President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to discuss personnel issues within the Cabinet and the administration's frustration regarding Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird. The President expressed significant anger over a recent news leak concerning Vietnam troop withdrawal plans, which he viewed as a deliberate attempt by Laird to undermine administration policy. Consequently, the two evaluated the potential replacement of Laird and Secretary of State William P. Rogers, while also briefly touching upon upcoming presidential scheduling for meetings with foreign leaders.
On November 16, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:59 am to 11:13 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 619-011 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 619-11
Date: November 16, 1971
Time: 10:59 am - 11:13 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Secretary of Agriculture
-Earl L. Butz
-Confirmation
-Agri-business
-Academic background
-Selection process
-Milton R. Young
Henry A. Kissinger
-Meeting with Yitzhak Rabin
Hubert H. Humphrey
-Possible public perception
-Compared to Harold E. Stassen
Melvin R. Laird
-News story regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal
-The President's conversation with John B. Connally
-Residual force
-Compared to William P. Rogers
Laird and Rogers
-Connally's views
-Actions
Laird
-Kissinger's possible action
-Possible replacement
-Possible handling
-News story regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal
-Origin
-Saigon
-Washington, DC
-Quotes
Kissinger
-Meeting with Rabin
Arthur F. Burns
-Meetings
-Performance
-Response
-Peter M. Flanigan
Laird
-Possible conversations
-Kissinger
-Haldeman
-Leak
-John N. Mitchell
-News story regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal
-Effect
-Negotiations
-Residual force
-Troop withdrawal announcements
-Timing
-Possible White House response
Burns
Cabinet
-Laird
-Politics
-Rogers
-Connally
-Rogers
-Mitchell
-Maurice H. Stans
-John A. Volpe
-George W. Romney
-Rogers C. B. Morton
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Butz
White House staff
-Robert H. Finch
-Herbert G. Klein
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
Laird
-News story regarding Vietnam troop withdrawal
-Troop withdrawal announcement
-Press responses
-News summary
-New York Times
-Possible conversation with Haldeman
The President's schedule
-Willy Brandt
-Kissinger
-Georges J.R. Pompidou
-Edward R.G. Heath
-Kissinger
-Brandt
-Sarasota, Florida
-Kissinger
Haldeman left at 11:13 am.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.