Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 625 › Conversation 625-018

Nixon & Mitchell on Philadelphia Republicans and Political Strategy

Monday, November 29, 1971 · 11:14 AM–11:16 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.Conversation625-018 on Tape 625 (tape position 03:35:45–03:38:51)StartMonday, November 29, 1971 at 11:14 AMEndMonday, November 29, 1971 at 11:16 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 625-018 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon consulted John Mitchell regarding whether he should reach out to certain Philadelphia-based Republicans who were hospitalized. Nixon expressed concern that a direct intervention or phone call might negatively influence a sensitive situation, prompting him to seek Mitchell's strategic advice on how to handle the interaction. Mitchell ultimately encouraged a personal touch, suggesting that the President send a letter to maintain personal connections without interfering in the political process.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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· Click a timestamp to play from that point; the page address then links to that moment (e.g. #t=125).
Oh, John, one other thing I wanted to ask you.
Some of the Philadelphia-type Republicans feel that maybe I ought to give a call to them.
You've got an unusual note of condolence.
It's a long stretch.
I have not called them or said anything, particularly up to this point, because I don't want to screw up the result of that.
What's your opinion about that?
What do you recommend about being in the hospital?
My personal relationship with Dr. Mullen was when I got to the public school, I tried to get some money to give my auntie, because I could rob people of personal knowledge.
You know, I always, I had done that always, and we had lost connections.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Did you ever make a call with your auntie?
Or would you?
Well, I think you might put it out.
I think a little personal.
It was my personal letter.
I hope you're not to lose.
Good fight.
But do you think something should go, or if I could get along with all of you?
Or?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
All right.

NARA Description

On November 29, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:14 am to 11:16 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 625-018 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 625-18

Date: November 29, 1971
Time: 11:14 am - 11:16 am
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with John N. Mitchell.

[See Conversation No. 15-145; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]

Also recorded on November 29, 1971

  • 015-143 11:11 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, White House operator, and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 11:11 am to 11:13 am.
  • 015-144 11:13 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:13 am and 11:14 am.
  • 625-017 11:13 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:13 am and 11:14 am.
  • 015-145 11:14 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 11:14 am to 11:16 am.
  • 015-146 11:20 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at 11:20 am.
  • 015-147 11:20 AM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 11:20 am and 11:25 am.
  • 625-019 11:20 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:20 am.
  • 625-020 11:20 AM · 25 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, William Thacher Lonstreth, White House operator, Clark MacGregor, and John J. Rooney met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:20 am and 11:49 am.

All 72 conversations from November 29, 1971 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 625-018, November 29, 1971. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/625-018 (accessed October 9, 2026).