Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 692 › Conversation 692-009

Nixon & Haldeman on Media bias and News networks

Thursday, March 23, 1972 · 6:27 PM–6:28 PM ET · Oval Office · 38 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation692-009 on Tape 692 (tape position 02:25:01–02:26:22)StartThursday, March 23, 1972 at 6:27 PMEndThursday, March 23, 1972 at 6:28 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 692-009 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman briefly discuss the perceived orchestration of news coverage by major networks and publications, specifically referencing the "Alan Drury theory" regarding coordinated media agendas. Nixon expresses frustration over a recent negative news treatment and seeks validation from Haldeman regarding the synchronicity of these media outlets. The conversation concludes with a recognition of the conflicting motivations behind the press's reporting efforts.

Audio

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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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No, I was going to tell you that I think that the Times Newsweek thing is part of the... Do you remember the Alan Curry theory about how people get together?
Don't you agree that that's what really happens here in the networks when some of these guys get together and they all synchronize with each other and they're going to do it?
Because that doesn't deserve that kind of treatment, particularly at this late date.
And yet...
But they're also trying to help.

NARA Description

On March 23, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:27 pm to 6:28 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 692-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 692-9

Date: March 23, 1972
Time: 6:27 pm - 6:28 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     Time, Newsweek
          -Allen S. Drury
          -Actions
               -Networks

Also recorded on March 23, 1972

  • 692-003 4:08 PM · 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Marshall Green, John H. Holdridge, Alexander M. Haig, Jr., White House photographer, unknown person(s), White House photographer, Stephen B. Bull, and members of the press met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:08 pm to 5:02 pm.
  • 692-004 5:03 PM · 15 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:03 pm to 5:17 pm.
  • 692-005 5:17 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:17 pm to 5:22 pm.
  • 692-006 5:22 PM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:22 pm to 5:23 pm.
  • 692-007 5:23 PM · 59 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), White House operator, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Charles W. Colson met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:23 pm to 6:24 pm.
  • 022-006 5:33 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. talked on the telephone from 5:33 pm to 5:34 pm.
  • 692-008 6:24 PM · 52 sec — President Richard M. Nixon, Manolo Sanchez, and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:24 pm to 6:27 pm.
  • 692-010 6:27 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, unknown person(s), and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 6:27 pm to 6:28 pm.

All 35 conversations from March 23, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 692-009, March 23, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/692-009 (accessed October 15, 2026).