Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 658 › Conversation 658-025

Nixon & Mitchell on White House personnel and Political strategy

Thursday, January 27, 1972 · 2:40 PM–2:45 PM ET · Oval Office

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Mitchell, John N.Conversation658-025 on Tape 658 (tape position 04:30:01–04:39:22)StartThursday, January 27, 1972 at 2:40 PMEndThursday, January 27, 1972 at 2:45 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 658-025 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon met with John N. Mitchell to offer well wishes following Mitchell's recent surgery and recovery. Beyond these personal pleasantries, the two discussed administrative confidence in their current political and legislative strategy, specifically referencing cabinet and legislative leadership meetings. The conversation concluded with Nixon emphasizing his reliance on Mitchell's continued involvement in the administration.

Audio

Download MP3 (part 1) · 168.3 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 168.3 MB ·Download MP3 (part 3) · 131.3 MB

This conversation has not yet been cut into its own clip, so the player above contains the full tape segment shared with neighbouring conversations. It begins about 04:30:01 into the tape and ends around 04:39:22.

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data

· Timestamps are positions within the full tape recording.
4:30:02So, I understand you've been under the weather.
4:30:11Well, that's the stuff.
4:30:12Well, I heard about that operation, the ordinary thing, but I thought, well, this is just too tough, you know, for a couple of nights, you know, to cut in down.
4:30:20And let's just take it in your back.
4:30:22Yeah, and I just want to wish you the very best and tell you to get back in there, because we need you.
4:30:29Yeah, your hot room are out.
4:30:42You're home now, aren't you?
4:30:46Yeah, my mother said that either we'd come home or we'd be in the hospital.
4:30:50Well, will you come here?
4:30:53Yeah.
4:30:57Sure.
4:30:58Sure, well, after all this, I mean, there's an awful lot of people walking around just crazy, and that's an operation, so... Yeah.
4:31:06Yeah.
4:31:09Oh, gosh, he's a wonderful person.
4:31:11Wonderful person.
4:31:13Oh, you just keep it over and I'll let you know.
4:31:20Oh, I'm fine.
4:31:21You know, I can't fix it.
4:31:22No, they won't let me.
4:31:25Yeah, well, we just try to fight the good fight just like you are, you know.
4:31:30Yeah.
4:31:32Yeah.
4:31:36Well, good to have you back.
4:31:38As a matter of fact, I don't get to go to the Grove anymore, but I want you to get back to the cave so you can represent me at the Grove and you can bring my horse.
4:31:47Fair enough?
4:31:47Okay, please.
4:31:49Good to talk to you.
4:34:22It's alright.
4:34:24No, it's nothing urgent.
4:34:26I'm calling back.
4:35:12Ja.
4:35:13Ja.
4:35:13Ja.
4:35:13Ja.
4:35:14Ja.
4:35:46Yes, sir.
4:35:47Yes, sir.
4:35:48Yes, sir.
4:35:48Yes, sir.
4:35:49Yes, sir.
4:36:13Well, they don't know what to do with it.
4:36:15At least to the degree I'm sure we have a very good ground to stand on.
4:36:19But... That's right.
4:36:27That's right.
4:36:28That's right.
4:36:29Okay.
4:36:33Yeah, we had it handled well.
4:36:35The war is real, so it should be fine.
4:36:38I'm just a fine, decent man.
4:36:41And I...
4:36:43Sure.
4:36:44Well, I guess that most everybody does.
4:36:47He certainly has.
4:36:48He comes through with his legislative leaders meetings and cabinet meetings.
4:36:58We'll start to keep him in the club when he's named there.
4:37:01And he could be any time he wants to be around, just like we do.
4:37:07Right?
4:37:10Right.
4:37:11Okay.
4:37:13I think so, I think so.
4:37:19I think so.
4:37:20I think so.
4:37:21I think so.
4:37:23I think so.
4:39:01It's a tremendous point.
4:39:04I don't care about that.
4:39:13Try it.
4:39:14Try it.

NARA Description

On January 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:40 pm to 2:45 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 658-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 658-25

Date: January 27, 1972
Time: 2:40 pm - 2:45 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with John N. Mitchell.

[See Conversation No. 19-142; one item has been withdrawn from the conversation]

Also recorded on January 27, 1972

  • 019-139 2:24 PM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:24 pm and 2:32 pm.
  • 019-140 2:32 PM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Pitchess talked on the telephone from 2:32 pm to 2:34 pm.
  • 658-022 2:32 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Peter J. Pitchess met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:32 pm to 2:34 pm.
  • 019-141 2:34 PM · 6 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 2:34 pm and 2:40 pm.
  • 658-023 2:34 PM · 28 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:34 pm and 2:40 pm.
  • 658-024 2:34 PM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:34 pm and 2:40 pm.
  • 019-142 2:40 PM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon and John N. Mitchell talked on the telephone from 2:40 pm to 2:45 pm.
  • 658-026 2:50 PM · 6 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Alexander P. Butterfield, Stephen B. Bull, and George Meany met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:50 pm to 3:00 pm.

All 57 conversations from January 27, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 658-025, January 27, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/658-025 (accessed October 12, 2026).