Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 799 › Conversation 799-012

Nixon & Haldeman on National League of Families and POW/MIA

Monday, October 16, 1972 · 10:24 AM–10:25 AM ET · Oval Office · 48 sec

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation799-012 on Tape 799StartMonday, October 16, 1972 at 10:24 AMEndMonday, October 16, 1972 at 10:25 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 799-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman coordinated the logistics for a scheduled appearance before the National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia. Haldeman briefed the President on the informal, standing-room arrangement at the hotel and the plan for Henry Kissinger to address the group prior to Nixon’s arrival. They agreed that Nixon would replace the originally planned format to ensure a brief, efficient interaction with the attendees.

Audio

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Transcript (AI-generated)

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Names and numbers are often wrong; speakers are not identified. Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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Just so you understand the scene here, and be sure we're doing the right thing, they are meeting in caucuses around the hotel.
They're being assembled now in the ballroom to hear Kissinger.
The ballroom is being set up for lunch, so they can't seat in an auditorium, so all people just move in in a standing situation, in an impromptu type setup.
We've got to, we'll tell the television that Kissinger's coming over so they can get media set up there.
And then you come in and just do it on the basis that you came instead of me.
That's right.
So just so you know, it's not going to be a formal setup.
I don't give a shit whether it's formal or not.
Okay, I just want to get in and out.
Okay, so that you can get your two minutes and talk to us.

NARA Description

On October 16, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:24 am to 10:25 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 799-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 799-12

Date: October 16, 1972
Time: 10:24 am - 10:25 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

         The President's schedule
             -National League of Families of American Prisoners and Missing in Southeast Asia
                 -Hotel caucuses
                 -Ballroom
                 -Henry A. Kissinger
                      -Media

Haldeman left at 10:25 am.

Also recorded on October 16, 1972

  • 031-049 9:33 AM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and the White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 9:33 am and 10:12 am.
  • 799-010 10:13 AM · 5 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:13 am to 10:19 am.
  • 799-011 10:22 AM · 2 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:22 am to 10:23 am.
  • 799-013 10:25 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:25 am and 10:27 am.
  • 799-014 10:27 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:27 am to 10:28 am.
  • 799-015 10:28 AM · 20 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:28 am and 10:47 am.
  • 031-052 10:47 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Barry M. Goldwater talked on the telephone from 10:47 am to 10:48 am.
  • 799-016 10:47 AM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Barry M. Goldwater, and Alexander P. Butterfield met in the Oval Office of the White House from 10:47 am to 10:48 am.

All 97 conversations from October 16, 1972 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 799-012, October 16, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/799-012 (accessed October 1, 2026).