Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 895 › Conversation 895-012

Nixon & Haldeman on W. Kenneth Riland and Medical treatment

Friday, April 13, 1973 · 10:47 AM–11:08 AM ET · Oval Office · 2 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haldeman, H. R. ("Bob")Conversation895-012 on Tape 895StartFriday, April 13, 1973 at 10:47 AMEndFriday, April 13, 1973 at 11:08 AMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 895-012 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and H.R. Haldeman discussed how to handle public inquiries regarding the President's continued medical treatment by Dr. W. Kenneth Riland following the doctor's legal issues. Haldeman expressed concern that maintaining the relationship while Riland faced tax-related indictments could create political vulnerability for the President, particularly regarding his role as the nation's chief law enforcement officer. Ultimately, the two strategized on how to discreetly manage Riland's access and public messaging to avoid unnecessary controversy.

Audio

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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 Do not cite it as authoritative — verify against the audio and the finding aid.

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All right.
One thing I want to ask you about getting right, are you sure you want to do that?
The point is going to be, well, I think the point will be, can be asked, is the president still getting treatments from Rylan?
And I wonder if you really want to say yes.
Maybe you don't want to say no also, but maybe you do want to say yes.
The point that I make is this.
If you don't throw a ball down the chute, because he's been, I didn't know the tax case, the tax matters, the taxes are always considered a deed.
Okay, I don't think we, I mean, I don't think you've got to go around the track.
I mean, so because he's indicted, we say don't show up around here.
Is that the problem?
Mm-hm.
We get them to the barber.
Yeah.
On the basis that as the chief law enforcement officer, chief law enforcement officer, you know, he shouldn't be paying money for the law enforcement.
I just wonder if he's borrowing trouble.
That car had trouble at this point.
Yeah.
I have a feeling the reason is that both the guy
I'm sure you've seen it in the caution, right?
The other osteopath they had him on here was really a, you know, god damn thing.
Right.
The caution.
He doesn't even get up to run, but he is.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
He's got to be careful.
Let Ryan go tomorrow.
You're safe.

NARA Description

On April 13, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:47 am and 11:08 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 895-012 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 895-12

Date: April 13, 1973
Time: Unknown between 10:47 am and 11:08 am
Location: Oval Office

The President met with H. R. (“Bob”) Haldeman.

     President’s schedule
           -Meeting with Japanese governors
           -Meeting with Dr. W. Kenneth Riland
                 -Public questions
                       -Treatment
                       -Response
                 -Tax cases
                       -Indictment
                             -Effect on relationship with President
                             -Barber [?]
                                   -President’s role in law enforcement
                 -Walter R. Tkach
                                             -25-

                    NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                             Conversation No. 895-12 (cont’d)

                  -Osteopath
                  -Postponement

Haldeman left at an unknown time before 11:08 am.

Also recorded on April 13, 1973

  • 895-009 10:47 AM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:47 am and 11:08 am.
  • 895-010 10:47 AM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:47 am and 11:08 am.
  • 895-011 10:47 AM · 57 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 10:47 am and 11:08 am.
  • 895-013 11:08 AM · 11 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Morie Kimura, Masanou Kaneko, Taketo Tomono, Yoshio Ogiyama, Kumashi Kakehashi, Masao Kodama, Masakichi Ogowa, Richard L. Schneider, Brevard Crihfield, Henry A. Kissinger, Ichiro Nichimura, and Gen. Brent G. Scowcroft met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:08 am to 11:18 am.
  • 895-014 11:22 AM · 17 min — President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:22 am and 11:40 am.
  • 895-015 11:40 AM · 12 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 11:40 am and 11:41 am.
  • 895-016 11:41 AM · 10 min — President Richard M. Nixon, Edward King Gaylord, Donald S. Kennedy, James E. Webb, Stanley C. Draper, Sylvan N. Goldman, Harvey P. Everest, Charles C. Ingram, C. D. Ellison, Garland R. Williams, Stanton S. Pate, Jr., Margaret F. Pate, John Jarman, Max L. Friedersdorf, and White House photographer met in the Oval Office of the White House from 11:41 am to 11:50 am.
  • 895-017 11:50 AM · 11 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at 11:50 am.

All 42 conversations from April 13, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 895-012, April 13, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/895-012 (accessed October 5, 2026).