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.