President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Henry Kissinger discussed strategies to manage media coverage, influence corporate advertising toward conservative outlets, and address political campaign logistics ahead of the 1972 election. The group explored ways to leverage administrative influence to discourage White House staff from attending a Washington Post dedication event hosted by Katharine Graham. Finally, Kissinger briefed the President on a new message from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which emphasized that upcoming negotiations represent a critical juncture for either achieving a peace agreement or facing a prolonged conflict.
On September 30, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Henry A. Kissinger, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:42 am to 10:06 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 789-002 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 789-002
Date: September 30, 1972
Time: 9:42 am - 10:06 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/07/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[789-002-w001]
[Duration: 5m 33s]
Weather
-Rain
1972 election
-Poll standings
-Gallup poll
-Inclusion in Sunday newspapers
-Wire services distribution
-Importance
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-White House staff
-October 1 1972
-Albert E. Sindlinger polls
-President’s news summary
-California polls
-Dorothy Cory
-Different from Amherst
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s conversation with George L. Grassmuck
-California polls
-Inaccuracy of California polls
-George S. McGovern polls
-Connected to Dorothy Cory
-Newspapers’ use of George S. McGovern polls
-President’s use of Opinion Research Corporation [ORC] polls
-Media criticism of President’s polls
-Linked to Republican National Committee [RNC]
-Dorothy Cory
-George L. Grassmuck’s opinion
-Drinking
-Bribe to fix poll results
-Age
-President’s opinion
-Anger due to lack of business from Republicans
-The President's poll findings
-Portland Oregonian
-Polls
-Impact on President
-Women voters
-President’s September 29 1972 conversation with George H.W. Bush
-Roman L. Hruska
-Reaction to Nebraska poll
-White House polling of Texas
-Comparison to Nebraska polling
-Daniel Yankelovich's poll
-Harris poll
-George S. McGovern staff
-Reaction to polls
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US–Soviet grain deal
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Midwest drought
-Administration public relations
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS] report
-Big company issues
-Ehrlichman
-Cargill, Inc.
-Cargill
-Losses
-The President's former law firm, Nixon, Mudge, Rose, Guthrie and
Alexander
-John N. Mitchell, the President
-Ehrlichman
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[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 03/07/2019.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[789-002-w002]
[Duration: 9m 36s]
1972 election
-President’s thoughts
-Political meetings
-Scheduling
-Clark MacGregor
-Forthcoming conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Scheduling
-Massachusetts
-West Virginia
-Minnesota
-Washington
-Clark MacGregor
-Feelings
-Need for H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman to be sensitive
-Job performance
-Compared to Robert H. Finch
-September 29 conversation with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-September 29 radio report
-Wire service interview
-Campaign appearances by President
-H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman’s trip to Ohio
-Outlook for President
-Indiana
-Likelihood of President winning
-Illinois
-West Virginia
-Compared to Indiana
-Importance
-Wheeling
-Indiana
-Indianapolis
-Campaign after Republican National Convention [RNC]
-Jennings County
-Ohio
-New York
-Buffalo
-Length of trip
-Rally
-Nassau County
-Potential campaign rally
-Westchester County
-Use of motorcade
-Nassau County
-Visit to and dedication of Veterans Affairs [VA] hospital
-Night rally
-Issue of fundraising speech
-Facilities
-October 23 1972 Veterans Day event
-Cancellation of Houston rally
-Importance of having a rally
-Opinion of H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-President’s opinion of New York campaign appearance
-Use of Nelson A. Rockefeller’s house
-Westchester location
-Impact of rally on presence of President’s northeastern chairman
-Chicago
-Presence of Midwestern chairman
-Denver
-Spiro T. Agnew
-Campaign schedule
-Press
-Hecklers
-Mentioned in President’s news summary
-Campaign event with Francis A. Sinatra
-Italian-American event
-Moved from New York to Michigan
-Cobo Hall
-Italian-American population in Michigan
-Polish-American community in Michigan
-Commonality of Polish and Italian Americans
-Potential participation of Polish American community
-Massachusetts campaign event
-Participation of Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Participation of Spiro T. Agnew
-Previous cancellation of Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon appearance
-President’s previous appearance in Boston
-Potential participation of Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Rescheduling appearance
-Thomas A. Pappas
-Potential participation of Spiro T. Agnew
-Opinion of H.R. Haldeman
-Desirability of participation
-Issue concerning Governor of Massachusetts
-Francis W. Sargent
-Suitability of Thelma C. Ryan (“Pat”) Nixon
-Event scheduling
-Assistance of H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman
-Dwight L. Chapin
-New Mexico
-Trip to three different cities in one day
-President’s opinion
-Compared to Illinois
-Changes in strategy
-Campaign appearances by President
-New York
-Rally
-Campaign appearances by Thelma C. (Ryan) (“Pat”) Nixon
-Indianapolis
-October 4, 1972
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Magazine publishing
-The President’s meeting with Burt SerVaas and Cory Jane SerVaas,
September, 29, 1972
-Indianapolis
-Haldeman's schedule
-Indianapolis
-Background
-Saturday Evening Post
-Profitability
-Holiday magazine
-Profitability
-Jack and Jill magazine
-Profitability
-Steel plants
-Richard G. Lugar
-Circulation
-Costs
-Newsstand, mailing
-Advertising agencies
-J. Walter Thompson
-Media buyers
-Left orientation
-Congress
-Postal rates
-Post-1972 election plans
-J. Walter Thompson
-E.I. Lilly
-Indianapolis
-Advertising in Saturday Evening Post
-New York advertising agency [Geer DuBois]
-Circulation argument
-Rates
-Readers' Digest
-Building the Saturday Evening Post
-Advertising investment
-Holiday Inn
-Kenneth Wilson
-William F. (“Billy”) Graham
-Saturday Evening Post
-New York
-Networks
-Post-1972 election action
Press and media relations
-Catherine Mackin
-Charles W. Colson
-Advertisers
-Post-1972 election action
-Agencies
-Congress
-The President
-Saturday Evening Post
-William Randolph Hearst newspapers
-New York Daily News
-George Putnam
-List of conservative media
-“New Establishment”
-New commentators
-Herbert G. Klein
-R. Sargent Shriver
-John Pierson [of Wall Street Journal]
-Los Angeles Times
-Vermont C. Royster
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Access to White House staff
-Ehrlichman
-Henry A. Kissinger
-U.S. News & World Report
-Howard Morton
-John P. (“Jack”) Sutherland
-View of administration
-Kissinger's previous lunch with Time-Life
-Effectiveness
Kissinger entered at 10:00 am.
-William P. Rogers's forthcoming attendance at Washington Post dedication
-Katharine L. Graham
-Invitation to Haldeman
-Walter E. Washington
-White House staff participation
-Ehrlichman invitation
-Kissinger invitation
-Haldeman invitation
-Washington Post treatment of Rogers, administration foreign policy
-Rogers's previous job as lawyer for Washington Post
-Cabinet attendance
-Note on attendance
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 10:00 am.
The President's schedule
-Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty [SALT] signing ceremony for Joint
Resolution
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:06 am.
Vietnam negotiations
-Democratic Republic of Vietnam [DRV] [North Vietnam]
-Message
-Forthcoming meeting
-Duration
-Orientation
-Possible settlement
-Timing
-Prolongation of war
-US responsibility
-Concessions
-Tone
-Lack of precedent
Forthcoming SALT signing ceremony
The President, Kissinger and Haldeman left at 10:06 am.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.