Conversation 017-009

TapeTape 17StartFriday, December 24, 1971 at 1:50 PMEndFriday, December 24, 1971 at 1:51 PMTape start time00:12:09Tape end time00:12:56ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President); Hughes, James D. ("Don")Recording deviceWhite House Telephone

AI Summary

President Nixon instructed Major General James D. Hughes to telephone Representative Otto E. Passman to secure his support for a specific presidential initiative. Hughes was directed to convey the President's personal holiday wishes and assure Passman that Nixon trusted his judgment regarding the expenditure of taxpayer funds. By positioning the initiative as an exception and emphasizing mutual confidence, the President sought to cultivate goodwill and influence the congressman's legislative cooperation.

Otto E. PassmanLegislative relationsPresidential initiativesGovernment spendingPolitical strategy

Audio

NARA Description

On December 24, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and James D. ("Don") Hughes talked on the telephone from 1:50 pm to 1:51 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-009 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid

Conversation No. 17-9

Date: December 24, 1971
Time: 1:50 pm - 1:51 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Maj. Gen. James D. (“Don”) Hughes.

[See Conversation No. 309-8]

     President’s initiatives
           -Hughes to call Representative Otto E. Passman
                -Talking points
                -Passman
                -Taxpayers' money

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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yes, sir.

I forgot to tell you, I want you to call Otto Passman on the phone, if you would.

All right, sir.

And say you're calling at the president's request, that you brought it up, that there is a, that this will be an exception.

But the president said that if, told you that if Otto Passman felt that it was a good idea, that he would approve it, and that he, Otto, can so state.

All right, sir.

In other words, we want to make a few points with him on it, too.

We're fine.

But you should call him and say, and the president wants to extend his very best wishes for Christmas and all that.

He said that he had complete confidence in auto-passing because he knows he wouldn't spend the taxpayers' money unless it was in a good cause.

Yes, sir.

All right.

Thank you, sir.

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