Nixon White House Tapes — Conversation 002-002
Date: Monday, April 19, 1971 at 3:04 PM
Participants: Nixon, Richard M. (President); Kleindienst, Richard G.
Recording device: White House Telephone
Source: https://www.easynixon.org/tapes/002-002

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 Do not cite it as authoritative.

[0:00] Hi, Mr. President.
[0:02] Hi, Dick.
[0:03] How are you?
[0:03] Good.
[0:03] How are you, sir?
[0:04] Fine, fine.
[0:05] I'm going to talk to John tomorrow about my general attitude on antitrust.
[0:09] In the meantime, I know that he is left with you, the IT&T thing, because apparently he says he had something to do with them once.
[0:17] Well, I have nothing to do with them, and I want something clearly understood.
[0:22] And if it is not understood, McLaren's ass is to be out within one hour.
[0:26] The IT&T thing, stay the hell out of it.
[0:28] Is that clear?
[0:29] That's an order.
[0:30] You mean the order is to...
[0:31] The order is to leave the goddamn thing alone.
[0:34] Now, I've said this, Dick, a number of times, and you fellas apparently don't get the message over there.
[0:38] I do not want McLaren to run around prosecuting people, raising hell about conglomerates, stirring things up at this point.
[0:46] Now, you're keeping the hell out of that.
[0:47] Is that clear?
[0:48] Well, Mr. President... Or either he resigns.
[0:50] I'd rather have him out anyway.
[0:51] I don't like the son of a bitch.
[0:53] The question, that is...
[0:54] The question is, I know that the jurisdiction...
[0:56] I know all the legal things.
[0:57] You don't have to fill out the legal appeal file.
[0:59] That's right.
[0:59] A brief has to be filed tomorrow.
[1:01] That's right.
[1:01] Don't file the brief.
[1:02] Your order is not to file a brief.
[1:04] My order is to drop the goddamn thing.
[1:06] Is that clear?
[1:08] I understand.
[1:09] Okay.