In this meeting with H.R. Haldeman, Stephen Bull, and later Ronald Ziegler, President Nixon discussed a broad range of political and communications strategies for the 1972 re-election campaign. Key topics included coordinating messaging on Vietnam negotiations ahead of a press conference, countering negative media coverage regarding federal spending, and refining the President's public image through improved photographic and radio outreach. Additionally, the participants addressed personnel management for campaign economic rhetoric and logistical planning for upcoming speeches.
On October 9, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon, H. R. ("Bob") Haldeman, Stephen B. Bull, and Ronald L. Ziegler met in the Oval Office of the White House from 9:23 am to 10:09 am. The Oval Office taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 794-001 of the White House Tapes.
Nixon Library Finding AidConversation No.794-1
Date: October 9, 1972
Time: 9:32 am - 10:09 am
Location: Oval Office
The President met with H.R. (“Bob”) Haldeman and Stephen B. Bull.
Haldeman's schedule
The President’s schedule
Bull left at an unknown time before 9:55 am.
Vietnam
-Henry A. Kissinger’s cable
-Alexander M. Haig, Jr.
-Progress of negotiations
-Status of negotiations
-William P. Rogers
-Forthcoming press conference
-Comment
-Rogers’s forthcoming press conference
-Timing
-Statement
-On-camera
-George S. McGovern
-Timing
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 32s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 2
2
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
*****************************************************************
Campaign practices
-Hecklers
-Julie Nixon Eisenhower‘s schedule
-Vermont
-Possible response
-Young people
-William R. Codus
-Responsibility
-Advance men
[Dwight] David Eisenhower, II
-Military service
-Return
-Navy
-1972 election
-Haldeman’s possible effort
-Installation of heating system
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 21s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 3
*****************************************************************
-1972 election
-Public reactions
-Compared to Dwight D, Eisenhower’s return of John
S.D. Eisenhower
Speeches
3
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Pierre Rinfret’s work
-Peace
-Herbert Stein
-Paul W. McCracken
-Tone
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Presentation of issues
-The People's Republic of China [PRC], Soviet Union
-Rinfret
-Personnel management
-Council of Economic Advisors [CEA]
Radio Address on Federal Spending, October 7, 1972
-Charles W. Colson
-Baltimore Sun story
-News summary
-List publication
-Caspar W. (“Cap”) Weinberger
-Republican leadership meeting
-Colson
-Office of Management and Budget [OMB]
-Ronald L. Ziegler
-Baltimore Sun story
-Reporter
-Ziegler
-Catherine Mackin “syndrome”
-Leads
-Taxes
-Increase
-Size
-Rinfret
-Price
-Size
-Vietnam war settlement
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
[Personal returnable]
4
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
[Duration: 12m 42s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 4
*****************************************************************
Campaign practices
-Frank L. Rizzo
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BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 24s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 5
*****************************************************************
Ziegler entered at 9:55 am.
Press briefing
-Quadriad meeting
-Arthur F. Burns
-Weinberger
-Economic indicators
-Economic expansion
Photographs of the President’s recent address on Federal spending
-News summary
-Patrick J. Buchanan, Lyndon K. (“Mort”) Allin
-Oliver F. (“Ollie”) Atkins
-Distribution to wire services
-Candidates
-Photographs of the President
5
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
-Types of poses
-Camp David
-Laurel lodge
-Text
-Portraits
-Skill as a photographer
Bull entered at an unknown time after 9:55 am.
The president’s schedule
-Quadriad
Bull left at an unknown time before 10:09 am.
Radio speeches
-The President's recent speech on Federal spending
-Radio and press coverage
-Colson
-Price
-Farm speech
-Veterans
-Farm speech
-Chicago
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 28 s ]
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 6
*****************************************************************
The President's schedule
Ziegler left at an unknown time before 10:09 am.
6
NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF
Tape Subject Log
(rev. Nov-03)
*****************************************************************
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 2m 29s ]
Ziegler entered at an unknown time after 9:55 am.
END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 7
The President’s schedule
-Russell E. Train
Haldeman and Ziegler left at 10:09 am.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.