Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 001-114
Date: Friday, April 16, 1971 at 11:05 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kissinger, Henry A.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/001-114

This transcript was generated automatically by AI (WhisperX) and has not been reviewed for accuracy. Do not cite it as authoritative.

[3:51:48] Henry, I think a very good touch would be for you to get Otis Chandler on the phone and tell him that you thought his questions were very perceptive and sensitive.
[3:51:58] The president thought that, that you just chatted with me about youth and the rest.
[3:52:03] I'll do that.
[3:52:03] Do a little crap right now, you know.
[3:52:05] I'll do that.
[3:52:06] He'll love it.
[3:52:07] He was all right.
[3:52:08] He was good, you know.
[3:52:09] He smiled.
[3:52:11] He's really... A decent man, really.
[3:52:13] That's right.
[3:52:15] I wonder very well.
[3:52:16] I'll get the White House.
[3:52:17] No, just call the White House and tell them he's at the showroom, and for them to get him for you, and tell them you're calling for the president.
[3:52:24] They'll get him.
[3:52:26] But I'll do it this minute.
[3:52:28] Actually, you know, this little performance night, it wasn't much, but basically...
[3:52:35] These editors, they had to hear, I mean, I couldn't give them the thing they wanted to hear, recognize Red China, admit them to the United Nations, give them a deadline with regard to this and that.
[3:52:48] You notice what I said about residual forces, that we're not going to have a residual, I was very subtle about that, I said, not like Korea, but we're going to keep a residual force as long as it's necessary to see Vietnam can defend itself.
[3:53:01] I will test now after I've finished with you.
[3:53:05] Uh, talked to Adlai Stephenson, Jr. Did you?
[3:53:09] Yeah, and he said, you know, on foreign policy...
[3:53:11] I defended him, you know.
[3:53:13] I beg your pardon?
[3:53:13] Tonight I defended him.
[3:53:14] I said it was a terrible thing that they bugged him, you know, during the convention.
[3:53:18] You won hands down on foreign policy tonight.
[3:53:22] He did?
[3:53:23] Yeah.
[3:53:25] And I didn't ask him what he thought because I didn't want to embarrass him.
[3:53:31] That's good.
[3:53:33] Well, you call Otis Chandler and say that the president thought his questions were excellent.
[3:53:38] You tell him you thought his questions were excellent.
[3:53:40] You just talk to the president.
[3:53:41] He thought he really zeroed in on what really people were worried about, which is really true, Henry.
[3:53:47] They're worried about kids.
[3:53:49] You know, and what I said about kids, you and I know that they're not worth a damn.
[3:53:53] But on the other hand, I did say that, look, if we bring peace and if we clean up the environment and the rest,
[3:54:02] The kids may think maybe the system ain't all that bad, huh?
[3:54:05] Well, you weren't saying anything, Mr. President, that this isn't true.
[3:54:09] Whatever one thinks of some of the reactions, you defined the problem.
[3:54:15] I think you should call him immediately, okay?
[3:54:18] I'll call him this minute, Mr. President.
[3:54:19] Yes, please.
[3:54:24] Julie, please.
[3:54:25] Thank you, sir.