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Conversation 020-025

TapeTape 20StartWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 2:04 PMEndWednesday, February 2, 1972 at 2:06 PMTape start time00:48:57Tape end time00:51:04ParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  Ziegler, Ronald L.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon and Press Secretary Ronald L. Ziegler discussed the media reception of the President’s recent remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, noting positive coverage on television and radio despite limited attention from the Washington Post and NBC. The conversation transitioned to the administration’s welfare reform strategy, specifically regarding an upcoming press conference by Elliot Richardson. Nixon emphasized framing the current legislative progress as a victory that reflects long-term administration efforts and fiscal constraints rather than a defeat.

National Prayer BreakfastMedia relationsWelfare reformElliot L. RichardsonCongressional relations
AudioNARA Description

On February 2, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon and Ronald L. Ziegler talked on the telephone from 2:04 pm to 2:06 pm. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 020-025 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 20-25

Date: February 2, 1972
Time: 2:04 pm - 2:06 pm
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with Ronald L. Ziegler.

[See Conversation No. 319-17]

     Prayer breakfast
          -Reaction of press
                -News summary
                -Television coverage
                      -National Broadcasting Corporation [NBC] lack of coverage
                           -1970 and 1971 coverage
                -Wire service coverage
                -Washington Post
                -Radio and television coverage
                -Quote on God

     Welfare reform
          -Elliot L. Richardson press conference
                -John D. Ehrlichman
                -Administration position
                      -Congress
          -Cost
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

Yes, sir.
I was wondering, I noticed a little of that, but you were mentioning the prayer breakfast.
What was the reaction among your friends in the press on that?
Well, very good.
They write some good stuff?
Well, it didn't move.
It didn't play heavily on the press, but the TV was good last night.
They moved it in TV.
Right.
Two of the networks used it last night.
Interestingly enough, NBC did not.
But they used it last year, didn't they?
They were the only ones to use it in 1970 and 71.
That's not a big story.
Well, I thought it was.
The wires moved it well.
They did.
I didn't see, so it would play out in the country, I think, quite well.
Right.
The post didn't, you know, do too big on it.
It wouldn't matter, really.
Yeah, that's right.
But the radio was good, and the TV was good last night, I thought.
The radio, too, right.
So I thought, particularly your quote on the side of God, toward the end, was very powerful and played quite heavily.
All right.
Right, right.
I think on this welfare reform, we probably have that ready by tomorrow.
That'll be a good one to get the hell out of the way.
Yeah.
John tells me Richardson's having a press conference at 10 o'clock in the morning.
Yeah.
You understand.
Don't let anybody drive you off to the point there that
that we're all for it, and we think this is a defeat.
Hell, this is a hell of a victory.
We're fighting for it, and for two and a half years, and the Congress did, so we've taken half a loaf.
Right.
I'm going to lay a little groundwork on that this afternoon, too.
Two and a half years we've been working for it.
What we want to do is get it more to its center.
And then we're trying to get motion, and we've been working in all fields, right?
Right.
That's the line we're going to use.
Actually, I'm just delighted it's going only this far.
Right.
Because basically that's all we can afford.
Right.
Okay, Ron.
Okay, sir.
Right.
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