Conversation 807-005

TapeTape 807StartThursday, October 26, 1972 at 9:16 AMEndThursday, October 26, 1972 at 9:21 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOval Office

AI Summary

President Nixon and H. R. Haldeman met to coordinate the messaging strategy for upcoming major speeches. Nixon directed Haldeman to focus his immediate national defense address on the themes of nuclear retaliation previously outlined in his San Francisco and American Legion speeches, noting his frustration that past political content had overshadowed those points. Additionally, Nixon instructed that preparations begin for a separate foreign policy speech to be delivered the following week.

National defense policySpeechwritingNuclear retaliationPresidential messagingForeign policy

Audio

NARA Description

On October 26, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 9:16 am and 9:21 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 807-005 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 807-5

Date: October 26, 1972
Time: Unknown between 9:16 and 9:21 a.m.
Location: Oval Office

The President talked with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman[?].

        The President's forthcoming national defense speech
            -Foreign policy speech
            -Raymond K. Price, Jr.'s staff
                -San Francisco speech
                -American Legion speech
            -San Francisco speech
                -Theme
                     -Nuclear retaliation
                -News coverage of political content
            -Foreign policy speech
                -Timing

        The President’s schedule
            -Henry A. Kissinger

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

What I want is that on Saturday after Saturday is the national defense speech, not the foreign policy speech.

Now, tell President Floyd to read my San Francisco speech and build it around that and the Legion speech.

and just make it on national defense.

And the San Francisco speech has the theme, you know, of knocking down nuclear retaliation and so forth.

It didn't get the play it should have because some of the political statements got the bigger play.

That's what I want to go with.

The foreign policy one, I will say from next week, would put somebody very smart on it right away.

And I want to hit on that Saturday or Sunday, if it's okay.

And we'll go for the other stuff, right?

Fine, I'll see you a little later.

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