President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman discussed communications strategy, specifically focusing on the necessity of keeping public addresses and recorded messages concise and impactful. They reviewed the President's upcoming film commitments and considered how to effectively frame the administration's achievements, particularly regarding the balance between foreign policy milestones like the forthcoming China trip and domestic economic progress. Nixon directed Haldeman to ensure that White House staff consistently integrate these key accomplishments into their own speeches to maximize public awareness and support.
On October 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:31 pm to 2:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 588-021 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-008. Segment declassified on 10/13/2017. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[588-002-w001]
[Duration: 2m 19s]
Taiwan–People’s Republic of China [PRC] relations
-Consensus on One-China policy
-Compared to Two-China policy
-Benefit to US
-The President’s comments
-Diplomatic resolution desired
-Complexity of situation
**************************************************************************
Taiwan–People’s Republic of China [PRC] relations
-Consensus on One-China policy
-Italian domestic political situation
-The President's view
-US domestic concern
Moro's observations
-Middle East
-US efforts
-Israel and Egypt
-Positions
-Suez Canal
-Rogers efforts
-The president's reply
-Italy's role
-Moro's view
-Italy's objective
-US support
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:31 am.
The President’s schedule
-Sons of Italy
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:18 pm.
Economic situation
-John B. Connally
-US objective
Americo Cortese, Peter Gay, Frank Montemuro, Paul Landi, Nicholas Cipriani, William Cercone
Greetings
Introductions
-[Unintelligible]
-Standard of Ohio
Photo opportunity
Presentation to Moro
The President's presentation of gifts
-Columbus Day
-Paper weights
-Golf balls
Herbert G. Klein
Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
Expressions of appreciation
Alexander P. Butterfield entered at 12:26 pm.
[Unintelligible]
Moro et al. left at 12:27 pm; Butterfield and Volpe remained.
The President's schedule
-Butterfield
-Unknown person's telephone call to Volpe
Volpe left at 12:29 pm.
Weather
The President left and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 12:29 pm.
Proposal
Connally
The President entered and Butterfield left at 12:30 pm.
Weather
The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 12:30 pm and
12:31 pm.
[Conversation No. 588-2A]
[See Conversation No. 11-32]
[End of telephone conversation]
Poll
-Popular approval of Nixon
-George Meany
The President talked with John N. Mitchell between 12:31 pm and 12:34 pm.
[Conversation No. 588-2B]
[See Conversation No. 11-33]
[End of telephone conversation]
Supreme Court appointment
-Mildred L. Lillie
-Catholic
-Husband
-Italian
The President talked with White House operator at 12:35 pm.
[Conversation No. 588-2C]
[See Conversation No. 11-34]
[End of telephone conversation]
-Name background
The President talked with John N. Mitchell between 12:35 pm and 12:36 pm.
[Conversation No. 588-2D]
[See Conversation No. 11-35]
[End of telephone conversation]
Supreme Court appointment
-Lillie
-Husband, A.V. Falcone
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Haldeman
-Wife's position on Women's Liberation
-Woman appointee
-Lillie
-Position
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Lillie
-Position on a woman appointee
-Mitchell
-Robert C. Byrd
-James O. Eastland
-Steve [Surname unintelligible]
-Horatio Alger story
-Membership in organizations
-The President’s view
-Judicial views
Polls
-Approval ratings
-Meany's position
-Compared with the President’s position
-Labor
-The President's economic program
-Federal action
-Strikes
-Anti-inflation program
-The President's economic plan
-Union compared with non-union workers
-Meany
-Louis P. Harris
-Charles W. Colson
Media
-Reporting
-Local stations
-Public broadcasting
Gen. Albert Redman of White House Communications Agency [WHCA]
Forthcoming trip to PRC
-Dwight L. Chapin's preparation for PRC trip
-Kissinger
-Peter G. Peterson
-Use of telephones by staff
-The President's 1959 visit to USSR
-Redman
-Secret Service
-Car
-Ground station communications and media station
-Boeing 747
-Set-up
-Capability
-Instructions for Kissinger
-Inspection by PRC
-Communications
-Telephones
-Speaker of the House, Carl B. Albert
-Ground station
-Purpose
-Congress
-Videotapes
-John A. Scali
-Public interest
-Europe
-American networks
-Coverage
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Secret Service car
-The President's experience with Soviets
-Yugoslavs
-Rumanians
-Chinese
-Use of car
-The President’s view
-Communications
-Secret Service
-Secretaries
-Kissinger
-Women
-Rose Mary Woods
-Military men
-Ability
-Navy yeomen
-Stewards
-Women accompanying the President to PRC
-Woods
-Chou En-lai
-Mrs. Nixon
-Adele (Langston) Rogers
-Woods
-Kissinger
-Mrs. Nixon
-Rogers
-Public relations
-Constance M. Stuart
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-John A. Scali
-Klein
-USSR
-Robert H. Finch
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 12:36 pm.
Polls
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:13 pm.
-Unions
-Meany compared with Nixon
-Ehrlichman
-Strength
-Strikes
-Harris
-US economy
-The President's handling
News magazines
-Evaluation
-Kissinger
-Disney World
-Time, Newsweek articles
-Life
-Florida economy
-Television special
The President's schedule
-Disney World
-Television special
-Republican women event
-Walt Disney's widow
-Haldeman’s role
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 07/24/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[588-002-w004]
[Duration: 38s]
Press coverage
-Charles G. (“Bebe”) Rebozo
-God son’s opinion
**********************************************************************
Press story
-Veracity
Newspapers
-Ziegler
-Los Angeles Times
-Newsday
-Roland Evans and Robert D. Novak
-Administration’s dealings
-The President’s view
-Marty Schram’s article
-Haldeman’s view
-New York Times
-Robert B. Semple, Jr.
-Administration's relations
-Klein
-Editorial policy
-Max Frankel
-Semple
-Los Angeles Times
-Administration’s position
-Irwin
-Semple
-Kissinger
-Availability to press
-Romana A. Banuelos
Newspaper story on Banuelos
-[Forename unknown] Rosenberg
-Harry Bernstein
-Justice Department
-Mitchell
-Los Angeles office
Evans and Novak
-Kissinger
-Book
-Foreign policy
-Richard J. Whalen's review
-Access to White House staff
-Kissinger
-William L. Safire
-Rumsfeld
-Finch
-Rogers C. B. Morton
-Patrick J. Buchanan
-Jimmy Allison
-Hugh Scott
-Clark MacGregor
-Columns
-J. Edgar Hoover
-Jack N. Anderson
-Approach
-William C. Sullivan
-Responses
Television
-Comments regarding the President's Phase II economic speech
-[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Edith Effron
-Theory of network intent
-Novak, et al.
-Compared with isolation presentation
-Slanting of presentations
Media
-The President’s Phase II speech
-Peter Lisagor
-Revenue sharing speech
-Mark Hueres [?]
-Ziegler
-Safire
-Possible administration approach
-New York Times
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston
-Los Angeles Times
-Otis Chandler
-Norman Buck
-Washington Post
-Relations with editorial boards
-Associated Press [AP], United Press International [UPI], Scripps-Howard
-The President's memories of the campaign
-Klein
-UPI
The President's schedule
Press
-Coverage of church services
-Mrs. Nixon
-Mitchell
Pictures
The President's schedule
-Press briefing, October 12, 1971
-Bipartisan meeting
-Leaders' meeting
-F. Edward Hebert
-Cabinet meeting
-Phase II
-George P. Shultz
-Ziegler
-Announcement of US-USSR Summit
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Editorial writers
-Pittsburgh
-Oklahoma City
-Vermont Royster
-World Series
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Film work
-Robert P. Griffin [?] birthday salute
-March of Dimes
-National Association of Manufacturers [NAM]
-Connally, James D. Hodgson, Maurice H. Stans, Paul W. McCracken,
Herbert Stein
-Possible radio statement
-Charles H. Percy
-Chicago
-Testimonial dinner
-Griffin
-State Department
-Singapore
-International Telecommunications Satellite [INTELSAT]
-Morocco
-Television stations
-Sickle cell anemia
-Gerald R. Ford
-Mrs. Nixon, Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Telephone calls
-Griffin
-Percy
-Otto Passman
-Grand Commander of the Conference of English-speaking Scottish [Unintelligible]
Free Masonry and Supreme Council in Amity
-Congressmen petition
-Support for Taiwan
-UN
-Possible presentation to the President
-Clement P. Zablocki, Joe D. Waggonner, Robert L.F. Sikes, Unintelligible
Name, William J. Scherle, and Passman
-George H.W. Bush
-Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
-Ceremonial duties
-The President’s position
-INTELSAT events
-Sickle cell anemia
-NAM events
-Republicans
-Radio
-Percy and Griffin
-[Forename unknown] Miller
-Television
-Radio
-Telephone calls
-Visit of Robert S. McNamara
-Crime
-Ehrlichman
-Harris
-Colson
-Fort Detrick
-Cancer research, biological warfare laboratory
-Possible visit by Prime Minister of Turkey
-Kissinger
-National Municipal League
-Revenue sharing
-Welfare
-American Nurses Association
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Salvation Army
-Norman Vincent Peale
-New York
-New York Hilton
-Mrs. Nixon
-Knights of Columbus
-Volpe
-Presidential box at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
-President Hubert Maga
-Republic of Dahomey
-Reaction
-Visit to UN General Assembly
-American Federation of Labor-Council of Industrial Organizations [AFL-CIO]
-State Department
-Vietnam Prisoner of War [POW] resolution
-African nations
-Louise Gore
-United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization [UNESCO]
-Richardson
-Frank Shakespeare
-Kissinger
Chief Zosimo T. Monzon
-Military record
-Future plans
-Family life
-The President’s appreciation and support
-Family
-Possible future assignment
-Lyndon B. Johnson's staff as ex-President
-Vocation
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
[Previous archivists categorized this section as a PRMPA National Security (B) withdrawal.
Conv.
With new guidance it is now categorized as a PRMPA Federal Statute (A). No.
It has 588-21 (cont.)
been
rereviewed and closed under deed of gift 07/24/2019.]
[Federal Statute]
[588-002-w011]
[Duration: 1m 1s]
PRC
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 11
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 07/24/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[588-002-w012]
[Duration: 2m 8s]
John D. Mitchell
-Dinners for the states
-Circumstances
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-William E. Timmons
Herbert W. Kalmbach
-Maintenance work at San Clemente
-Ken Kammeir
-Fees
-Hal Lynch
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Gavin Herter [?]
-Counter offer
-Preference of Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
**********************************************************************
Walter J. Hickel
-Future role in government
-Alaska development
-Stans
-Mitchell
-USSR
-Siberia
-Kissinger
Buchanan
-Briefing Book
-Press Conferences
-Staff morale
The President's schedule
-Film appearances
-Standard Oil
-Big business
-Connally, Hodgson
-Eisenhower Theatre
-Opening
-Reception
-Mrs. Nixon
-Alice Marriott
-North Carolina
-Trip
-Connally
-Idanell B. (“Nellie”) Connally
-Charles R. Jonas
-Size of delegation
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 07/24/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[588-002-w014]
[Duration: 5s]
The President’s schedule
-North Carolina
-Trip duration
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
**********************************************************************
The President’s schedule
-North Carolina
-Congressional delegation
-Wives
-Sects on Air Force One
-The President's planes, Air Force One
-Maintenance and refurbishing
-Gen. James D. Hughes
-Air Force
-Back-up plane
-Purposes
-PRC trip
-USSR trip
-Old Air Force One
-Rogers
-PRC trip
-USSR trip
-Campaign
-Very Important Persons [VIPs]
Unions
Public support for the President's economic policies
-Prospects in good times
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Unemployment
**********************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 07/24/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[588-002-w015]
[Duration: 1m 18s]
Politics
-Charles W. Colson
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Drop in polls
-Only viable candidate
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Birch E. Bayh, Jr.
-George S. McGovern
-Fred R. Harris,
-John V. Lindsay
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Possible viability
-Labor
-George Meany
**********************************************************************
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 12:30 pm.
Item for the President
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 2:13 pm.
-Announcement of Soviet Summit
Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:30 pm.
The President's schedule
-Meeting with Shultz
-Executive Office Building [EOB]
Bull left at an unknown time before 2:13 pm].
-Shultz and Rumsfeld
The President's schedule
-Meany
The President and H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman left at 2:13 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.