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Conversation 035-103

TapeTape 35StartTuesday, January 9, 1973 at 10:02 AMEndTuesday, January 9, 1973 at 10:03 AMParticipantsNixon, Richard M. (President);  McFall, John J.Recording deviceWhite House Telephone
AI Summary

President Nixon telephoned Representative John J. McFall to offer congratulations on his selection as House Democratic Whip. The conversation served primarily as a professional courtesy, briefly bridging the two men's shared California backgrounds and humble upbringings in agriculture. Nixon concluded the brief exchange by expressing interest in meeting McFall again during a future congressional leadership session.

John J. McFallHouse Democratic WhipCongressional leadershipCalifornia politicsPolitical careers
AudioNARA Description

On January 9, 1973, President Richard M. Nixon and John J. McFall talked on the telephone from 10:02 am to 10:03 am. The White House Telephone taping system captured this recording, which is known as Conversation 035-103 of the White House Tapes.

Nixon Library Finding Aid
Conversation No. 35-103

Date: January 9, 1973
Time: 10:02 am - 10:03 am
Location: White House Telephone

The President talked with John J. McFall.

[See Conversations No. 836-6A]
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                   NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

                                           (rev. Oct.-07)

                                                            Conversation No. 35-103 (cont’d)

       Congratulations for McFall's selection as House Democratic Whip
            -California
            -Speaker of the House
            -Political ambitions
                   -McFall’s childhood
                   -Nixon’s experiences in Yorba Linda, California
            -McFall’s career
                   -Law
                         -Farming
            -Congressional leadership meeting
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 Do not cite this transcript as authoritative.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.

please congressman thank you here you are sir there you are hello good morning mr president well as a fellow californian i want to congratulate you for for starting on the road to speaker well i don't know whether it's the road to speaker uh 10 or 15 years or i'll tell you well you're a young fellow you can well i was delighted to see it and uh you know we can uh
It's good to have our states recognized.
Did you ever expect this when you came to the House?
No, sir, I did not.
When I was throwing rocks at those cows out in California when I was about 14 years old and you told me I was going to be a congressman, I'd have said you were crazy.
I had exactly the same thing when I was used to hoe weeds around the tomato plants in Yerba Linda.
That's right.
I wanted to be a lawyer because I knew I couldn't make a living on the farm.
That's right.
That's right.
Well, and making a living as a lawyer is almost as hard.
Well, anyway, good luck, and we'll see you at a leadership meeting one time.
All right.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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