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Conversation 011-115

TapeTape 11StartMonday, October 18, 1971 at 5:19 PMEndMonday, October 18, 1971 at 5:21 PMTape start time03:15:20Tape end time03:17:12ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Holifield, ChetRecording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon initiated this call to express his appreciation to Congressman Chet Holifield for his instrumental role in shaping a balanced consumer protection bill. The two discussed the importance of incorporating Administrative Procedures Act guidelines and agreed on the necessity of appointing a judicious, competent administrator to oversee the new organization. Holifield affirmed his commitment to the legislation's success while noting his upcoming schedule for committee work on Capitol Hill.

Consumer protection legislationAdministrative Procedures ActPolitical appointmentsLegislative strategyChet Holifield
AudioNARA Description

On October 18, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Chet Holifield talked on the telephone from 5:19 pm to 5:21 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 011-115 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 011-115

 Date: October 18, 1971
 Time: 5:19 pm - 5:21 pm
 Location: White House Telephone

 The President talked with Chet Holifield.

 [See Conversation No. 291-14A]

        House of Representatives
            -Consumer bill
                  -The President's appreciation
                  -Frank J. Horton
                       -Richard A. Cook

                          -Gerald R. Ford
                    -Administrative Procedures Act
                    -Appointee
                          -Ralph Nader
                    -Virginia Knauer

        Holifield's schedule
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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?
Hello?
Hey, Chet?
Yes, hello.
I just called to thank you for the fine work you did on that consumer bill.
Well, we...
Both Frank and I want to thank you for the help that Dick Cook and Jerry Ford gave us, too.
Well, I'll tell you, we couldn't have done it, my boys told me.
It's a well-balanced bill.
It's carefully guarded with guidelines and tied to the Administrative Procedures Act, and if a good person is appointed to it, well, they can do some good, and they can feel their way gradually, you know.
Well, if you...
You say a good person appointed.
I say if you appoint a good person to be the administrator, why, you know, a person that is, I don't mean a nadir.
Yeah, that goes a little too far.
Well, if you've got any good ideas, let us know.
I honestly don't have, Mr. President, but I'm sure you can find somebody that's judicious.
The main thing is to put together a competent organization.
That'll take several months.
Right.
And we're both very pleased.
We've worked awfully hard to rescue this from an impossible situation.
The one you got, you mean?
The bill that we've got, we've worked hard to get it in the shape that it is in, and we're proud of the job we've done on that.
We've taken a lot of heat from hearing some others on this thing, and we appreciate Ms. Norris' statement, too.
I'm going to write her a letter, but I went out to the district over the weekend.
I just got back today, so I haven't had time, but I'll take care of it.
I appreciate it.
Many thanks.
And I'm going to try to be there in the morning.
I've received this invitation on this briefing in the morning, but I will have to leave so I can be at the Hill at 10 o'clock because I've got a committee meeting to get out a bunch of reports we've been putting off.
Oh, boy.
Okay.
Thanks for calling, Mr. President.
Bye.
Thank you.
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