Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 615 › Conversation 615-004
Nixon & Haldeman on US-Soviet Relations and Economic Policy
Friday, November 5, 1971 · 7:50 AM–9:10 AM ET · Oval Office · 1 hr 18 min
AI Summary
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed a wide range of scheduling and political strategy issues, including upcoming domestic travel, the President's interactions with foreign leaders such as Indira Gandhi, and managing the press. They coordinated the logistics for a forthcoming grain deal with the USSR, emphasizing the need to secure credit for the administration while navigating labor union involvement. Additionally, they reviewed strategies for the Pay Board, the handling of Supreme Court nominees, and concerns regarding negative media coverage and potential incitement from political opponents.
Audio
Transcript (AI-generated)
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NARA Description
On November 5, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 7:50 am to 9:10 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 615-004 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 615-004
Date: November 5, 1971
Time: 7:50 am - 9:10 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Charles W. Colson
-Schedule
The President's schedule
-Meeting with Colson and Henry A. Kissinger
-Forthcoming trip to Florida
-Departure time
White House statements
-Instruction for Ronald L. Ziegler
-Foreign aid
-Senate action
-The President’s policy
-National security
Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's schedule
-Trip to Ghana
-William P. Rogers
-Press
-Announcement
-Timing
-Ghana Ambassador
-Kissinger
The President's schedule
-Trip to Latin America
-Rogers
-Brazil
-Brasilia
-Argentina
-Panama
-Darien Gay Highway dedication
-Nixon Highway
-Haldeman's staff
-Willy Brandt
-Forthcoming visit
-Announcement
-Announcement
-Location
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Florida
-Chicago
-Cincinnati
-Hotels
-Motorcade
-Miami
-Hotels
-Chicago
-Cincinnati
-Possible reception
-State Street
-Luis Echeverria Alvarez
-Forthcoming trip
-Houston, Miami
-Motorcade
-Mexican-Americans
-San Antonio
-Alamo
-Timing
-The President's trips to People's Republic of China [PRC] and
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-1972 election
-Announcement
-John B. Connally
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w002]
[Duration: 21s]
The President’s schedule
-Florida
-Find events for the President
*****************************************************************
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule
-White House teas
-Event, November 5, 1971
-Constance M. (“Connie”) Stuart
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w003]
[Duration: 12s]
Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s conversation with Julie Nixon Eisenhower
*****************************************************************
Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon’s schedule
-Ghana trip
-Peru
-Staff
-Agenda
-Lucy A. Winchester
-Purpose
-Peru trip
Rogers's conversation with Mrs. Nixon and Kissinger
-The President's arrival statement and toast for Indira Gandhi
The President's arrival statement for Gandhi
-Ziegler
-Television coverage
-Toast
-John A. Scali
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Richard A. Moore
-Kissinger
-The President's dinner for Gandhi, November 4, 1971
-Kenneth B. Keating
-Ziegler
Forthcoming trip to Ghana
-Announcement
-Timing
Foreign aid program
-Michael J. Mansfield amendment
-Provisions
-Vietnam
-Troop withdrawal deadline
-Economic and military aid
-Vote
-Timing
-Roman C. Pucinski amendment
Pay Board
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w006]
[Duration: 1m 47s]
1972 election
-Polls
-James B. (“Scotty”) Reston column
-“Momentary rise in polls”
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-Rowland Evans and Robert D. Novak
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Primary
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-New Hampshire
*****************************************************************
Henry J. Taylor
-Rogers
-Alleged comments
-Concern about Andrei A. Gromyko
-USSR
-Veracity
Taylor
-Attendance at White House dinner
Polls
-A. C. Nielsen, Jr.
-Market research
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w008]
[Duration: 14s]
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s pitch regarding Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-The President’s opinion
*****************************************************************
Philip Roth
-Press coverage
-Newsweek
-Saturday Review
-New Republic
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Unknown story
-Cambodians
Robert D. Novak
-Animosity towards Haldeman
The President's Supreme Court nominees
-Confirmation hearings
-William H. Rehnquist
-Lewis F. Powell, Jr.
-Rehnquist
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w010]
[Duration: 4m 22s]
The President's Supreme Court nominees
Julie Nixon Eisenhower
1972 election
-Roger H. Mudd report
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Only viable alternative
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] polls
-Dan Rather's story
-Paul N. (“Pete”) McCloskey, Jr.
-White House origin
-New York Times poll [?]
-Suburbs
-Date
-Leslie C. Arends's view
-Donald H. Rumsfeld's view
-Richard B. Ogilvie’s [?] finances
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-John N. Mitchell’s [?] report
-United Nations [UN]
-Vote
-Momentum
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Interview with Godfrey Sperling, Jr.
-“Invincible Nixon”
-Changes since 1970
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Invincible
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
-Impossible
-Henry M. (“Scoop”) Jackson
-A joke
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Seemingly had nomination locked
-The President and Spiro T. Agnew were finished
-The President's legislative programs were doomed
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
-Possible dinners for foreign leaders
-Announcements
-US Marine Corps Band
-Locations
-Receptions
-Attendees
-Administration
-Congressmen
-State Department
-White House staff
-Locations
-California
-Comparison with astronauts dinner
-Marine band
-Gridiron dinner
-Entertainment
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Park dinner
-San Francisco
-Hand-shaking
-Astronaut dinner
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w012]
[Duration: 4s]
The President's schedule
-Possible dinners for foreign leaders
-Hand shaking
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
-Possible dinners for foreign leaders
-Service
-Food
-White House menu cards
-Entertainment
-Types
-Chorus
Ballet
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
[615-004-w013]
[Duration: 34s]
Ballet
-Edward Villella
-The President’s view on ballet
-Swan Lake
-Peter I. Tchaikovsky
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
*****************************************************************
White House dinners
-Entertainment
-Leonard Garment's role
-Philip Glass
-Josip Broz Tito
-Pete Fountain
-Mrs. Nixon
-Reaction
-Mrs. Nixon
-Penelope M. (“Penny”) Adams
-Mrs. Nixon
-Winchester
-Barbara Hickey
-Winchester's role
-Alexander P. Butterfield
-Entertainment
-Edward K. (“Duke”) Ellington
-Pearl M. Bailey
-Brandt
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
[615-004-w015]
[Duration: 24s]
White House dinners
-Entertainment
-Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Ballet
-Opera
-Fashion
-The President’s opinion
-The President’s perceived expertise on music
*****************************************************************
White House dinners
-Entertainment
-The President's involvement
-Programs
-Possible location
-Chicago
-Military program
-Brandt
-Germans
*****************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-004-w016]
[Duration: 11s]
Unknown man
-Music
-Impressed unknown woman
*****************************************************************
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
Ceremony
-Weather
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 7:50 am.
Request that Colson and Kissinger join them
Bull left at an unknown time before 8:32 am.
Dinner for the President in India
-Trumpets
The President's previous visit to Spain
-Motorcade
-Horses
-Palace
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 06/05/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[615-004-w017]
[Duration: 56s]
Elections, November 2
-Robert H. Finch
-Number of New York counties won
-Nassau
-Suffolk
-Erie
-The President's forthcoming telephone call to Edward V. Regan
-John N. Mitchell
-Telephone calls
-Nassau county executive
-Other winners
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
*****************************************************************
County Executive
-Role of County Executive
-Board of Supervisors
-[Edward V. Regan?]
Visits of foreign guests
-John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and the President
-Handling
Kissinger and Colson entered at 8:32 am.
*****************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2014-032. Segment declassified on 05/17/2019. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-004-w018]
[Duration: 16s]
Indira Gandhi
-White House dinner, November 4
-Henry A. Kissinger
*****************************************************************
White House dinner
-Entertainment
-Ballet dancers
White House staff
Homosexuals
-Votes
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Numbers
The President's meeting with Republican congressmen, November 4, 1971
-John H. Kyl
-Possible future position with administration
-Secretary of Agriculture
-Price of corn
-Possible congressional action
-Previous grain sales to USSR
-Kennedy, Johnson
-Labor unions
US-Soviet relations
-Pending grain deal with USSR
-Colson
-Unions
-Maritime
-Longshoremen
-Forthcoming announcement
-Department of Agriculture
-Department of Commerce
-White House
-Recent relations with the USSR
-Kissinger’s call to Anatoliy F. Dobrynin, November 4, 1971
-Forthcoming announcement
-Cornbelt
-Senate
-Secretary of Agriculture
-J. Philip Campbell
-Clarence D. Palmby
-Possible Soviet reaction
-Unions' cooperation
-John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson
-Ziegler
-Maurice H. Stans
-Campbell
-Department of Agriculture
-Public affairs
-Size of deal
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-The President's role
-Labor unions
-Ziegler
-Maritime Administrator
-Kissinger's conversation with Dobrynin
-Jesse M. Calhoon and Paul Hall
-Carl T. Curtis, Jack R. Miller and Robert J. Dole
-Kyl
-John C. Whitaker
-Soviet interest
-Kissinger's conversation with Dobrynin
-Unions
The Administration
-Tendency to tell the truth
National economy
-Pay Board
-Labor's proposal
-George P. Shultz's view
-Action in House of Representatives
-Possible continuation of freeze
-Teachers
-Retroactivity
-Steel
-George Meany
-Colson's conversation with Shultz, November 4, 1971
-Pay Board
-Labor's proposal
-Cost of living
-Productivity
-Stock market
-The President's conversations
-Gustave L. Levy
-Head of New York Stock Exchange
Colson left at 8:46 am.
The President’s dinner for Gandhi, November 4, 1971
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
*****************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-004-w022]
[Duration: 3s]
Indira Gandhi
-The President’s negative opinion
*****************************************************************
The President’s dinner for Gandhi, November 4, 1971
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-The President's toast
-Gandhi's toast
-Mrs. Nixon
-Pakistan
-Previous election in India
The President left at an unknown time before 8:50 am.
-Pakistan
The President's handling of meetings with Gandhi
Toasts at State Dinners
-Chief of protocol
**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
[615-004-w027]
[Duration: 3s]
Toasts at State Dinners
-Indira Gandhi
-Henry A. Kissinger’s negative opinion
**************************************************************************
Length
-Josip Broz Tito
-Mexican President [Luis Echeverria Alvarez]
The President's schedule
-Brandt
-Georges J.R. Pompidou
-Brandt
-Chicago
The President entered at an unknown time after 8:46 am.
The President's forthcoming meeting with Gandhi
-Unilateral withdrawal
The President talked with Colson between 8:50 am and 8:52 am.
[Conversation No. 615-4A]
[See Conversation No. 13-147]
[End of telephone conversation]
The President's dinner for Gandhi
-The President's conversation with Manolo Sanchez
-Women
-Politics
India-Pakistan relations
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
*****************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-004-w024]
[Duration: 15s]
India–Pakistan relations
-The President’s negative opinion of Indira Gandhi
-Henry A. Kissinger’s negative opinion of Indians
-Henry A. Kissinger’s assessment
-Indians want war
-East Pakistan compared to West Pakistan
*****************************************************************
The President's forthcoming conversation with Gandhi
-North Vietnam
**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-004-w028]
[Duration: 3s]
Indira Gandhi
-Henry A. Kissinger’s negative opinion
**************************************************************************
Gandhi's visit to US
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-The President's handling
-Gandhi's expectations
**************************************************************************
[Previous National Security (B) withdrawal reviewed under MDR guidelines case number
LPRN-T-MDR-2012-001. Segment declassified on 03/19/2015. Archivist: DR]
[National Security]
[615-004-w029]
[Duration: 6m]
Indira Gandhi
-The President’s handling
-Henry A. Kissinger’s assessment of meeting
Henry A. Kissinger's meeting with Parmeshwar N. Haksar, November 4
-Mujibur Rahman
-Memorandum of conversation
William P. Rogers
-Forthcoming meeting with Indira Gandhi
-Treatment by Indians
-Opinion of Indira Gandhi
-Henry A. Kissinger’s assessment
The President's meeting with Indira Gandhi, November 4
-East Pakistan guerrillas
-Carried out attacks
-Technical training
-Used East Bengal rifles
-Parmeshwar N. Haksar
-Neville Maxwell's book, India's China War, about 1962 war
-“Proves” India started war
-India–People's Republic of China [PRC] war
-Indira Gandhi
-The President’s handling
Henry A. Kissinger's conversation with Parmeshwar N. Haksar
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Indira Gandhi's allegations regarding the US
-1970 Indian election
-Democrats' reception in India
-Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy and Cornelius E. Gallagher
-Expectation US will solve your problems
-Treaty with Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
Indira Gandhi's visit to US
-The President's handling
-Henry A. Kissinger’s assessment
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-As compared to the President
The President's forthcoming meeting with Indira Gandhi
-Vietnam
-The President's conversation with Josip Broz Tito
-India will leak details
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [USSR]
-Democratic Republic of Vietnam [DRV]
-Parmeshwar N. Haksar
White House Dinner for Indira Gandhi, November 4
-The President’s comment on looks of an unknown Democratic woman
-Seated near William P. Rogers
-Wife of unknown man from Indian embassy
-Intelligence
**************************************************************************
Instructions for Kissinger
-Forthcoming meeting with the press
-Democrats
-The President’s toast
Kissinger left at 9:00 am.
Kissinger
-Contacts with press
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Rowland Evans
-The President's conversation with Ziegler
-Evans and Novak
Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:00 am.
The President's schedule
-Shultz
Bull left at an unknown time before 9:10 am.
Rogers’s schedule
-Cabinet meeting
-Meeting with Gandhi
-John N. Irwin, II
Evans’s and Novak's book, Nixon in the White House
-The President's foreign policy
Philip Roth's book, Our Gang
-Possible White House reaction
-Column
-Moore
-William L. Safire's conversation with Haldeman
-John A. Scali's reaction
-Assassination
-Possible White House reaction
-Kennedy assassination
-Date
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Speech
-Kennedy assassination
The President's schedule
-Brandt visit
-Timing
-Kissinger
-Motorcades
-Chicago
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Weather
-PRC trip
Polls
-Press
-James B. Reston
-Attacks
-Background
-The President's foreign policy
-United Nations [UN] vote on Taiwan, Republic of China
The President's schedule
-Florida trip
-Space
-Hotel
-Plane
-Whitaker and Garment
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Privacy (D) reviewed under PRMPA regulations 06/06/2019. Segment
cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[615-004-w025]
[Duration: 29s]
The President's schedule
-Florida trip
-John C. Whitaker and Len Garment
-The President’s request regarding their wives
-Mary Elizabeth (Bradley) Whitaker
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s comment
-Compared to Grace (Albert) Garment
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, NARA Online Public Access Catalog Identifier: 597542
-Florida trip
-Arrangements
-Delaware
-Beaver Island
-Lodge
-Florida trip
-Timing
-Rogers
-Rogers
-Gandhi
Latin America
-Trip
-Rogers
-Argentina
-Brazil
-Panama
-Highway
Use of the President's name
-Compared to Johnson's
-Johnson Forest
-Image
-Panama highway
Haldeman left at 9:10 am.Also recorded on November 5, 1971
- 013-145 7:35 AM · 19 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 7:35 am and 7:50 am.
- 615-001 7:35 AM · 14 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:35 am and 7:50 am.
- 615-002 7:35 AM · 4 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Manolo Sanchez met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:35 am and 7:50 am.
- 615-003 7:35 AM · 8 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 7:35 am and 7:50 am.
- 013-146 8:46 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 8:46 am and 8:50 am.
- 013-147 8:50 AM · 52 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Charles W. Colson talked on the telephone from 8:50 am to 8:52 am.
- 615-005 9:10 AM · 18 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:10 am and 9:23 am.
- 615-006 9:10 AM · 26 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:10 am and 9:23 am.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 615-004, November 5, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/615-004 (accessed October 12, 2026).