← 010-079010-081 →

Conversation 010-080

TapeTape 10StartWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 11:46 AMEndWednesday, October 6, 1971 at 11:47 AMTape start time02:36:43Tape end time02:37:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Price, Raymond K., Jr.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon instructed speechwriter Raymond K. Price, Jr. to incorporate specific public feedback regarding the administration’s wage and price freeze into an upcoming address. The President requested that the draft feature a diverse array of examples from thousands of letters, highlighting support from various demographics such as union members, housewives, and retirees. This effort aimed to demonstrate broad, grassroots approval for the economic policy through a punchy and representative narrative.

Wage and price freezePublic opinionSpeechwritingEconomic policyPresidential communications
AudioNARA Description

On October 6, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Raymond K. Price, Jr. talked on the telephone from 11:46 am to 11:47 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 010-080 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 10-80

Date: October 6, 1971
Time: 11:46 am - 11:47 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Raymond K. Price, Jr.

[See Conversation No. 283-31]

     Wage and price freeze
         -Speech
              -Examples of support
                     -Number of letters
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yeah.
Mr. Ray Price, sir.
Yeah, sir.
Ray, I'd like you to try that exercise two different ways.
One, if you can find, say, something where there's maybe the one letter deal, but another way that could be perhaps a little more effective.
I want to, I'm going to put in this paragraph with regard to the overwhelming public support we have had for the wage price freeze.
And I can say that thousands of letters have poured into the White House since I made this announcement.
These are typical.
A union member from Schenectady wrote one sentence.
A housewife from California.
A teacher from Texas.
About six or seven, something like that, you see.
And they don't have to be people that have sacrificed.
If they have, that helps.
But just somebody says, or a retired person from this,
See what I mean?
And I think that might be very sharp and punchy, and then cover the country sort of that way, and cover the various types of the people.
Okay?
So that it will take a half a page or so.
I mean, good?
Okay.
← 010-079010-081 →