President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Daniel P. Moynihan to discuss the conceptual framework for his potential second term. The conversation centered on the necessity of integrating foreign and domestic policy into a coherent "mosaic" to restore order and establish a long-term world view. They also addressed the challenges of recruiting intellectual personnel, the importance of merit-based appointments over demographic quotas, and the strategic need to articulate a new, broadly appealing Republican philosophy.
On August 14, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Daniel P. Moynihan, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 1:47 pm to 2:48 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 768-024 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 768-24/769-1
Date: August 14, 1972
Time: 1:47 pm - 2:48 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
Framed copy of an education bill
-The President’s previou signing of bill
-Pen
-Distribution
John B. Connally's previous conversation with Haldeman
-Public relations
Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan entered at an unknown time after 1:47 pm; the White House
photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Greetings
Framed copy of an education bill
(rev. Nov-03)
-Pen
-Moynihan’s view of the bill
-Ordinance of 1787
-Justin Smith Morril Act
-National Defense Education Act
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m 13s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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Moynihan's forthcoming article in the New York Times Magazine
-Moynihan’s previous conversation with Haldeman
-The President’s second term
-Nature of modern two-term presidency
-John Quincy Adams
-Basis for article
-Moynihan’s possible interview with the President
-Moynihan’s previous conversation with Stephen B. Bull
-Haldeman’s view
-The President’s view
-Moynihan’s relationship with the President
-Republican National Convention
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-World War II
-[Thomas] Woodrow Wilson
-World War I
Issues facing the President in his second term
-Domestic issues
-Foreign policy issues
(rev. Nov-03)
-The President’s accomplishments in his first term
-Forthcoming end of the war in Vietnam
-The President’s previous meeting with Moynihan
-New York
-The People's Republic of China [PRC] and the Soviet Union
-Effects of the President's trips
-Japan, Europe
-US role of leadership
-Lessened likelihood of superpower armed
conflict
-US
-Soviet union
-PRC
-Opening of dialogue between the US and PRC
-Agreements with the Soviet Union
-Avoidance of nuclear war
-Control of superpowers
-Expansion of initiatives with the PRC and the Soviet Union
-Soviet Union
-Arms control
-Importance
-Total limitation of nuclear defensive
weapons
-Partial limitation of nuclear offensive
weapons
-Phase II
-Limitation of nuclear offensive weapons
-Phase III
-Reduction of nuclear stockpiles
-Monetary issues
-The President’s knowledge
-European Common Market
-Soviet Union
-PRC
-Japan
-Orderly economic competition
-Underdeveloped world
-Africa
-Latin America
-Middle East
(rev. Nov-03)
-Vietnam
-Need for skillful diplomacy
-Israel
-Need for US military strength
-Economy
-Self governance
-Support for Israel
-Effects of budget cuts on possible troop deployment
-Aircraft carriers
-Greece
-Role as protector
-Soviet Union
-PRC
-Nuclear capability
-Japan, Europe
-Economic power
-Need for US domestic strength
-Priorities
-Foreign policy and domestic policy interrelation
-Reform
-Education bill
-US Postal Service
-Volunteer army
-Welfare reform
-Revenue sharing
-Government reorganization
-Health insurance
-Congress
-“New American Revolution”
-Government
-The President's record
-Foreign policy
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT]
-Remaining nuclear arms
-Phase II
-Phase III
-Republican party
-Possible shift to center
-Stance on social quotas
-Quotas
(rev. Nov-03)
-White House staff
-The President’s stance on Israel
-Anti-communism
-George S. McGovern
-US as a counter to the Soviet Union
-The President’s possible anti-semitism
-Composition of the White House staff
-[Henry A. Kissinger]
-National security
-[Herbert Stein]
-Economics
-[Arthur F. Burns]
-Federal Reserve Board [FRB]
-William L. Safire
-Leonard Garment
-Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Effect of a possible “Jewish quota”
-Kissinger
-Catholics
-Rose Mary Woods
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Merit
-Closer examination in personnel selection
-Women
-Youth
-Blacks
-Mexicans
-Italians
-Search for excellence compared to search for equality
-Republican party
-Principles
-Effects of the President’s efforts
-Need for support from writers
-Possible theft of ideas by the Democrats
-Base of party
-George H. Gallup
-Quotas
-The Administration’s appointment of women
-Marina von N. Whitman
(rev. Nov-03)
-Atomic Energy Commission [AEC] appointee [Dixie Lee
Ray]
-Appointments in the next administration
-Possible majority of popular vote
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Roosevelt
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-John F. Kennedy
-Need for new philosophy
-Republicans
-Divisions
-The President’s foreign and domestic policies
-Twentieth century leadership
-Theodore Roosevelt
-World view
-Wilson
-Failure in international relations
-Franklin Roosevelt
-Great Depression
-World War II
-Harry S. Truman
-Eisenhower
-Kennedy
-Need for world view
-The President’s PRC trip
-Vietnam
-Costs
-Casualties
-Money
-US public spirit
-US economy
-Allocation of resources to national defense
-Importance of avoiding future Vietnams
-PRC
-North Vietnam
-North Korea
-Soviet Union
-Need for comprehensive philosophy
-Foreign policy
-Economic policy
(rev. Nov-03)
-Domestic policy
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 6m 8s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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The President’s administration
-Need for communication with intellectuals
-The Public Interest
-The President’s view
-Critics compared to builders
-Wilson
-Businessmen
-Limitations
-Academics
-Limitations
-Need for union of pragmatists and idealists
-The President's staff
-Contributors to the President's policies
-Moynihan
-Kissinger
-Stein
-George P. Shultz
-Kennedy
-Franklin Roosevelt
-Theodore Roosevelt
-Support from Harvard University government department
-Death of Kennedy
-Intellectuals
[A portion of the conversation at this point was not recorded on the original tape]
(rev. Nov-03)
-Academics
-The President’s signing of the education bill
-Vietnam
-Harvard
-Derek C. Bok
-Correspondence to the President
-Kissinger
-The PRC trip
-The Soviet Union trip
[An unknown portion of this conversation was not recorded at this time while the tape was
changed]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.