President Nixon, H.R. Haldeman, and Ronald Ziegler met to discuss campaign strategy and public perception regarding the Vietnam peace negotiations, recent polling data, and political corruption allegations. The President expressed frustration with the opposition's focus on controversial social issues and emphasized a commitment to achieving a "peace without surrender" rather than rushing an agreement before the election. They also coordinated details for the President’s upcoming travel schedule and refined their media messaging approach, specifically advising staff to avoid being overly defensive or "objectively" honest when countering political attacks.
On October 31, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:25 pm to 4:08 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 810-017 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 810-17
Date: October 31, l972
Time: 3:25 pm - 4:08 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
1973 Appropriations Act
-92nd Congress
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 46s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
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Nelson A. Rockefeller's National Press Club speech
-Reaction
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Vietnam negotiations
Vietnam negotiations
(rev. Nov-03)
-US public opinion
-Polls
-Peace
-Peace advocates
-Opposition to the President
-Marijuana
-Abortion
-Welfare
-Amnesty for draft evaders
-Permissive judges
-Government size
The President's schedule
-Speeches
-Chicago
-Length of speech
-Richard B. Olgive
-Charles H. Percy
-Congressmen
-Importance of Illinois
-Recent train accident in Chicago
-Peace settlement
Public relations
-Poll
-Timing
-Questions
-Laos, Cambodia
-Vietnam negotiations
-Louis P. Harris
-Opinion Research Corporation [ORC]
-Timing
-Verification of previous results
-Reaction to peace talks
-The President’s forthcoming statements
-Reaction to corruption issue
-Possible shift in polls
-Verification
-Reasons
-George S. McGovern
-Supporters
(rev. Nov-03)
-Commercials
-Youth
-Manual workers
-Youth
-Peace issue
-Professors
-Desire for conflict
-Big business and the rich
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 7m 15s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
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Ronald L. Ziegler entered at 3:40 p.m.
Announcements
-The President’s schedule
-Chicago
-O’Hare International Airport
-Oklahoma
-Providence, Rhode Island
-Details
-Chicago
-Possible motorcade
-Train accident
-Adjustment of schedule
-Zeigler’s morning briefing
-Vietnam
-Wire services
(rev. Nov-03)
-Administration stance
-Nature of peace settlement
-Previous peace agreements
-1968
-Justification for the President’s schedule
-Oklahoma, Rhode Island
-Congressional elections
-North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma
-Rhode Island
-New Mexico
-Details of trip
Ziegler left at 3:44 pm.
Ziegler
-The President’s view
Polls
-Value of additional polls
-Corruption issue
-Lawsuit
-Vietnam
-Possible shifts in polls
-Reasons
-New charges of corruption
-McGovern
-Washington Post
-Lack of new information
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 14m 25s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
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(rev. Nov-03)
Public relations
-Backgrounders
-Honesty
-Robert H. Finch
-Objectivity
-Compared to advocacy
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 5m 7s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
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Haldeman left at 4:08 pm.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.