President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate upcoming administrative events, including a governors' dinner and potential cabinet-level meetings. The discussion focused on managing staff and cabinet morale, planning gifts and logistics for the President's upcoming trip to the People's Republic of China, and evaluating the political landscape regarding Democratic Party candidates. Nixon expressed concerns over staff efficiency and loyalty, emphasizing the need for a cohesive team as he prepared for his re-election campaign.
On February 1, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:36 pm to 6:26 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 663-008 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 663-008
Date: February 1, 1972
Time: 5:36 pm - 6:25 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Governors’ dinner
-Harry S. Dent memorandum
-Benefits
-Support for President
-Speech schedule
-President’s view
-Drawbacks
-Bryce N. Harlow [?], John N. Mitchell
-Agenda
-Long hours
-Previous meeting
-Usefulness
-Red Room
-California Republicans
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Interests
-Union of Soviet Socialist Republics [UUSR]
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
PRC trip
-George Washington
-Gifts
-Types
-Comparisons
-USSR
-John B. Connally
-Symbolism
-Gold
-Expense
-Benefits
-US mint
-Duplication in bronze
-Reciprocal dinner
-Chou En-lai
-Mao Tse-tung
Connally
-Michael J. Mansfield
-Breakfast
-Timing
-Trip to Florida
-Timing
-Lincoln Birthday
-George [A. Smathers?]
-Trade
-Public relations
-Peter G. Peterson
Peter M. Flanigan
-Possible meeting
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 02/27/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[663-008-w002]
[Duration: 5m 17s]
Domestic politics
-National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] program
-Coverage of Democratic Party
-Tone of coverage
-Balanced nature of coverage
-David Brinkley interview with Patrick A. McCarran
-Edmund S. Muskie
-Nature of program
-President’s view
-Charles W. Colson’s view
-News coverage of President
-Potential meetings between President and cabinet undersecretaries
-Held at White House
-John B. Connally’s concern with unknown person
-Catholic faith
-Involvement in church
-Potential meetings between President and cabinet undersecretaries
-Timing
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Theory
-Cabinet undersecretaries
-Reasons for dissatisfaction
-Lack of state dinner invitations
-Republican congressmen
-Wives
-Arrangements for meetings at White House
-President’s view
-Breakfasts
-Timing of meetings
-Later in 1972
-John N. Mitchell[?]
-Handling
-Christmas parties
-President’s opinion
******************************************************************************
White House staff and cabinet
-Briefings
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Henry A. Kissinger role
-Previous conversation with Ehrlichman
-Governors meetings
-Value
-Connally
-Cabinet members
-[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt
-Congress
-Feeling of responsibility
-Effect on their job
-Request for balance
-Need for toughness
-Current situation
-Performances of President’s advisors
-Haldeman’s view of situation
-Kissinger
-Flanigan
-Peterson
-Testimony
-William P. Rogers
-Kissinger
-Demeanor
-Attitude towards Rogers [?]
-President’s demeanor
-Handling of complaints of White House staff
-John A. Volpe
-Morale
-Dwight D. Eisenhower view
-Comparisons of administrations
-Rose Mary Woods
-Shortcomings of administration
-Connally
-Chicago
-Kissinger
-Rogers
-Cambodia
President’s schedule
-Governor’s dinner
-Breakfast meeting
-Timing
White House staff and cabinet
-President’s instructions
-Haldeman’s upcoming conversation with Connally
-Charles W. Colson
-Congress
-Rogers
-State Department
-Peterson
-Trade memorandum
-Middle East, West Germany
-Possible handling
-Instructions about the future, public relations
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 02/27/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[663-008-w003]
[Duration: 5m 22s]
Domestic politics
-California politics
-Robert H. Finch
-Los Angeles Times article
-Return to California
-Possible run for Congress
-Possible work for law firm
-Possible run for Senate
-California congressional delegation
-President’s re-election
-Robert H. Finch
-Possible decision against run for Senate
Congress
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Congressman
-President’s cabinet
-Secretaries
-Timing
-President’s second term
-Possible replacement of Cabinet officials
-Nominating individuals approved by President
-Individuals on board with President’s agenda
-Treatment of individuals
-Sherman Adams
-Loyalty of individuals to President
******************************************************************************
White House staff and cabinet
-Connally
Post-election personnel changes
-Anti-trust Division of Department of Justice [DOJ]
-University of Michigan professor
-Frederic V. Malek
-Ehrlichman
-Cabinet
-Resignations
-Elliot L. Richardson
-Connally
-James D. Hodgson
-Volpe
-George W. Romney
-Earl L. Butz
-Clifford M. Hardin
-Peterson
-Rogers
-Melvin R. Laird
-Connally
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Richard G. Kleindienst
-George P. Shultz
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
-Unknown person
-Agency heads
-Russell E. Train
The President’s schedule
-Governors
White House staff and cabinet
-Clark MacGregor
-Press conference
-Volpe
-Peterson
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 02/27/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Political Returnable]
[663-008-w005]
[Duration: 1m 19s]
1972 Republican National Convention
-California
-Honorary delegation
-President’s opinion
-Blacks
-Youth
-Compared to other delegations
-Age of participants
-Luncheon
-Honorary delegation
-Caucuses
-Presence on convention floor
-Hotels
-Golf
-Drinking
******************************************************************************
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 02/27/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[663-008-w004]
[Duration: 1m 15s]
President’s conversation with John B. Connally
-Democratic Party
-Contest for nomination
-Composition of 1972 convention
-Compared to 1968 convention
-Description of people in delegation
-President’s opinion
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s opinion
-Edmund S. Muskie presidential candidacy
-Likelihood of success
-Potential strategy to obtain Democratic Party nomination
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Haldeman and the President left at 6:25 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.