Nixon White House Tapes › Tape 948 › Conversation 948-016

Nixon & Haig on Camp David and Budgetary policy

Wednesday, July 11, 1973 · 5:07 PM–5:13 PM ET · Oval Office · 5 min

ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Haig, Alexander M., Jr.Conversation948-016 on Tape 948StartWednesday, July 11, 1973 at 5:07 PMEndWednesday, July 11, 1973 at 5:13 PMRecording deviceOval OfficeSourceNixon Library record for 948-016 ↗

AI Summary

President Nixon and Alexander Haig discussed administrative logistics regarding an upcoming retreat to Camp David, specifically weighing the social inclusion of staff counselors and their wives. Nixon expressed a preference for maintaining personal solitude during his downtime while ensuring he retains professional access to advisors like Mel Laird, Bryce Harlow, and Roy Ash if needed. Additionally, the President reviewed his legislative agenda, emphasizing the need to evaluate upcoming bills for potential vetoes to maintain a balanced budget heading into the election year.

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Transcript (AI-generated)

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Oh, I, I, and I was, and he was wrong.

It's another bit of therapy, and it's worthwhile.

You might, and it's therapy, and it might make you useful, too.

But, uh, you might say that, uh, Paul, that, uh, Mel, and Christ, you, uh, would like to, uh,

I don't want to be in a position where we all sit down and have dinner and all that sort of thing.

Because basically, it's best for all of us to avoid that.

We do need some access.

And after all, the other place is better than the house anyway, but they can go with their wives and so forth and so on.

But maybe it's not a good idea.

I don't know.

No, I think it's fine as long as they're part of it.

They're not.

To give some rest to you.

They're not.

Well, I need the rest, but I think I've got to be on my own.

So when I talk, I'm not thinking.

Oh, maybe not.

But tomorrow morning, I think you tell me.

We want to start.

We're going to have a rebrand.

That's fascinating.

Oh, that's good.

I think what we are saying isn't overrated.

Because I just want to think about that question.

I want to look at the landlines.

I want to look at what bills we have to veto and so forth in the election hearing.

It might be a good idea, actually, to have them if they want.

I don't know what their plans are.

Or what the right is.

I think it would be a good idea to have them.

I could have them.

Maybe either of them.

Well, if they were on the side, we wouldn't have to face that far out.

Well, if the side can't do it.

Then they could, uh... Well, I mean, I should have them there.

If they're out there, I've got to have them.

Which is alright.

They need to have a few of them.

Either that, or it may be better if they...

Let me put it this way.

I would tell them this.

I learned nothing at work, but I already told myself, and you're right, but that I did that it would be very useful if they, you and the counselors,

That ash went up, and then I just spent the weekend.

Do you ever use an old man can?

Why don't you just do that?

And if I, if I get a flu burn, I may want to call them and say, how about that?

That's better.

That's the way I like it.

Otherwise, you know, like on a, on a night, when we do this, all these invasions of others, you know, I give a couple invasions for it, too.

Okay, good.

NARA Description

On July 11, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:07 pm to 5:13 pm. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 948-016 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 948-16

Date: July 11, 1973
Time: 5:07 pm - 5:13 pm
Location: Oval Office

The President met with Alexander M. Haig, Jr.

        President’s schedule
               -Camp David
                       -Melvin R. Laird, Bryce N. Harlow, Haig
                               -Wives
                       -Staff meetings
                               -Counselors

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[Begin segment reviewed under deed of gift]

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                                                       -43-

                       NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                                                           Conversation No. 948-16 (cont’d)

BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 18 s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1

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[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************

        President’s schedule
               -Timing of meeting
                       -Agenda

        National economy
               -President’s package
                      -President’s concerns
                      -Balanced budget
                              -Possible vetoes of bills
                                     -Election year

        President’s schedule
               -Camp David
                       -Timing
                       -Dinner
                       -Timing
                       -Haig, counselors, Ash
               -Sequoia

Haig left at 5:13 pm.
                                               -44-

                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

Also recorded on July 11, 1973

948-013 4:22 PM · 1 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Stephen B. Bull met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 4:22 pm and 4:24 pm.
948-014 4:24 PM · 60 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Alexander M. Haig, Jr. met in the Oval Office of the White House from 4:24 pm to 5:05 pm.
041-062 5:06 PM · 15 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator talked on the telephone at an unknown time between 5:06 pm and 7:07 pm.
948-015 5:06 PM · 10 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and White House operator met in the Oval Office of the White House at 5:06 pm.
948-017 5:13 PM · 9 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:13 pm and 5:16 pm.
948-018 5:16 PM · 28 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:16 pm to 5:41 pm.
948-019 5:41 PM · 17 sec — President Richard M. Nixon and unknown person(s) met in the Oval Office of the White House at an unknown time between 5:41 pm and 5:42 pm.
948-020 5:42 PM · 26 min — President Richard M. Nixon and Rose Mary Woods met in the Oval Office of the White House from 5:42 pm to 6:04 pm.

All 38 conversations from July 11, 1973 →

Cite this conversation

Conversation 948-016, July 11, 1973. White House Tapes, Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, National Archives. Audio and AI transcript via Easy Nixon, https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/948-016 (accessed October 10, 2026).