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Conversation 838-004

TapeTape 838StartThursday, January 11, 1973 at 8:36 AMEndThursday, January 11, 1973 at 9:04 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Recording deviceOval Office
AI Summary

President Nixon dictates a series of directives to H.R. Haldeman concerning the development of historical guest literature for Camp David and the presidential yacht, Sequoia. He emphasizes creating well-researched, professional accounts for these venues that highlight significant historical policy decisions and guest records. Additionally, Nixon instructs Haldeman to commission post-inaugural polling to gauge public opinion on tax increases versus government spending, stressing the need for precise and effective survey questions to clarify the President’s stance on fiscal responsibility.

Camp DavidSequoia (Presidential Yacht)Public Opinion PollingFiscal PolicyHistorical RecordsPresidential Messaging
AudioNARA Description

On January 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 8:36 am and 9:04 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 838-004 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 838-4

Date: January 11, 1973
Time: Unknown between 8:36 and 9:04 am
Location: Oval Office

The President dictated a memorandum to H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

       Camp David
             -Guest book
                    -Historical record
            -List of all guests as part of a history
            -Office of Economic Policy
            -List of President's addresses written there
                    -State of the Union
            -Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins's pictures
                    -Dwight D. Eisenhower and Nikita S. Khrushchev
            -Edward R. G. Heath
            -Memento for guests
                                                -3-

                     NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                        (rev. Feb.-09)

       Sequoia
              -Guest pamphlet
                     -Revision
              -Assignment of responsibilities

       President's earlier conversation with Haldeman and John D. Ehrlichman
              -Post-inaugural plan
              -Polls
                       -Albert E. Sindlinger
                       -Louis P. Harris
                       -George H. Gallup
                       -Recommendation of Charles W. Colson
                       -Issues
                               -Tax increase
                       -Spending
              -Previous Gallup question
                       -Lack of effectiveness and precision
              -Wording of question
              -Congressional role
              -Inflationary spiral
              -Wording

[End of dictation]
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.

The, uh, guest program again, Camp David, which is left in every, uh, cabin, is quite an accurately written as far as the historical record.
other than somebody from the military's office on this, in other words, somebody who has a little sense of history, et cetera, and have a very well-written, not-too-long account of how candidate responded, and a list of those people that have stayed there.
Time to sit down.
uh, and include, uh, uh, also the fact that the artistry and economic policy was developed there.
And, uh, you know, they,
You could perhaps say the address in the record there is stated that you had an address in 1971.
there is no great furry on this project
in a way that each guest could be given it as an annual and take it with him.
As I have earlier told you, the Sequoia also, the Sequoia guest emblem needs to be picked up at two.
Here again, get a good rider on it.
uh i do not need to see the results of these but i want you to drive her and whoever does it so that it comes out
With reference to an earlier conversation we had with John earlier, after the inauguration, I would like a poll ticket, not one that costs an enormous amount of money today, but one that at least will have some credibility by perhaps either Semlinger
Or for that matter, Gallup, whoever has, whoever calls recommend should have the opportunity to take this kind of call on the issue of whether the people prefer the tax increase.
As we discussed earlier, the Gallup question was good, but not as effective as it might have been, not as precise as it might have been.
You might even put it in terms of the president will veto bills for programs that would result in a tax increase.
And these are going to stay in the copper shield right at the detail.
favor is doing this, or in favor is spending the money that the Congress directs.
And then, even though it will mean that the Congress will have to increase taxes, the President will then have to ask the Congress to increase taxes in order to avoid
I'm not trying to direct how the question should be directed, but I'm sure if you talk to one of the three pollsters in our own staff, we can get a pretty good question together.
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