On March 8, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon, Lelsie T. ("Bob") Hope, unknown person(s), H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, White House operator, and Henry A. Kissinger met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 2:50 pm and 3:34 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 872-019 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No. 872-19
Date: March 8, 1973
Time: Unknown between 2:50 pm and 3:34 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope. The White House photographer was present at
the beginning of the meeting.
Greetings
Gift -Golf club
-Camp David
-Weight, type
The White House photographer left.
Golf celebrity tournament at Woodmont
-President's game
-Burning Tree Country Club
-A tree
-Melvin R. Laird
Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Evening at the White House
-Hardships
-Discipline
-Example for US
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 2:50 pm.
H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman's attendance at meeting
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 3:05 pm.
POWs
-34-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Discipline
-Patriotism
-Vietnam War
-Value
-Heroes
-Appreciation
-Vietnam War veterans and casualties
-Hospitals
Haldeman entered at 3:05 pm.
White House entertainment
-Evening at the White House for POWs
-Tony Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Reception
-Postponement
-Return of all POWs
-Hope’s variety show
-Military
-Hope's advice
-Contact with Haldeman
-National show for POWs
-Jane Fonda
-Honor America theme
-Primetime Television [TV]
-POW repatriation
-Timing
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Overnight stay in White House Lincoln Bedroom
-Performance
-Hope's remarks at dinner
-National show for POWs
-TV
-Planning
-Compared to fundraising dinners
-Contributors
-Celebrities
-Broadcast
-Location
-Proceeds
-35-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Scholarship fund
-Vietnam veterans
-Children of killed, wounded, and missing in action
-Telethon
-Planning
-President's attendance
-Los Angeles
-Fundraising dinner
-VIPs attendance
-Tax deductable donations
-Telethon
-Advantage
-Wider participation
-Broadcast
-Hope's advice
-Telethon
-Contributions
-Dinner and telethon
-Network TV broadcast
-POWs, celebrities, Cabinet officers, military
-President’s attendance
-Los Angeles
-Century Plaza
-Los Angeles
-Advantages
-Celebrities
-Timing
Veterans
-Exploitation
-Fundraising events
-H. Ross Perot
-Ford Motor Company
-Scholarship fund
-Eligibility
-Disability
-Thailand
-Amount of money
-Source of funds
-Compared to veterans benefits
-36-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-POWs
-Entertainment at the White House
-Planning
-Haldeman’s role
-Variety show
-Les Brown's band
-Date
Golf
-President's game
-Hope's golf clubs
Plaque
-Gift of Charles G. ("Bebe") Rebozo, Robert H. Abplanalp to President
An unknown man entered at an unknown time after 3:05 pm.
Plaque
-Massachusetts
-Executive Office Building office
-Delivery to Oval Office
The unknown man left at an unknown time before 3:20 pm.
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]
Golf
-Game
-Twosomes
-Length of time to play
-Hope’s game
-President’s game
-Need for exercise, diversion
-Hope’s meeting with Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Walter Reed Hospital
-Mamie G. D. Eisenhower
-37-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Joke about golfer
*****************************************************************
Nguyen Van Thieu
-Joke
-Gen. Juan Domingo Peron
Thieu's visit to US
-Demonstrations
-Support for North Vietnam
-Le Duc Tho
-Protection
-Washington, DC
-San Clemente
Mardi Gras
-Hope as King
-1973 inauguration
-Rowdiness
-Object thrown at Hope
-Irish wakes
-Parades
-Number
-Hope
-Security guards
-New Orleans French Quarter
-Hippies
-Marijuana smoking
An unknown person entered at an unknown time after 3:05 pm.
Plaque
The unknown person left at an unknown time before 3:20 pm.
-Gift of Abplanalp
-President’s birthday
-Hope's opinion
-38-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
Paul W. Keyes
-Planning
-White House events
Haldeman left at 3:20 pm.
Hope's schedule
-Return to California
-Telegrams
-Award
-Hollywood Television Society
-Purpose
Vietnam War
-Post card to Hope
-Second term in office
-Bombing
-May 1972 bombings, mining
-Summit with USSR
-December 1972 bombing
-Impact on peace negotiations
-Lost aircraft
-Compared to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Damage to enemy
-B-52s
-POWs’ reaction
-Adm. Thomas H. Moorer
-Press criticism
-Henry A. Kissinger, Melvin R. Laird
-Sorties
-B-52s
-Impact on peace negotiations
-Americans’ attitude toward defeat
-POWs
-Return
-Col. Robinson Risner, [first name unknown] Kassler, James A. Mulligan,
Capt. Jeremiah A. Denton
-Pride
-Denton’s letter
-39-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Compared to Abraham Lincoln
-Hope’s support for President
-Criticism
-New York Times, Life, Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Bombings
-Necessity
-US status as great power
-Leonid I. Brezhnev and Chou En-lai
-President’s 1959 “Kitchen Debate”
-Nikita S. Khrushchev
-Clark M. Clifford
-Talk with Hope during Burning Tree golf game
-Vietnam War
-South Vietnam’s government
-Corruption
-Bombing halt in 1968
-B-52 bombings
-Moorer
-President's responsibility
-Weather
-Damage to enemy
-Hopes' visit to Thailand
-Talk with Gen. [first name unknown] Sullivan
-December 26, 1972 bombing
-Haiphong
-Air Force personnel
-Entertainment
-Stress level
-B-52 losses
-Christmas losses
-Compared to World War II
-Bombings
-Press criticism
-Chicago Tribune
-Washington Post
-Acknowledgment of President's success
People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Kissinger's conversation with Chou En-lai
-Hope's film on the USSR
-40-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Eugene Ormandy's visit to PRC
-Hope's USSR trip
-USSR’s response to tour
-Purpose of tour
The President talked to the White House operator.
[Conversation No. 872-19A]
[See Conversation No. 37-62]
[End of telephone conversation]
Hope’s tour of PRC
-Follow-up
Radio station
-KRLA
-Pasadena, California
-Acquisition
******************************************************************************
[Previous Deed of Gift Privacy (D) rereviewed on 01/03/2023. Segment cleared for release.]
[Privacy]
[872-019-w005]
[Duration: 10s]
Radio station
-Paul Lee [?]
-[First name unknown] Levy
-[First name unknown] Stasher [sp?]
-Earnings
******************************************************************************
Radio station
-Hearings
-41-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Engineering
-TV station
-Robert Maheu, Orange Group
-Conflict over acquisition
-Western Broadcasting
The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger between 3:26 pm and 3:27 pm.
[Conversation No. 872-19B]
[See Conversation No. 37-63]
[End of telephone conversation]
Hope’s tour of PRC
-Letter
-Kissinger
Hope's watch
-Special features
-David Sarnoff dinner
-Compared to clock in Oval Office
-Age
-Value
-Gift to President
-President's thanks
-Golf club
Hope’s trip to [PRC]
-Talks with US officials
-Kissinger, George H. W. Bush, William P. Rogers
-Meeting with President
-Camp David
-Letter to Ottawa Embassy
-Rogers
-Letter from Hope
-Kissinger
-Delivery
-Private channel
-Chou En-Lai
-42-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
Hope's watch
-Special features
-[First name unknown] Conrad, Sarnoff
Golf
-President's game
-Course
-Kenwood Country Club
-San Clemente
-Hope's favorite course
-Game with John B. Connally and William E. Simon
-Score
Meeting with Newbold (“Newby”) Noyes, Jr.
Hope and the President left at 3:34 pm.
Conversation No. 873-20
Date: March 8, 1973
Time: Unknown between 3:34 pm and 4:34 pm
Location: Oval Office
The President met with Leslie T. (“Bob”) Hope, Newbold (“Newby”) Noyes, Jr. and John D.
Ehrlichman. The White House photographer was present at the beginning of the meeting.
Greetings
Roller skates [?]
Hope left at an unknown time before 4:34 pm.
Golf
-President's game
-Frequency
-Hope
-43-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Golf club in act
-Visit to Camp David
-People’s Republic of China [PRC]
-Gift of club to President-Inscription
Photographs
-Arrangements
Hope's watch
-Gift to President
-Special features
-Lighted dial
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]
David McI. Kendall
*****************************************************************
Vietnam War
-Noyes’s letter to President
-Reason for meeting
-Inaugural address [?]
-President's thanks
-Reasons for writing
-President's meeting with John L. McClellan
-Budget, economic aid to Vietnam
-December 1972 bombing
-President’s explanation
-Impact on negotiations
-Prisoners of war [POWs]
-Ceasefire
-Resumption of talks
-Private message
-Response
-44-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Support for President’s decisions
-Explanation
-McClellan
-Washington Star
-Editorial position
-Pressures on Noyes
-Contrast with Washington Post
-Noyes's letter
-President’s programs
-Budget
-Need for explanation
-President’s public statements
-Cities
Public relations
-President's presentation of programs
-Need to show appreciation of problems
-Urban issues
-Appeal to public sentiments
-Dangers
-Mood of Middle America, labor
-Discontent with programs, taxes
-President’s role
-Conflict between poor and middle class
-Mood of antagonism toward social programs
-Press reports on President's programs
-Misinterpretation
-President's radio speech on crime and drugs
-State of the Union series
-Timing
-Sunday newspapers
-Veterans' programs
-Dependent’s benefits
-World War II
-Influence of veterans lobby
-President’s experience in Congress
-Veterans bonus
-Lack of interest in Vietnam Veterans
-Medical care
-45-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Crime program
-President's convictions
-Capital punishment
-Terrorism
-Sudan
-William P. Rogers’s statement
-Cleo A. Noel, Jr. and George C. Moore
-Sirhan Sirhan
-Hijacking, kidnapping
-Court rulings
-Prison reform
-Lack of publicity
-President’s hard line
-Vindictiveness
-1972 election victory
-Ehrlichman’s role
-Ronald L. Ziegler’s role
-Emphasis
-Nation's mood
-Reconciliation
-Noyes's concerns
-Changes since 1968
-Peace abroad
-Divisive nature of political campaigns
-President's role in setting tone
-Amnesty
-Projection of concern
-President's concerns
-Cities
-Problems
-Housing, education
-Housing
-Perception compared to reality
-Administration's progress
-Construction
-Low income units
-Public housing
-Starts
-Number
-Federal credit
-46-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Fannie Mae, Ginny Mae
-Increases
-Perceptions
-Herblock cartoon
-Past failures
-St. Louis, Washington, DC
-Housing projects
-Slums
-Satisfactions
-Downtown
-Ghetto
-Presentation
-President's concerns, priorities
-Impact on public attitudes
-David Broder
-Article on President's record
Washington Post
-Need to convey sense of concern
-Housing, food stamps, education
-Racial problems
-Press conference
-Question
-Blacks
-1972 election
-President’s concern
-Disadvantages
-Press coverage
-Focus on rhetoric compared to programs
-Housing
-Racial prejudice
-Education
-Lyndon B. Johnson
-Presentation
-Problems in communication
-Wire services, reporters
-Hard news compared to rhetoric
-Primetime TV
-President’s press conference
-Tom Jarriel
-Methods of reaching public
-47-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Gimmicks
-Compassion
-Black church
-President's public image
-Mean mood
-President's 1972 election victory
-Vindication
-Need for reconciliation with adversaries
-Problems
-Vindictive image
-Scrooge compared to Santa Claus
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-Accomplishments
-Impact on elite's attitude
-Social responsibility of big business
-President's public image
-Needs
-Influence on Middle America
-Social conscience
-Archie Bunker types
-Past presidents
-Franklin D. Roosevelt
-John F. Kennedy
-Dwight D. Eisenhower
-Period of normalcy
-Role of press
-TV compared to newspapers
-Reporters
-Difficulties of job
-Issues
-Vietnam War
-Defense, antiballistic missiles [ABM]
-Biases, beliefs
-President's programs
-Gimmicks
-Projection of concern
-Distortions by press
-Problems of communication
-Press relations
-Beliefs, biases
-48-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-President’s attitude
-Difficulties
-President's programs
-Ehrlichman’s briefings
-Head Start
-Misinformation
-Department of Health, Education and Welfare [HEW]
Budget
-San Antonio, Texas and Wyoming
-Administration's limitations
-John D. Ehrlichman's briefings
-President's radio speeches
-Distortion of intent of programs
-Program cuts
-Community Action Programs [CAP]
-Trickle-down effect
-Local government
-Model Cities, CAP
-Budget
-Bureaucracy
-Benefits to poor
-Abolition
-Organization
-Lack of results
-Accountability
-Reports on President's programs
-Public ignorance
-Lead story
-Head Start, job training
-Civil rights
-Theodore Hesburgh
-School integration
-Record of South
-Compared to North
-Speaking tour
-New Orleans
-President’s role
-Topics
-Compliance, compassion
-South
-49-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-George P. Shultz
-President’s role
-Atlanta
-Blacks and White Northern liberals
-Intentions
-Program implementation
-President's record
-Meetings with leaders
-Arkansas
-Georgia
-Southern strategy
-Interracial makeup
-Compliance
-Successes
-Lack of demagoguery
-Peaceful implementation
-Compared to Little Rock [1954]
-Mississippi
-Press
-Desire for demagoguery
-Racists, “rednecks”
-"Professional blacks"
-Public stand
-Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
-President's approach to school integration
-Champion
-Effect on education quality
-Racism
-Interracial marriage
-Compared to John F. Kennedy
-President's record on Southern school desegregation
-Lack of credit
-Black votes for President
-Washington, DC
-South compared to North
-Speaking tour of South
-Press coverage
-Meetings
-Lack of conflict
-Shultz
-50-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Edward L. Morgan
-White House staff
-Attorneys
-National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
[NAACP]
-Press coverage
-Compared to Nicholas Katzenbach
-Parallels with foreign policy
-USSR, PRC breakthroughs
-Middle East, Europe, Japan
-Quiet diplomacy
-President’s meeting with Anatoliy F. Dobrynin
-Summit preparations
-Press relations
-Journalists, liberals
-President's treatment of blacks
-Contrast with Kennedy, Johnson
-“Uncle Toms”
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
*****************************************************************
[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift during
chronological review 2007-2013]
Civil rights
-School integration
-President's treatment of blacks
-Contrast with Kennedy, Johnson
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Accommodation in Lincoln bedroom
*****************************************************************
Civil rights
-President's treatment of blacks
-Contrast with Kennedy, Johnson
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-51-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Publicity
-Compared to Theodore Roosevelt, Booker T. Washington
-Liberals and "professional blacks"
-Desire for criticism of white
-Communication of support for blacks
-Press
-Failures
-Distortions
-Reasons
-Administration's need for dramatization of concerns
-Jesus Christ’s teachings
-Harvard intellectual
-President's public image
-President's view on enhancement
-Ken Crawford
-Vietnam War
-Credit for President
-Johnson’s place in history
-Vietnam War
-President's goals
-Vindication of dead and wounded
-US role in world
-Credit for US
-Great Britain
-France
-Economy
Japan
-Lack of nuclear weapons
-Germany
-Potential power
-Lack of nuclear weapons
-Abdication of responsibility
-Focus on urban problems
-Ghettos
-USSR, PRC
-Sense of pride
-Press accounts
-Joseph W. Alsop, other columnists
-Domestic programs
-Need for dramatization of President's programs
-52-
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
(rev. May-2010)
Conversation No. 872-23 (cont’d)
-Impact on nations' mood
-Impact on black children
-Davis
-Press relations
President's golf game
-Score in 1958
-Burning Tree Golf Club
-Frequency of games
Gridiron Dinner
-President's attendance
-White House Correspondents Dinner
-Ziegler
Noyes and Ehrlichman left at 4:34 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.