                -John Geiger
                      -National Commander of the American Legion

The President and Haldeman left at 6:29 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.

Which one of these foals is the captain?
Scott.
I think it's Scott.
Scott Purvis.
He's the one that mentioned Russ Hubbard as the best of all the astronauts of the whole, all through the program, as a political property.
Well, apparently he's articulate, dedicated, and just all of us.
Yeah, but this guy apparently has some
They said, they were just excited when they came back.
Hello?
Yes.
Hello?
Hi.
Yeah, how are you?
Yeah.
Yeah, I just, just was walking out.
I'm sorry I didn't go to that dinner.
Yeah, you went to that dinner?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, 6.30.
Yeah?
Did you want to ask something?
Huh?
Oh!
Well, are you all set on your things coming up?
You're coming to Camp David, aren't you?
Fine.
Well, what I think you should do, I think I told you that you stay in the accident scene, the two of you, so that they can have the big cabins, and then we'll, uh, we'll, uh, we'll, uh, we'll be up Saturday, too.
They'll eat Saturday night.
And you're going to say, you'll come up Friday evening.
Excellent, excellent.
Excellent.
Oh, yeah, that's excellent, excellent.
Everything going all right?
All right.
Can everybody see the program?
Where?
I'll be there.
You didn't see it?
Okay.
All right.
Of course.
He must just get so bored with these guys.
I think that's the problem.
They have nothing to talk about.
He wants to take my note.
He said, I can see now how it was harder for the governor to recover.
They're all nice guys, but they're all tied in.
Teachers are not reaching around the town.
Exactly.
It's really a lost goddamn job, isn't it?
It's awful and illegal.
Really, isn't it?
That's governors.
I think mayors have got other governors.
I really do, too.
And some more cities.
Some cities.
Around the city, at least.
The governor sits there, marching on the legislature, which is a slow form of life.
The city council isn't much either.
You've got a tough job, isn't it?
Oh.
all these sort of peanut-type problems, and no big ones.
The advantage of the presidency is you got a lot of peanut problems, but you got a few big ones, too, that are worth getting your teeth into.
They really need calm in those games.
He knows how to bang.
So I had to do the bashing today, and I did, I didn't get to talk, but, you know, Schultz and the rest are so challenged that they don't know how to, you know, they really try to answer the questions, but you use the down comment to answer the questions.
You know, they certainly said they had a hell of a lot to do, but I don't know about that.
I don't know.
We're sorry, Sam.
You notice again, on Sunday, we were going to, they didn't ask about having some Novak's book, or Hinkle's book, or the Conservative Revolt, or even the Dump Act.
You know, the questions that our people worry about, well, that our people worry about, are not the ones that usually come up.
You've got to be prepared on all of them.
Jackass, they come up in the Easter initials.
Someone's still loading on the TV.
What is this?
I don't think so.
We could have done it.
We have.
We can do it next week.
I mean, probably later.
We're still, if we can do it, I guess we can.
What's that?
Great Negro Black Flag Offices.
That's what it was then.
Black generals and admirals that we've put off a couple of times.
Indian scripture.
This is the first edition.
Okay.
There's something on it.
What's your show on that?
He's the new American Legion Commander.
His name is Respex.
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