President Nixon met with H. R. Haldeman and Stephen B. Bull to discuss operational planning for the 1973 Inauguration, including venue logistics and the President's public appearances. The participants also reviewed second-term staff reorganization, focusing on potential roles for Julie Nixon Eisenhower and the need for stronger executive support for congressional liaison William Timmons. Additionally, they addressed the sensitive transition of Richard Helms from the CIA to an ambassadorship and expressed frustration over Henry Kissinger’s recent press interactions.
On December 12, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House from 12:05 pm to 12:25 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 820-014 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 820-14
Date: December 12, 1972
Time: 12:05 pm - 12:25 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.
1973 Inauguration
-Balls
-Number
-[J. Williard Marriott]
-John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts
-Number of guests
-Compared to 1969 Inauguration
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 820-14 (cont’d)
-Fundraising and social events
-Smithsonian Institution
-Hotels
-Smithsonian Institution
-National History Museum
-National Gallery of Art
-Hotels
-Kennedy Center
-Vice President’s reception
-The President’s attendance
-Governors’ salute
-Kennedy Center
-The President’s attendance
-Timing
-The President’s attendance
-Stars
-American music concert
-The President’s instructions
-Leonard Garment, [Nancy Hanks]
-Modern music
-Folk and country music
-Unknown dancer
-Garment
Second term reorganization
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Attempts to locate
The President’s schedule
-Mayor of Whittier, California [Blake Sanborn]
-Rose Mary Woods
-Michael J. Farrell
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-David N. Parker
-Conversation with Haldeman
-Mrs. Nixon’s schedule
-Embarrassment
-Camp David
-White House staff instructions
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 820-14 (cont’d)
Congressional relations
-Recommended telephone calls
-Thomas C. Korologos
-Carl B. Albert
-Attendance at services [for [Thomas] Hale Boggs]
-Mrs. Nixon
-Return call
-John C. Stennis
-Korologos
-Dr. James R. Schlesinger
-Talking paper
-Richard M. Helms
-Ambassadorship to Iran
-Henry A. Kissinger
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Helms
-Possible conversation with Haldeman
-Kissinger’s return from Paris
-Announcement
-Timing
-Korologos
-Kissinger
-View of Helms
-Haig
Second term reorganization
-James Keogh
-Herbert G. Klein
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Value
-Personality
-Shelley A. (Scarney) Buchanan
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
-Relations with White House staff
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 820-14 (cont’d)
-Constance M. (Cornell) (“Connie”) Stuart
-Lucy A. Winchester
-Stephen B. Bull
-Working relationship
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
-Secretarial work
-Scheduling
-White House, East Wing
-Trips, special events, women surrogates
-Coworker
-Personality
-Coworker
-Specific assignment
-William E. Timmons
-Need for backup
-John D. Ehrlichman, Haldeman, Kissinger
-Bryce N. Harlow
Stephen B. Bull entered at an unknown time after 12:05 pm.
The President’s schedule
-Meeting with Hobart D. (“Hobe”) Lewis and John H. Kauffmann
-Private meeting with Lewis
Bull left at an unknown time before 12:25 pm.
Second term reorganization
-Congressional relations
-Timmons
-Role as the President’s spokesperson
-Effectiveness
-Timmons’s meeting with the President
-Timmons’s assumption of job
-Timmons’s personality
-John B. Connally’s view
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 820-14 (cont’d)
-Haldeman, Ehrlichman
-The President’s workload
-Roy L. Ash
-Appointments and nominations
-The President’s role
-Stennis
-Schlesinger
-Nation Park Service [NPS] [George B. Hartzog, Jr.]
-Stennnis
-Haldeman
-W[illiam] Stuart Symington
-Possible meeting with the President
-Helms
-Announcement
-Timing
-Charles W. Colson’s office
-Recommendations
-Telephone calls
-Albert
-Corinne (Claiborne) (“Lindy”) Boggs
-Coordination
-Stennis
-Alexander P. Butterfield
-Timmons
-Haldeman
-Peter G. Peterson, Helms
-Kissinger’s view
-News summary
-Stewart J. O. Alsop article
-John F. Osborne article
-Kissinger’s quote
Kissinger’s press relations
-Oriana Fallaci interviews
New Republic article
-Osborne
-Telephone call
1973 Inauguration
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NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-08)
Conversation No. 820-14 (cont’d)
-Plans
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Edward C. Nixon
Second term reorganization
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower
-Conversation with Haldeman and the President
-Timing
-East Wing
-West Wing
George Champion, Jr.
Haldeman left at 12:25 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.