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
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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
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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.