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Conversation 017-061

TapeTape 17StartSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 9:34 AMEndSaturday, December 25, 1971 at 9:38 AMTape start time02:34:33Tape end time02:38:50ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Morton, Rogers C. B.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Secretary of the Interior Rogers C. B. Morton engaged in a holiday check-in regarding Morton's travel schedule, health, and upcoming administrative duties. Nixon advised Morton to remain firm against political opposition regarding the recent release of Jimmy Hoffa, citing public sympathy for Hoffa's ailing wife and information from J. Edgar Hoover suggesting Hoffa had been railroaded. The President also discussed his own upcoming meetings with Willy Brandt and Eisaku Sato.

Rogers C. B. MortonJimmy HoffaJ. Edgar HooverPresidential SchedulingExecutive Clemency
AudioNARA Description

On December 25, 1971, President Richard M. Nixon and Rogers C. B. Morton talked on the telephone from 9:34 am to 9:38 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 017-061 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 17-61

Date: December 25, 1971
Time: 9:34 am - 9:38 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Rogers C. B. Morton.

     Morton's schedule

     Morton's health

     Morton's schedule
          -Pacific
          -Time

**********************************************************************

[Previous PRMPA Personal Returnable (G) withdrawal reviewed under deed of gift 12/21/2017.
Segment cleared for release.]
[Personal Returnable]
[017-061-w001]
[Duration: 2m 10s]

     Rogers C. B. Morton's schedule
         -Washington, D.C.
         -Votes
               -Western states
                    -Importance

     Rogers C. B. Morton’s message
         -Ohio

              -Parks
         -New York
         -Eastern United States
              -Morton’s schedule
                    -New York
         -Southern United States
              -Georgia
              -Florida
              -North and South Carolina
              -Florida
              -Texas
              -Alabama
                    -Morton’s weekend with Winton and Mary Kay Blount
                    -James B. Allen
                    -John J. Sparkman
                         -The President’s opinion

**********************************************************************

    The President's schedule
         -Florida
               -Meeting with Willy Brandt
         -California
               -Meeting with Eisaku Sato
                     -Timing

    James R. (“Jimmy”) Hoffa's release
         -Josephine (Poszynak) Hoffa
               -Health
                     -Public sympathy
         -Robert F. Kennedy
         -President's conversation with J. Edgar Hoover on December 24, 1971
               -Hoover's comments
                     -Hoover's testimony
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.

No.
Well, I just, you beat me to it.
Well, you an eastern char?
Over there, you're going to go hunting or anything?
Yes, sir.
Well, I just hope everything goes well, Rog.
You feeling good?
Feeling good, fine.
I hope you are.
You haven't fallen off any horses?
No, sir.
No, not yet, not yet.
No, we're not going to fall off any horses.
Yeah, you never would.
You're too good at... Well, you'll be going out to the Pacific pretty soon, won't you?
Yes, sir.
No, we disrupted.
We decided to...
I called it off, you know, and I talked to you about it.
I wondered about the time.
You may have to go out there later and go out maybe for one or two days.
But you won't have to do the whole... Good, well, that's better.
I think you should go by, but if you can, I mean, I'm just thinking of the amount of time that...
Oh, no, I'm here at the White House.
Are you?
Yeah, we're having the family here.
And I go to Florida for the meeting with Bront next week, and then I go to California the week after that for the meeting with Sato.
I'm having a rather easy beer time.
Well, I know you are.
But it's come a long ride.
Incidentally, don't back down if anybody takes you on on Hoffa.
That was the right thing to do.
We had to do it because the poor man's wife is very sick, you know.
And he looked, I think, people sympathetic.
Well, some people hate him so much.
It's because of Bobby Kennedy.
But Edgar Hoover told me last night that he, Edgar, testified the fact that Bureau didn't do the investigating.
He says that the fellow was really railroaded.
I think he was guilty, I understand.
But his being guilty and being railroaded, too.
Well, good luck, Rog.
Thanks a lot.
Bye.
Alright, bye.
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