President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman met to coordinate media strategy and assess the political fallout from the President's recent trip to Detroit, where he faced significant labor-led demonstrations. They discussed managing upcoming television appearances and public relations regarding the administration's economic policies, specifically Phase II initiatives and a pending announcement by John B. Connally. Additionally, they reviewed the health condition of Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black and the potential implications of a personal visit from the President.
On September 20, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:41 pm to 5:04 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 577-012 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 577-12
Date: September 20, 1971
Time: 4:41 pm - 5:04 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Supreme Court appointment
-Justice Hugo Black
-Health report
-Health
-Condition
-Visit by the President
-Pros and cons
-Effect on Black
-Black's health conditions
-Recommendation by Dr. Walter R. Tkach
-Recommendation by Black's son
-The President's perception
-Visit to Black
-Health
Helen Knowland
-Divorce from William F. Knowland
-Knowland's age
-Possible reason
The President's Detroit, Michigan trip
-Demonstrations
-Gen. George A. Lincoln
-Widespread nature
-American Federal of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations [AFL-CIO]
-Teachers
-Auto workers
-Counsel
-Picket line
-Economic policy
-Vietnam War
-Information
-Airport
-Hotel
-Type of location
-Size of crowd
-Type of press coverage
-Use of film in broadcasts
-Regional coverage
-Spiro T. Agnew's projected speech
-Film coverage
-The President's Detroit Question and Answer [Q&A] appearance
-National coverage
-Time of day
-Live coverage
-Regional
-Results for the administration
-Time of day
-John A. Scali
-Live/local broadcast
-Live coverage
-Type of audience
-Public Broadcasting Service
-Equal time coverage
-Forthcoming events
-Press conference in the Oval Office
-John B. Connally
-Phase II
-Announcement
-Date
-Office press conferences
-Amount of news in comparison to Detroit press conference appearance
-Television press conference
-Issues
Detroit trip
-Demonstrators
-AFL-CIO
-Labor
-Press coverage
-Precedent
-National announcement
-Decision by local authorities
-Presentation of announcement
-Live
-Possible problems
-Press questions
-Agnew
-National news
Haldeman left at 5:04 pm.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.