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Conversation 003-027

TapeTape 3StartWednesday, May 12, 1971 at 5:32 PMEndWednesday, May 12, 1971 at 5:33 PMTape start time00:29:18Tape end time00:31:28ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Bow, Frank T.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Congressman Frank T. Bow discussed legislative strategy regarding the Supersonic Transport (SST) funding, focusing on securing a favorable outcome in the House-Senate conference committee. Nixon expressed concern about specific conferees and emphasized pressuring key senators, such as Tunney, Cranston, and Gambrell, by linking their support to the interests of Lockheed. Additionally, Bow invited the President to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement of Vince Lombardi in Ohio during late July to boost his political standing in the state.

Supersonic transportCongressional lobbyingLockheedLegislative strategyPro Football Hall of FameFrank T. Bow
AudioNARA Description

On May 12, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Frank T. Bow talked on the telephone from 5:32 pm to 5:33 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 003-027 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 3-27

Date: May 12, 1971
Time: 5:32 pm - 5:33 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Frank T. Bow.

[See Conversation No. 499-2C/498-1A]

     Supersonic transport [SST] vote
          -President's and Bow's travel plans
          -President's appreciation
          -Possible House-Senate conference committee action
                -Silvio O. Conte
                -Parren J. Mitchell
                -Don or William J. (“Jack”) Edwards
          -Possible Senate action
                -William Proxmire's 1965 statement
                -John V. Tunney, Alan Cranston, and David H. Gambrell
                      -Lockheed

     President's schedule
          -Football Hall of Fame
                 -Benefits for President in Ohio
                 -Vince Lombardi
                 -Clark MacGregor
                 -Date
                                              15

                          NIXON PRESIDENTIAL MATERIALS STAFF

                                      Tape Subject Log
                                         (rev. 9/08)
Transcript (AI-Generated)

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Hello?
Congressman Frank Bowe for you.
Hello?
Hello?
Yes, Mr. President.
I was just thinking you and I would get on that SST and go over to China one day.
I'm in favor of that.
Let's do it anytime.
Well, anyway, that's a great job and a great night.
I just want to thank you and all your team for... And incidentally, Frank, for God's sakes, if we can get a strong enough bunch of conferees, the Senate can't back you down completely, can they?
No, no.
My only problem is two of my conferees voted against it.
That's Cotty and Menchel.
Yeah.
And I just gave them hell.
How many countries will you have?
Well, I'll have on my side, I'll have Edwards who's with us.
Yeah.
And then the others will be...
whether it's on the Democrats' side, I think we can hold up pretty well.
Well, would you have a majority?
Well, of course, the confrees have to take the House position, and you're not about to recede.
But, of course, we're going to try on the Senate.
It's awful tough there to get those people to turn around.
I read into the record today a statement Proxmire made back in 1965 in which he talked about the gold flow and the advantage of the SSD.
Mm-hmm.
And I think we can shove that right down his throat.
Well, I think, frankly, if we could, apart from him, if we could just get, we've got to get this Gambrell out of shift, Tunney out of shift, and Cranston out of shift.
Because if they don't do this, they aren't going to get Lockheed.
Right.
If those three people don't do it, they can't get Lockheed.
Well, you really played it, and I appreciate it, and I'll take a good rest.
Thank you, Mr. President.
May I, while I have you?
Yeah, sure.
Sure you can.
Sure.
I would like so very much if you could come to the enshrinement of the Hall of Fame this year.
You need that in Ohio.
Oh, in Ohio.
Oh, the enshrinement of the Hall of Fame.
Yeah.
Or the football.
It'll be a football game.
Oh, I see.
They're going to enshrine Vince Lombardi this year.
And I can arrange to have you do that.
I think it's very important.
I'm going to send something down to McGregor and Bill Simmons.
Well, send it down.
Take a good look at it.
What time of year would it be?
It'd be in July, the latter part of July.
And I think it's very important.
Fine.
Take a look at it.
I'll get it to you.
Take a look.
Bye.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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