Secret White House Tapes

388–4

About this recording

388–4
  • President Richard M. Nixon
  • H. R. Haldeman
  • UNKNOWN
  • White House operator
  • Charles W. Colson
  • Manolo Sanchez
November 8, 1972
Conversation No. 388-4

Date: November 8, 1972
Time: 1:00 am - 3:00 am
-4-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

Location: Executive Office Building

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

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

1972 election
-Latest returns
-Network coverage
-California
-Prediction
-Minnesota
-Rhode Island
-Projection
-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time.

[See Conversation No. 388-4A]

-Request for phone calls
-Rhode Island
-Minnesota
-CBS
-Projections
-Rhode Island
-Delaware
-Senate
-Projection
-Robert Teeter

[End of telephone conversation]

-Teeter
-Rhode Island
-Projections
-Wire services
-Results
-Delaware
-5-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)


The President talked with Frank L. Rizzo between 1:00 am and 1:10 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4B]

[See Conversation No. 33-56]

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Democrats
-Nelson A. Rockefeller’s call
-Time
-Return call

The President talked with the White House operator between 1:10 am and 1:12 am

[Conversation No. 388-4C]

[See Conversation No. 33-57]

1972 election
-Rockefeller
-Return call
-Minnesota
-Problems
-Projection
-[George S. McGovern]
-Wisconsin
-The President’s chances
-Senate races
-J. Caleb Boggs
-Margaret Chase Smith
-Possible loss
-Jack R. Miller
-Projection
-Iowa
-Smith
-Seats gained
-Pete V. Domenici
-6-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Jesse A. Helms
-Dewey F. Bartlett
-Rhode Island
-John H. Chafee
-The President’s race
-Lead
-Minnesota
-Alaska and Hawaii
-Importance
-Utah
-Washington state
-Oregon
-Minnesota
-Alaska and Hawaii
-Importance
-Minnesota
-Lead
-Polls
-Accuracy
-Hubert H. Humphrey

The President talked with the White House operator at an unknown time between 1:10 am and
1:12 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4D]

[See Conversation No. 33-58]

The President talked with Nelson A. Rockefeller between 1:12 am and 1:16 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4E]

[See Conversation No. 33-59]

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Minnesota
-Projection
-National Broadcasting Company [NBC]
-7-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Columbia Broadcasting System [CBS]
-Colorado
-Gordon L. Allott
-Boggs
-Concessions
-Republican Party
-Candidates
-Complaints about the President’s support
-Response
-Publicity
-John D. Ehrlichman
-Plan
-Defeats
-Allott
-Boggs
-Smith
-[Unknown person]
-Louie B. Nunn
-Robert W. Hirsch
-Miller
-Allott
-Wesley Powell
-Charles W. Colson

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4F]

1972 election
-New Hampshire
-Thomas J. McIntyre

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Results
-New Hampshire
-McIntyre
-Figures
-Nebraska
-8-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Carl T. Curtis
-Age
-NBC
-The President’s lead
-Congressional races
-The President’s influence
-Chafee
-Nunn
-Oklahoma
-North Carolina
-Helms
-Hugh Scott
-Domenici
-Rhode Island
-Herbert F. DeSimone
-California
-Time of day
-Results
-Franklyn C. (“Lyn”) Nofziger

Haldeman talked with Ronald L. Ziegler at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4G]

1972 election
-California
-Call
-Results
-Wire services
-Analysis
-Projections
-NBC
-CBS

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-California
-Projections
-The President’s lead
-9-

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Voter turnout
-Nation
-Projections
-California
-Problems
-Polls
-Votes for the President
-Comparison to Lyndon B. Johnson
-Projections
-Actual figures

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:16 am and 1:28 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4H]

1972 election
-Percentages

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Minnesota
-Projections
-American Broadcasting Company [ABC]
-NBC
-McGovern
-Telegram from the President
-Statement
-Tone
-The President’s telegram
-Wording
-Raymond K. Price, Jr.
-Guidelines
-1972 campaign
-Eleanor (Stegeberg) McGovern
-Rest
-Price’s speech drafts
-Problems
-Support
-Peace
- 10 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-The President’s remarks
-Price
-Well-wishes
-Price
-Patrick J. Buchanan

The White House operator talked with the President at an unknown time between 1:16 am and
1:28 am.

The President talked with Henry A. Kissinger between 1:28 am and 1:30 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4I]

[See Conversation No. 33-60]

Charles Colson entered at 1:28 am.

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Telegram to McGovern
-Buchanan

The President talked with Hubert H. Humphrey between 1:31 am and 1:35 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4J]

[See Conversation No. 33-62]

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Voter turnout
-Computer output
-Accuracy
-CBS projection
-McGovern
-The President’s telegram
-Wording
-Rest
- 11 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Mrs. McGovern
-Well-wishes
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-Ziegler’s briefing
-Washington Post
-Life
-The President’s telegram
-Minnesota
-Humphrey’s projection
-Results
-Dwayne O. Andreas
-Teeter

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4K]

1972 election
-Rhode Island
-Minnesota
-California
-Results

[End of telephone conversation]

-McGovern
-The President’s view

Manolo Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.

1972 election
-McGovern’s concession statement
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Sanchez’s opinion
-Fina Sanchez
-The President’s opinion
-Ziegler’s opinion
-Reaction of Tricia Nixon Cox and Julie Nixon Eisenhower

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.
- 12 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)


-The President’s response
-Price’s draft
-The President’s criticism
-The President’s wording
-Tone
-Robert H. Finch
-Media relations
-California
-Unknown person
-Effectiveness
-Oval Office
-Victory rally
-Crowds
-“God Bless America” quote
-Personal appeal
-Congressional races
-Criticism of the President
-Media relations
-Handling
-Strategy
-Smith race
-Maine
-Offer of the President’s help
-Tricia Nixon Cox
-Defeat
-Reasons
-Age
-Boggs
-Age
-Miller
-Nunn
-Defeat
-Smith
-North Carolina
-Helms
-Scott
-Margin of victory
-Harry S. Dent
-Comparison with the President’s margin
- 13 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Virginia
-Georgia
-Fletcher S. Thompson
-Ranking privileges
-Sam Nunn
-George C. Wallace endorsement
-Black vote
-Democrats
-John G. Tower
-Thompson
-Atlanta
-South Dakota
-Projections
-[Unknown person]
-New York
-The President’s lead
-Rockefeller’s report
-New York City
-Brooklyn
-Queens
-Myles J. Ambrose
-Bronx
-Staten Island
-California
-Projections
-Pennsylvania
-Projections
-Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
-Texas
-Percentages
-John B. Connally
-New Jersey
-New York
-Percentages
-Comparison to Rockefeller
-New York Daily News contact
-Telephone call
-Robert Teeter

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.
- 14 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)


[Conversation No. 388-4L]

1972 election
-Kenneth W. Clawson
-Telephone call to New York Daily News

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-The President’s recent telephone conversation with Connally
-Idanell (“Nellie”) Connally
-Family
-Thelma C. (“Pat”) Nixon
-The President’s victory speech
-Vice President Spiro T. Agnew
-Mrs. Nixon
-Women
-Youth
-[Dwight] David Eisenhower II
-Oval Office
-McGovern
-Statement
-The President’s victory speech
-Location
-Desk
-Flags
-“God Bless America” quote
-Public response
-Iowa
-Price’s draft
-Use of Bible
-Messages
-Crowd response
-Agnew
-Timing
-Contrast with McGovern
-Media coverage
-John W. Chancellor
-Walter L. Cronkite, Jr.
- 15 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-[Arnold] Eric Sevareid
-David Brinkley
-New York results
-Edwin Newman
-California
-Results
-Telephone call
-Editor, Wittier News
-Teeter
-Franklyn C. (“Lyn”) Nofziger
-Editor, Los Angeles Times
-Finch

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4M]

Instruction

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-The President’s victory speeches
-Democrats
-Shoreham Hotel
-Albert E. Singlinger
-Results
-Labor vote
-Labor legislation
-The President’s recent conversation with John D. Ehrlichman
-Administration’s work with George Meany
-Catholic vote
-Blue collar vote
-Media analysis
-NBC
-CBS
-Catholic vote
-Roger H. Mudd
-Michael Wallace
-Vietnam
- 16 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-California
-Projection
-Los Angeles
-Dr. Benjamin (MacLean) Spock
-John G. Schmitz
-Vote count
-San Francisco Bay area
-Projections
-Key precincts
-Congressional delegation
-House of Representatives races
-Republican gains
-Gerald Ford
-Media coverage
-Congressional races
-Republicans
-Boggs
-Miller
-Maryland

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEGIN WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
[Personal returnable]
[Duration: 1m 6s ]

END WITHDRAWN ITEM NO. 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1972 election
-The President’s schedule
-Dental appointment
-Senate races
-Results
-Media coverage
-Landslide
-Chancellor
-Comparison to 1968 election
-Comparison to Johnson landslide
-John F. Kennedy assassination
- 17 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

Refreshment
-Breakfast

1972 election
-The President’s victory speech

Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.

Breakfast
-Food orders
-White House mess

1972 election

Breakfast
-Orders
-Eggs
-Preparation

Dogs

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.

1972 election
-Results
-Support for the President
-McGovern
-Statements on peace
-The President’s response
-R. Sargeant Shriver
-New York McGovern headquarters
-Statement
-Television coverage
-Minnesota
-Minneapolis report
-The President’s chances

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4N]
- 18 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)


1972 election
-Minnesota
-Network projections
-Clark MacGregor report

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Massachusetts
-Results
-Paul W. Cronin
-Defeat of John F. Kerry
-Projections of networks
-Alabama
-Alaska
-Arizona
-Arkansas
-California
-Colorado
-Connecticut
-Delaware
-Florida
-Georgia
-Hawaii
-CBS
-Idaho
-Illinois
-Indiana
-Iowa
-Kansas
-Kentucky
-Indiana
-Maine
-Maryland
-Massachusetts
-Michigan
-Minnesota
-Mississippi
-Missouri
- 19 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Montana
-Nebraska
-Nevada
-New Hampshire
-Powell’s race
-McIntyre
-New Jersey
-New Mexico
-New York
-North Carolina
-Helms
-North Dakota
-Ohio
-Oklahoma
-Bartlett
-Oregon
-Pennsylvania
-Pittsburgh
-Heinz family
-Rhode Island
-South Carolina
-South Dakota
-Tennessee
-Texas
-Utah
-Vermont
-Virginia
-Washington state
-West Virginia
-Wisconsin
-Milwaukee
-Wyoming
-Washington, DC
-Method of calculation
-Results
-California
-Mountain states
-South
-New York
-Labor vote
- 20 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Big states
-California
-Iowa, Illinois
-Blue collar votes
-Nebraska
-Indiana
-Old South
-Georgia
-Mississippi
-Louisiana
-Connally
-Wallace
-Maryland
-Virginia
-California

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4O]

1972 election
-Results

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-California
-Time of day
-Results
-Projections
-Networks
-Senate races
-Smith
-The President’s influence
-New Hampshire
-McIntyre
-Powell
-Maine
-Problem
-Rhode Island
- 21 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Value of visit
-The President’s margin
-TV

Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.

Breakfast

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.

The President’s schedule

1972 election
-California
-Nofziger
-[First name unknown] Collins
-Missouri
-Landslide
-Shoreham Hotel
-New York
-Minnesota
-California
-New York
-Percentages
-New York City
-McGovern
-Queens precincts
-Michael J. O’Neill
-Manhattan
-Queens
-Brooklyn
-Bronx
-Richmond
-Suburbs
-State
-Suffolk County

Sanchez entered at an unknown time after 1:35 am.

-Westchester County
- 22 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Minnesota
-New York
-California
-Changes in percentages
-Midwest
-Illinois
-Ohio
-New York
-Pennsylvania
-New Jersey
-Connecticut
-Massachusetts
-Suburbs
-California
-The President’s margin
-[First name unknown] Collins
-Nofziger
-Los Angeles
-Orange County
-San Diego
-San Francisco Bay Area

Sanchez left at an unknown time before 3:00 am.

1972 election
-Results
-Rockefeller’s reactions
-New York
-The President’s margin
-New Hampshire
-Powell
-Congratulations
-Messages
-Sammy Davis, Jr.
-Telephone call
-Altouise Davis
-Shoreham Hotel
-Howard [last name unknown]
-Antique elephant
-Judge Andrew Hauk
- 23 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-McGovernites
-Polls
-Edmund G. (“Pat”) Brown
-Ralph Cake
-Alice Roosevelt Longworth
-Greetings
-The President and First Family
-Radios, TVs
-Thomas E. Dewey
-Senate candidates
-Quality
-Colorado
-Allott
-Defeat
-Blame on the President
-The President’s visit
-Weather
-Miller
-Allott
-Alaska
-[William E. Egan]
-Ticket splitting
-Governors
-Daniel J. Evans
-Victory
-Washington state
-Pennsylvania
-Arch A. Moore, Jr.
-John D. Rockefeller, IV
-Herbert F. DeSimone
-James E. Holshouser
-Texas
-Republican
-Henry C. Grover
-Connally
-Dolph S. Briscoe
-Bircher
-Republican gains
-Missouri
-Christopher S. (“Kit”) Bond
- 24 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Grover
-Rhode Island
-Richard B. Ogilvie
-Indiana
-Russell W. Peterson
-Delaware
-Morris Kay
-Robert Docking
-Bond
-Missouri
-North Carolina
-Holshouser
-New Hampshire
-Meldrim Thomson, Jr.
-Number
-Republican losses
-Vermont
-DeSimone
-Grover
-Briscoe
-Utah
-Calvin L. Rampton
-Vermont
-Thomas P. Salmon
-Evans
-Moore
-Grover
-Connally’s view
-Allott
-Defeat
-Boggs
-Defeat
-Certainty
-Fletcher W. Thompson
-Defeat
-James A McClure
-Victory
-Charles H. Percy
-Victory
-Senate
- 25 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Balance
-Smith
-Boggs
-Nunn
-South Dakota
-Allott
-Analysis
-Allott
-Peter H. Dominick
-Incumbents
-Allott, Miller
-Republican National Committee
-Florida
-Results
-Number of votes
-Congress
-Net gains
-Report
-Instruction to call Harry S. Dent or Richard K. Cook

Colson talked to an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4P]

[See Conversation No. 33-65]

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-Maryland
-Virginia
-Number of votes
-Timing
-The President
-Compared to McGovern
-Percentages
-Projections
-Errors
-Polls
-California
- 26 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-Latest reports
-The President’s schedule

The President’s schedule
-Meetings in the morning
-Time

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


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

Haldeman talked with an unknown person at an unknown time between 1:35 am and 3:00 am.

[Conversation No. 388-4Q]

1972 election
-California
-Telephone calls
-Greenberg
-Los Angeles Times

[End of telephone conversation]

1972 election
-California
-Secretary of State
-Democratic allegiance
-Release of figures
-Problems
-Collins, Nofziger
-Projections
-Networks
-Greenberg
-Information
-Press coverage
-Commentary
-Historic landslide
- 27 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

-1968 election
-1962 election
-Complaints
-Congress
-Press reports
-“Penance vote” [ticket splitting]
-Low voter turnout
-Polls
-Republicans
-Colorado
-The President’s margin
-Allott
-Advantages
-The President’s support
-TV, letter, telephone call
-Defeat
-Republican defeats
-Smith
-Allott
-Miller
-Reasons
-White House
-Smith
-Boggs
-Miller
-Allott
-Other gains
-Net loss
-Percent of vote
-Miller
-Smith
-Boggs
-Allott
-The President’s victory
-Senate
-House of Representatives

[End segment reviewed under deed of gift]
*****************************************************************
- 28 -

NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

Tape Subject Log
(rev. June-07)

Conversation No. 388-4 (cont’d)

Haldeman and Colson left at 3:00 a.m.
Secret White House Tapes |

388–4

This recording is currently not available on millercenter.org. To listen to it, please email Mike Greco at mdg4u@virginia.edu

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