← 778-019778-021 →

Conversation 778-020

TapeTape 778StartFriday, September 15, 1972 at 11:26 AMEndFriday, September 15, 1972 at 11:48 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Finch, Robert H.;  Butterfield, Alexander P.;  Bull, Stephen B.Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon and Robert Finch discussed campaign strategy for the 1972 election, focusing on undermining George McGovern by highlighting his perceived lack of foreign policy experience and his similarity to the ineffective 1964 Barry Goldwater campaign. They analyzed electoral demographics, including labor and ethnic support, and reviewed media coverage and the influence of campaign surrogates like Frank Rizzo and John Connally. Additionally, the participants touched upon the Watergate investigation, expressing frustration over upcoming FBI indictments and the press's role in keeping the scandal in the headlines.

1972 Presidential ElectionGeorge McGovernWatergateCampaign StrategyForeign PolicyPublic Opinion
AudioNARA Description

On September 15, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, Robert H. Finch, Alexander P. Butterfield, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:26 am to 11:48 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 778-020 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 778-20

Date: September 15, 1972
Time: 11:26 am - 11:48 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Robert H. Finch.

         Greetings

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[778-020-w001]
[Duration: 51s]

       1972 election
              -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy and George S. McGovern on campaign trail
                     -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy
                             -Potential replacement by Hubert H. Humphrey
                     -Continuation of strategy
              -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy aid to George S. McGovern
                     -Effect of Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy support
                     -Parallels to Barry M. Goldwater
                             -Enthusiastic crowds
                                     -The President’s previous Presidential campaigns

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

Alexander P. Butterfield entered at an unknown time after 11:26 am.

                                        (rev. Feb-24)

         The President's schedule
            -H.R. ("Bob") Haldeman
            -Finch

Butterfield left at an unknown time before 11:48 am.

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[778-020-w002]
[Duration: 9m 15s]

       1972 election
              -Edward M. (“Ted”) Kennedy aid to George S. McGovern
                     -Parallels to Barry M. Goldwater
                             -Enthusiastic crowds
                                     -The President’s previous presidential campaigns

       Media coverage
             -Local television stations
                     -George S. McGovern support
                     -Robert H. Finch’s interviews
             -Frank L. Rizzo
                     -Meeting with Robert H. Finch
                     -Criticism of press
                     -Speech supporting the President

       1972 election
              -Frank L. Rizzo
                     -Campaign techniques
                     -Herbert G. Klein
                     -Bicentennial for Philadelphia
                             -Attendance with Robert H. Finch
                     -Activity with John D. Ehrlichman
              -George L. Grassmuck
              -Daniel P. (“Pat”) Moynihan
                     -Robert H. Finch’s previous September 14, 1972 conversation

                                 (rev. Feb-24)

                    -Academic concerns over George S. McGovern
                    -College committees supporting the President
       -New Republican majority
             -1972 as a watershed election
             -Robert J. Dole
             -Reworking of American politics
                    -Democratic support
                    -Phone banking
                    -Turnout factor

Campaign strategy
      -The President’s opinion
              -Need for massive crowds
                     -Urge voters to turnout

1972 election
       -San Francisco
       -Rowland Evans-Robert D. Novak article
              -Criticism of [unknown first name] Bartman
       -John B. Connally’s concerns
       -Senate control by Republicans
              -Potential Robert H. Finch talk with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
              -Alaska [?]
              -John G. Tower
       -Media influence on outcome
       -Labor
              -Financial support for George S. McGovern
              -Operation in Pittsburgh
              -Hurt coattail effect
       -Democratic Party leaders
              -Boosting of House-Senate candidates
              -Effect of George S. McGovern ticket
                      -Prevent massive loss
                              -Similarity to Barry M. Goldwater in 1964 election
              -Public attitudes on George S. McGovern
       -Polls
              -Robert H. Finch’s opinion
                      -The President's youth support
              -Labor support
                      -George Meany
       -Ethnic support for the President

                                       (rev. Feb-24)

                   -Robert H. Finch’s activities
                           -Polish group in Pittsburgh
                           -Puerto Rican homeowners
                                   -New York
                                   -National convention
            -Need for support of elderly
            -L. Sargent Shriver
                   -Attacks on Republicans
                   -Robert H. Finch’s opinion
                           -Press coverage [?]
                   -Approach to campaigning
            -George S. McGovern campaign strategy
                   -George S. McGovern
                           -Big city stops
                           -Pittsburgh
                           -Philadelphia
                           -Support from press

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

        Watergate
          -Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI]
               -Possible Indictments
               -New report of bugging
                   -Public handling of issue

       1972 presidential campaign
          -Foreign policy
              -The President's point at recent breakfast meeting
          -World travel
              -George S. McGovern's lack of experience
                   -Dwight D. Eisenhower
                        -Comparisons to the President
                        -Vice Presidential experience
                            -The President's travel as a private citizen
          -Economic issues
          -Vietnam issue
              -US peace proposals
              -Return of Prisoners of War [POWs]
              -Compared to Korean War

                                      (rev. Feb-24)

         Vietnam War
            -McGovern
                -Peace proposal
                    -Finch's view

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

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 11/14/2022.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[778-020-w003]
[Duration: 9m 19s]

      1972 election
             -George S. McGovern quote
                     -Abortion
                     -Karl E. Mundt
             -George S. McGovern primary votes
                     -Low percentages
                     -Compared to Hubert H. Humphrey and George C. Wallace
                     -Factional candidate
                     -Support in California primary
                     -Delegate apportionment
             -California
                     -George Cooly [?]
                     -Eugene Klein
             -Black support for the President in California
                     -Windsor Hills
                     -Wilmer Park
                     -Lawyers
                     -Redistribution of income
                            -Political effect
             -George S. McGovern
                     -Economic views
                     -Henry A. Wallace
                     -Delegate to Independent Progressive Party
                     -Populism
                     -Policy positions
                            -Shifting

                                (rev. Feb-24)

              -Attacks on the President's campaign
                     -[First name unknown] Anderson
                     -The President’s previous talk with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
              -Policy positions
                     -Welfare proposal
              -Permissiveness
                     -Marijuana legalization
              -Frank L. Rizzo
                     -Use of homosexuality as issue [?]
              -Family situation
                     -Mexico

Robert H. Finch's schedule
       -September 16, 1972 visit to Syracuse and Albany
       -Previous talk with Dwight L. Chapin
       -Ronald W. Reagan
              -Robert H. Finch’s time in California

1972 election
       -California election
               -San Fernando Valley
               -Orange County
       -The President's California campaign
               -Los Angeles
               -San Francisco
               -Fresno
               -Bakersfield
               -San Francisco demonstrations
                      -The President's arrival
                      -Numbers
                      -Television coverage
                      -Eddie Fisher
                      -Rogers C. B. Morton
                      -Clark Aarons [?]
       -John B. Connally speech
               -Radio
               -The President’s opinion
                      -Usefulness of lines
               -Need for five-minute campaign ad
                      -Groups supporting the President
       -George S. McGovern

                                         (rev. Feb-24)

                      -Robert H. Finch’s opinion
                      -Nomination process
                      -Compared to Adlai E. Stevenson, II
                      -Nomination process

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

Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 11:26 am.

          The President's schedule
             -Veterans of Foreign Wars [VFW] Commander

          Finch's schedule
             -Plane to Syracuse

          Haldeman
             -Copy of John B. Connally speech

          Parting remarks

Finch and Bull left at 11:48 am.
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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.

Thank you.
I just say we're going to get the FBI report in and that if the vaccine is required, it will be taken.
Well, they're going to indict today.
I think they must have.
Christ, you know, they'll do anything to keep the story alive.
I wish we could prove it.
Wouldn't it be great if you could find one?
I don't think, I'm sure they can ask about it, maybe press on it.
Sure, but we should talk about the fundamental issue.
The point you made is very simple.
We need to come down hard on that foreign policy.
There's just no way.
I had a check.
He's only been in 19 countries in a lifetime.
He went on to
And the point that registers, too, is that I say that he taught me very often about how you learn more on the tributes of when you're an authorized person.
Sure.
And you didn't when you had to go to the early version.
Absolutely.
Oh, I read around the world a lot about that at my own expense.
And then we keep it daily.
But one thing that always comes through is you can always score them hard and bitch about them and make bombs and bombs and all that.
It's just the fact, you go back to the last offer, you go back to the fact that we're not going to be burping at W-0-8, whether they're calling in to bug you on a talk show or whatever it is they suggest the government walk away and leave us with the experience we had in the French head and we had in Korea.
Or they walk away.
Or, whatever it says, basically let the communists oppose their government to ensure that he wants to be their friend.
It's just incredible how you could do that.
Love God.
Thank you.
← 778-019778-021 →