Nixon White House Tapes ›Tape 719 › Conversation 719-007
Nixon & Haldeman on Soviet Summit and J. Edgar Hoover
Thursday, May 4, 1972 · 9:59 AM–10:22 AM ET · Oval Office
AI Summary
President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed the political implications of the upcoming Soviet summit in light of the ongoing North Vietnam offensive. Nixon rehearsed his eulogy for J. Edgar Hoover before deliberating with Haldeman on whether to cancel or postpone the summit to avoid domestic political fallout from Democrats and election-year critics. They weighed the strategic risks of proceeding with negotiations against the potential for a foreign policy victory, ultimately considering the possibility of a post-election meeting.
Audio
Download MP3 (part 1) · 167.4 MB ·Download MP3 (part 2) · 155.3 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 01:18:32 into the tape and ends around 01:41:25.
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.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.
1:18:37the invincible and incorruptible defender of every American's precious right to be freed from fear.
1:18:44An American has revered this man, not only as the director of an institution, but as an institution.
1:18:52For nearly half a century, every one-fourth of the whole history of this country, J. Edgar Hoover has exerted a great influence for good in our national honor.
1:19:02While eight presidents came in, while other leaders' morals and manners and opinions rose and fell, the director stated his voice.
1:19:09He was called by our scholars.
1:19:13I recall President Eisenhower recalling it.
1:19:15President Johnson and I both strongly recommended after my election that I keep him as director of the FBI.
1:19:30powerful leadership, by example, helped to keep steel in America's backbone and the flame of freedom in America's soul.
1:19:39He personified integrity.
1:19:40He personified honor.
1:19:42He personified principle.
1:19:45He personified courage.
1:19:46He personified discipline.
1:19:47He personified dedication.
1:19:51He personified
1:20:03and to live these virtues ourselves as he lived them for his use, to love the law as he loved it, and to give fullest respect, support, and cooperation to the law enforcement profession when she did so much to advance.
1:20:18And such a towering figure as this one was.
1:20:58There was a belief that a change in the guard will also mean a change in the rules.
1:21:03With J. Edgar Hoover, this is the time.
1:21:07The FBI will carry on the future true to the finest traditions of the past.
1:21:11Because regardless of what the snipers and detractors would have us believe, the fact is that Director Hoover built the Bureau totally on principle, not personality.
1:21:24He built love.
1:21:24He built class.
1:21:26That reason, the FBI will remain as a memorial to him, a living memorial continuing to create a climate of protection, security, and partial justice that benefits every American.
1:21:43The good J. Edgar Hoover's done will not die.
1:21:48The profound principles associated with his name will not fade away.
1:21:52Rather, I would predict that in the time ahead,
1:22:03The American people today are fed up with disorder.
1:22:37As we come back to the law, remember.
1:23:15called peace officers.
1:23:17Today, though that term is passed out of style, the truth is expressed.
1:23:23All the world yearns for peace, peace among nations, and peace within nations.
1:23:29But without peace officers, we can never have peace.
1:23:32Edgar Hoover knew this basic truth.
1:23:35He shaped his life around it.
1:23:37He was a peace officer without fear.
1:23:52Each of us stands forever in his memory.
1:23:57In the years ahead, let us cherish his memory, be true to his libraries.
1:24:01Let us honor him as he would surely want us to do, by honoring all the men and women who carry on in his noble profession of helping to keep the peace in our society.
1:24:14In the last book, the book which Dr. Hoover called his guide in today's life, we find the words which best
1:24:24They are from the Psalms.
1:24:27Great peace have they which love I love.
1:24:33J. R. Rupert loved of all his God.
1:24:36He loved of all his
1:26:12Today is a day of sadness for America, but it is also a day of pride.
1:26:17America's pride has always been its people, a people of good men and women by the millions, of great men and women in remarkable numbers, and once in a long while of giants who stand head and shoulders above their country, setting a high and noble standard for its own.
1:26:36J. Edgar Hoover was one of the giants.
1:26:38His long life went over with magnificent achievement
1:26:45One of the tragedies of life is that at school,
1:27:18The greatest federal juror remained inseparable from the greatness of the organization he created and gave his whole life to building the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
1:27:27He made the FBI the finest law enforcement agency on Earth, the invincible and incorruptible defender of every American's precious right to be free from fear.
1:27:36Yet America has revered this man, not only as the director of an institution,
1:27:57All other leaders, morals, manners, and opinion rose and fell.
1:28:00The director stated his post.
1:28:03He was a love of lies and politics.
1:28:04I recalled that President Eisenhower, Republican, President Johnson, and Everett both strongly recommended after my election that I keep him as director of the FBI.
1:28:16He was one of those unique individuals who by all odds was the best man for a highly important job.
1:28:27and the flesh of freedom in America's soul.
1:28:31He personified integrity.
1:28:33He personified precedent.
1:28:35He personified discipline.
1:28:37He personified loyalty.
1:28:38He personified honor.
1:28:40He personified courage.
1:28:42He personified dedication.
1:28:44He personified patriotism.
1:28:47These are his legacy to the Bureau of Rehabilitation and Service.
1:28:53We can pay him no higher tribute and believe those virtues ourselves
1:28:56as he lived in all these years, to love the law as he loved it, to give fullest respect, support, and cooperation to the law enforcement profession, which he did so much to advance.
1:29:10When such a towering figure, a man who has dominated his field so completely for so long, finally passes from the
1:29:24There is belief that a change in the dog also means a change in the rules.
1:29:29But J. Edgar Hoover, this will not happen.
1:29:32The FBI will carry on the future truly with the Spanish traditions of the past.
1:29:37Because regardless of what the snipers and detractors would have us believe, the fact is that Edgar Hoover built the Bureau totally on principle, not on personality.
1:29:48He built it well.
1:29:49He built it well.
1:29:51For that reason, the FBI will remain as a memorial to him, a living memorial continuing to create a climate of protection, security, and impartial justice that benefits every American.
1:30:04The good J. Edgar Hoover is done.
1:30:22You see, when we thought of the 15th, because we thought of the sun falling, that's right,
1:30:54It's not the case that they have a bank out now, you know, could be a hell of a depressing thing.
1:30:59That's right, because not everybody doesn't know that he doesn't support his story on this issue.
1:31:02What's going to be better by the 1st of June?
1:31:04What will be better by the 1st of June?
1:31:05It's over.
1:31:05When I say over, the point is that the Russian flag would be over.
1:31:07The Russian flag, that's right.
1:31:52I think it would be better not to raise it in this session.
1:31:57No, no, but I mean even after this session.
1:32:03Okay.
1:32:04To wait a day, I'd wait till tomorrow or even till Monday probably when I do the speech.
1:32:09Or let's say till you decide, yeah, and move on before you do the speech, but when it's decided you're doing it for sure.
1:32:16Well, we'll do the speech.
1:32:59The Democrats will go on the war path.
1:33:00They supported the Russians.
1:33:01And, you know, I painted the pictures three years ago.
1:33:02And so I did what we had to go through.
1:33:26get more support in there that's the one I could think because they don't have a strong back but nevertheless it will then appear to the Russians that they have a good chance of beating me and and consequently they'll pour it on like they did in 60 but even more so because they hear me like crazy so I took him a little
1:33:55There's one other side of that, which we have to consider, is that what we do.
1:34:01They put the boil, bring the goddamn tank on in.
1:34:06That would be very different situation.
1:34:14Well, yeah, that's, if you can't plant on that basis, you gotta plant on the other basis.
1:34:19He knows that.
1:34:22And he gets the good guns by the year.
1:34:23That's fine.
1:34:30And all of you know I'm not a candidate for the summit.
1:34:36I've never had that many people.
1:34:37That's why you're quite a fan.
1:34:37And it goes over there, you know, because I see these dangers.
1:34:42But I'll tell you that that's where the ban on China thing gets in.
1:34:46It just created a hell of a depression that talking to people is a good thing.
1:34:54Well, dig in on one basis, and lay the basis, lay the point that you can do it on the other side, though, too.
1:35:02And, uh, you do the Russian thing, who knows, maybe things simmer down and you can go back to it later.
1:35:23In my view, if we cast them now, I wouldn't give any more thought to them.
1:35:31I really think that, for the conscience, frankly, I'll believe none of them, but also
1:35:58You couldn't leave the possibility open and just put it off.
1:36:01In Denver, yes, yes, that's a match.
1:36:03We will do it that way.
1:36:04But you know what I mean.
1:36:05I think we have to realize that's what's going to happen.
1:36:07Because from a domestic standpoint, we would get one hell of a wall, frankly, from Russia.
1:36:14Right after the Democratic convention, that was an attack group.
1:36:36They were coming and couldn't wait.
1:36:45Not bad, but I'm delusional in some ways.
1:37:11Yeah, sorry.
1:37:11It isn't that.
1:37:12You can see my client.
1:37:12And all the risks to the summit here might have things to do.
1:39:14All right.
1:39:16And there is some appeal to post-election summit.
1:39:25And if you love the summit hanging, then you can put your speakers at that point in the summit meeting.
1:39:30They have to be postponed.
1:39:32We held the one Hubert Offrey going, the one Richard Nixon going.
NARA Description
On May 4, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:59 am and 10:22 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 719-007 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 719-7
Date: May 4, 1972
Time: Unknown after 9:59 am and before 10:22 am
Location: Oval Office
The President rehearsed a portion of his "Eulogy Delivered at Funeral Services for J. Edgar
Hoover"
[A transcript of the final eulogy appears in Public Papers of the Presidents, Richard M. Nixon,
1972, pp. 574-575]
[End of transcribed portion]
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman entered at 10:13 am.
John B. Connally
-Departure from administration
-Timing
-Support for the President
-Soviet Summit
-North Vietnam offensive
-Conclusion
-Continuation
-Stalemate
-Meeting with the President
-Delay
-President's speech
Soviet Summit
(rev. Jan-02)
-Possible cancellation
-Impact
-Criticism
-"Hawks"
-Democrats
-Hubert H. Humphrey
-Effect on forthcoming election
-Similarity to 1960 election
-Soviet propaganda
-North Vietnam offensive
-US counteraction
-Plans
-Cancellation
-People's Republic of China [PRC]
-President’s previous trip
-Postponement
-Duration
-Domestic reaction
-Timing with forthcoming election
-Negotiations with Soviets
-Humphrey
-George S. McGovern
-Edward M. Kennedy
-Cancellation
-Risks
**********************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal Returnable]
[Duration: 1m 36s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
**********************************************************************
-Soviet Summit
-Postponement
-Election issue
(rev. Jan-02)
-Humphrey
The President left at an unknown time before 10:22 am.Also recorded on May 4, 1972
- 719-003 8:58 AM · 7 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Rose Mary Woods, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 8:58 am to 9:02 am.
- 719-004 9:06 AM · 54 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Ronald L. Ziegler, Stephen B. Bull, Henry A. Kissinger, and John B. Connally met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:06 am to 9:59 am.
- 023-150 9:30 AM · 38 sec — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, President Richard M. Nixon, and John B. Connally talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:30 am and 9:35 am.
- 719-005 9:59 AM · 29 sec — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at 9:59 am.
- 719-006 9:59 AM · 22 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:59 am and 10:03 am.
- 719-008 10:22 AM · 8 min — H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:22 am to 10:31 am.
- 719-009 10:31 AM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:31 am and 10:41 am.
- 719-010 10:41 AM · 3 min — Stephen B. Bull and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:41 am and 12:01 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 719-007, May 4, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/719-007 (accessed September 18, 2026).