Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 827 › Conversation 827-023
Nixon & Chotiner on California politics and Robert H. Finch
Wednesday, December 20, 1972 · 4:25 PM–4:32 PM ET · Oval Office · 6 min
AI Summary
President Nixon met with political advisor Murray Chotiner to discuss various Republican political maneuvers and personnel strategies for the upcoming term. The conversation centered on potential candidates for California, including Robert H. Finch and Ronald Reagan, as well as the importance of strengthening Republican representation in the House and Senate. Nixon emphasized the need for better quality candidates and active involvement in future electoral efforts to ensure the success of his administration.
- California politics
- Robert H. Finch
- Ronald Reagan
- Republican National Committee
- Electoral strategy
Audio
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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.
Download transcript (.txt) · JSON data
Each line starts with a timestamp button; press it to play the audio from that point.
NARA Description
On December 20, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Murray M. Chotiner met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:25 pm to 4:32 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 827-023 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 827-23
Date: December 20, 1972
Time: 4:25 pm - 4:32 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Murray M. Chotiner.
*****************************************************************
[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]
Republican National Committee [RNC] [?]
-Finances
-1971
-1972
-Campaign funds [?]
-Richard Richards [?] [Deputy Chairman RNC]
-Republicans
-John B. Connally
-Lawyers
California
-63-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
Conversation No. 827-23 (cont’d)
-Evelle T. Younger
-Ronald W. Reagan
-Appointment as Ambassador
-Plans
-Robert H. Finch
-Election possibilities
-Chance of success
-Alan Cranston
-Senator
-Qualities
-Campaign options
-Reagan
Republicans in House of Representatives and Senate
-Robert C. (“Bob”) Wilson
-William E. Brock, III
-Candidates
-Quality
-Wilson
-Brock
-Clarence J. (“Bud”) Brown, Jr.
-George H. W. Bush
-Donald H. Rumsfeld
[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
Chotiner left at 4:32 pm.Also recorded on December 20, 1972
- 827-016 2:40 PM · 4 min — President Richard M. Nixon met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm.
- 827-017 2:40 PM · 13 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:40 pm and 2:45 pm.
- 827-018 2:45 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:45 pm to 2:46 pm.
- 827-019 2:47 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:47 pm to 2:55 pm.
- 827-020 2:56 PM · 8 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 2:56 pm to 3:05 pm.
- 827-021 3:05 PM · 45 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, Saul Pett, Henry Burroughs, White House photographer, and Zosimo T. Monzon met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:05 pm to 3:49 pm.
- 827-022 3:51 PM · 33 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Ronald L. Ziegler, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, unknown person(s), Stephen B. Bull, and George P. Shultz met in the Oval Office of the White House from 3:51 pm to 4:24 pm.
- 827-026 4:32 PM · 12 sec — unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:32 pm and 4:37 pm.
Cite this conversation
Conversation 827-023, December 20, 1972. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/827-023 (accessed October 11, 2026).