President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discuss strategies for maintaining presidential control over the credit for major foreign policy successes, specifically regarding impending diplomatic trips to the People's Republic of China and the USSR. They express frustration with the press and intellectual liberals, whom Nixon characterizes as inherently inconsistent and prone to writing premature obituaries for his political career. The conversation emphasizes that while Henry Kissinger and William Rogers are instrumental to these foreign policy initiatives, all public credit must remain firmly centered on the President.
On November 2, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:15 pm to 3:37 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 613-003 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 613-3
Date: November 2, 1971
Time: 3:15 pm - 3:37 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Weather
-Visit by Australians
Press
-New York Times Editorial Board
-Henry A. Kissinger
-The President’s conversation with William McMahon
-People's Republic of China [PRC] and Union of Soviet Socialist
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 613-3 (cont.)
Republics [USSR]
-Relations with the White House
Kissinger
-Allegations
-State Department
-Meeting with staff, John N. Mitchell
State Department
-William P. Rogers
-Smith Hempstone, Jr.
-George Sherman
-Kissinger
-Time magazine
-Article
Kissinger's schedule
-Possible appearances
-Timing
-PRC and USSR trips
The President's foreign policy
-Credit
-The President
-Kissinger and Rogers
-Foreign aid program
-Continuing resolution
-Vietnam
-Troop withdrawal announcement
-The President's forthcoming trip to the PRC
-Need for balance
-Staff
-Foreign aid program
-Rogers
-Testimony
-Senate vote
-Family Assistance Plan
-Press coverage
-Kissinger
Intellectual liberals
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 613-3 (cont.)
-Balance
The President's recent call to Rogers
-William McMahon
-Conversation with the President
-Vietnam
-US troop withdrawal
-Kissinger
-Press
-Ronald L. Ziegler
Pay Board
-George P. Shultz
The President's schedule, November 3, 1971
Corn shipment
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 3:15 pm.
The President's schedule
-Eliot L Richardson
Bull left at an unknown time before 3:37 pm.
The President's leadership
-Bryce N. Harlow
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-United Nations [UN] vote on Taiwan, Republic of China
-Foreign aid
-Kissinger
-PRC, USSR
-The President's opponents
-Insistence on consistency
-Conservatives
-Liberals
-Treatment of Edward M. Kennedy
United Nations [UN] vote on Taiwan
-Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.'s activities
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. 10/06)
Conv. No. 613-3 (cont.)
-Kissinger's schedule
The President and Haldeman left at 3:37 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.