Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 730 › Conversation 730-002

Nixon & Haldeman on SALT and ABM Treaty

Monday, June 12, 1972 · 9:09 AM–9:56 AM ET · Oval Office

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation730-002 on Tape 730 (tape position 00:25:11–00:33:24)StartMonday, June 12, 1972 at 9:09 AMEndMonday, June 12, 1972 at 9:56 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 730-002 ↗

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed the administration’s strategy for securing legislative support for the SALT and ABM treaties, including plans for a presidential television address. The conversation also covered domestic legislative priorities, such as congressional spending ceilings and addressing black lung disease benefits. Additionally, the participants coordinated public relations efforts regarding disaster relief in South Dakota to counter political opposition, and finalized logistics for upcoming swearing-in ceremonies for key cabinet appointments.

Audio for this conversation has not been released by the National Archives.

No transcript is available because the audio has not been released.

On June 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:09 am and 9:56 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 730-002 of the White House Tapes.

Conversation No. 730-2

Date: June 12, 1972
Time: 9:09 am - unknown time before 9:56 am.
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H.R. Haldeman.

     Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] and Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty [ABM]
           -Submission to Senate
           -Television appearance by the President
                -Statement

              -Value
         -The President's possible role

    Vietnam War resolution to end war
         -Michael J. Mansfield

    Domestic economic policies
        -Expenditures ceiling in Congress
              -William E. Brock III
                    -Instruction
              -Increases
                    -Black lung disease

*****************************************************************

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 17s     ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

*****************************************************************

    South Dakota disaster relief
         -Public relations
         -George A. Lincoln
         -Robert H. Finch
         -The President's appearances
         -George S. McGovern's previous appearance
               -Eleanor S. McGovern
         -Spiro T. Agnew's appearance
         -Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon's schedule
         -Family background in South Dakota
         -Flood in Peru
         -Flood in US

    The President's schedule
         -Reception line
              -Handshakes
              -Length

              -Value
              -Congressmen
          -Swearing-in ceremony
              -George P. Shultz
              -Richard G. Kleindienst
              -Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
                    -Confirmation
                    -Rank
              -Kleindienst
              -Shultz

H.R. Haldeman left at an unknown time before 9:56 am.
  • 730-001 9:05 AM — President Richard M. Nixon and Marjorie P. Acker met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:05 am to 9:07 am.
  • 025-045 9:09 AM · 5 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:09 am and 9:56 am.
  • 730-003 9:09 AM — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, William M. Lukash, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:09 am and 10:57 am.
  • 025-046 9:56 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and William M. Lukash talked on the telephone from 9:56 am to 9:58 am.
  • 730-004 10:57 AM — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:57 am and 11:10 am.
  • 730-005 11:10 AM — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:10 am to 11:15 am.
  • 730-006 11:21 AM — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:21 am and 12:13 pm.
  • 730-010 12:19 PM — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:19 pm to 1:31 pm.

Conversation 730-002, June 12, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/730-002 (accessed September 30, 2026).